King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Complete Jewish Bible:
In time, when men began to multiply on earth, and daughters were born to them,
Berean Standard Bible:
Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them,
American Standard Version:
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it came to pass, when men{H120} began{H2490} to multiply{H7231} on{H5921} the face{H6440} of the earth{H127}, and daughters{H1323} were born{H3205} unto them,
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 1:28
- And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 6:1
Genesis 6:1 is part of the opening of a larger narrative within the book of Genesis that deals with the corruption of humanity and the subsequent flood. The verse itself introduces the theme of population growth and the beginning of a new generation, setting the stage for the events that follow.
**Themes:**
1. **Population Growth:** The verse highlights the natural increase of human beings on earth, emphasizing the fulfillment of the divine command to "be fruitful and multiply" given in Genesis 1:28.
2. **Descent into Corruption:** Although not explicitly stated in this verse, the context leading up to it and following it suggests a moral decline among the growing population. This sets the tone for the narrative of the Great Flood, which is a response to humanity's wickedness.
3. **Divine Oversight:** The verse implies that God is observing human activities and the moral state of the world, which will soon lead to divine intervention.
**Historical Context:**
- **Ancient Near Eastern Setting:** Genesis 6:1 reflects a time when oral traditions were being codified into written form. The story of the flood has parallels in other ancient Near Eastern literature, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, suggesting a shared cultural memory of great floods in the region's history.
- **Pre-Flood World:** The verse is set in the pre-flood antediluvian era, a period characterized by increasing wickedness and violence among humans, which will culminate in the decision to send a flood to cleanse the earth.
- **Authorship and Composition:** Traditionally attributed to Moses, modern biblical scholarship often dates the composition of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible, including Genesis) to a period between the 10th and 5th centuries BCE, with multiple sources and redactions contributing to the final text.
In summary, Genesis 6:1 is a transitional verse that marks the movement from humanity's initial multiplication to the moral decay that will eventually prompt God's judgment through the Great Flood. It reflects themes of human proliferation, moral decline, and divine engagement with the world, set against the backdrop of an ancient Near Eastern narrative tradition.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H120
There are 581 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדָם
Transliteration: ʼâdâm
Pronunciation: aw-dawm'
Description: from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. - Strong's Number: H2490
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלַל
Transliteration: châlal
Pronunciation: khaw-lal'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute); begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound. - Strong's Number: H7231
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָבַב
Transliteration: râbab
Pronunciation: raw-bab'
Description: a primitive root; (compare רָבִיב); also as denominative from רְבָבָה; properly, to cast together , i.e. increase, especially in number; to multiply by the myriad; increase, be many(-ifold), be more, multiply, ten thousands. - Strong's Number: H5921
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַל
Transliteration: ʻal
Pronunciation: al
Description: properly, the same as עַל used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications; above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H127
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲדָמָה
Transliteration: ʼădâmâh
Pronunciation: ad-aw-maw'
Description: from אָדַם; soil (from its general redness); country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land. - Strong's Number: H1323
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּת
Transliteration: bath
Pronunciation: bath
Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. - Strong's Number: H3205
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַד
Transliteration: yâlad
Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).