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.

The Corruption of Mankind

1
When men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them,
2
God’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives. ​
3
The LORD said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; so his days will be one hundred twenty years.” ​
4
The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had children with them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. ​

God’s Grief and Judgment Declared

5
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil. ​
6
The LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. ​
7
The LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky—for I am sorry that I have made them.”
8
But Noah found favor in the LORD’s eyes. ​

The Generations of Noah

9
This is the history of the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God. ​
10
Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11
The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. ​
12
God saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

God Commands the Building of the Ark

13
God said to Noah, “I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them and the earth. ​
14
Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch. ​
15
This is how you shall make it. The length of the ship shall be three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. ​
16
You shall make a roof in the ship, and you shall finish it to a cubit upward. You shall set the door of the ship in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third levels.
17
I, even I, do bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the earth will die.
18
But I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ship, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. ​
19
Of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ship, to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.
20
Of the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort will come to you, to keep them alive.
21
Take with you of all food that is eaten, and gather it to yourself; and it will be for food for you, and for them.”
22
Thus Noah did. He did all that God 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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