Genesis6

Mankind's wickedness and corruption grew exceedingly great on the earth, grieving the Lord's heart. Consequently, God determined to destroy all flesh by a flood, but Noah, a just man, found grace in His eyes. The Lord then commanded Noah to build an ark, providing specific instructions for its construction and the preservation of his family and all living creatures. Noah faithfully obeyed God's every command.
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The Corruption of Mankind

1
Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them,
2
the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose. ​
3
So the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.” ​
4
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown. ​

God’s Grief and Judgment Declared

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Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. ​
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And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. ​
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So the LORD said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.”
8
Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD. ​

The Generations of Noah

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This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. ​
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And Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
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Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence. ​
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And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.

God Commands the Building of the Ark

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Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth. ​
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Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out. ​
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And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. ​
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You are to make a roof for the ark, finish its walls a cubit from the top, place a door in the side of the ark, and build lower, middle, and upper decks.
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And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish.
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But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. ​
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And you are to bring two of every living creature into the ark—male and female—to keep them alive with you.
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Two of every kind of bird and animal and crawling creature will come to you to be kept alive.
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You are also to take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten and gather it as food for yourselves and for the animals.”
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So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him. ​

Study Notes for Genesis 6

Verse 2

The identity of the 'sons of God' (*bnei elohim*) is highly debated, generally understood either as a class of divine beings (fallen angels) or as the righteous line of Seth intermarrying with the wicked line of Cain. This illicit union is presented as a major catalyst for the subsequent widespread wickedness.

Verse 3

This verse limits the lifespan of humanity to 120 years, possibly referring to the maximum age of the post-Flood era, or setting a deadline (120 years) until the Flood judgment would commence. The limitation emphasizes that humanity, being 'flesh,' cannot indefinitely resist the striving of God's Spirit.

Verse 4

The 'giants' (*Nephilim*) are described as the offspring of the unions in v. 2. The term literally means 'fallen ones' or 'those who cause others to fall,' often denoting powerful, tyrannical figures who were 'men of renown' (famous for their violence or power).

Verse 5

This verse establishes the theological justification for the Flood. The judgment is based on God observing that human wickedness was not merely external but total, constantly affecting the deepest intentions ('every imagination of the thoughts of his heart').

Verse 6

The anthropomorphism ('it repented the LORD') expresses God’s profound sorrow and emotional pain over man’s rebellion. This does not imply a change in God’s nature, but rather a necessary change in his relationship and action toward creation due to sin.

Verse 8

This verse is a crucial turning point, introducing the theme of salvation amidst judgment. Noah found 'grace' (*chen*), meaning unmerited favor, highlighting that his preservation was rooted in God's sovereign choice, even though Noah was subsequently described as righteous.

Verse 9

This is the *toledot* (generations) formula, marking a major structural division in Genesis. Noah is characterized as 'just' (*tzaddiq*) and 'perfect' (*tamim*), meaning ethically upright and complete in his covenant relationship with God, contrasting him with the corrupt world.

Verse 11

The two primary descriptions of the wickedness requiring divine intervention are 'corrupt' (*shachat*) and 'violence' (*hamas*). Corruption speaks to moral decay and perversity, while violence suggests pervasive bloodshed, lawlessness, and social injustice.

Verse 13

God announces the 'end of all flesh,' indicating a universal judgment. The destruction is explicitly linked to the violence that had filled the earth, demonstrating God’s justice in responding to human sin.

Verse 14

God provides precise, detailed instructions for the Ark's construction, emphasizing divine involvement in the preservation plan. 'Gopher wood' likely refers to a durable, resinous wood like cypress; the vessel was sealed with 'pitch' (bitumen) inside and out for waterproofing.

Verse 15

The dimensions (300 x 50 x 30 cubits, roughly 450 x 75 x 45 feet) describe a massive, stable barge designed for floating and carrying capacity, not for navigation or speed, underscoring its role as a refuge.

Verse 18

This is the first explicit reference to a 'covenant' (*berit*) in the context of salvation, marking a binding, unconditional promise between God and Noah. This covenant ensures the preservation of life through the Flood.

Verse 22

This concluding statement highlights Noah’s obedience as the essential requirement for salvation. He executed God's difficult and complex command precisely, demonstrating the faith that defined his righteousness (cf. Heb 11:7).

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