Genesis 6:3

¶ And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also [is] flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559}, My spirit {H7307} shall not always {H5769} strive {H1777} with man {H120}, for that he also {H1571}{H7683} is flesh {H1320}: yet his days {H3117} shall be an hundred {H3967} and twenty {H6242} years {H8141}.

Adonai said, “My Spirit will not live in human beings forever, for they too are flesh; therefore their life span is to be 120 years.”

So the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.”

And Jehovah said, My Spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.

Context

Genesis 6:3 stands at a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, just before the account of the Great Flood. The preceding verses (Genesis 6:1-2) describe a period of widespread moral corruption and increasing wickedness on Earth, characterized by the "sons of God" taking wives from the "daughters of men." This verse marks God's solemn declaration of a limit to His patience with humanity's escalating sinfulness and rebellion. It sets the stage for the divine judgment that is about to unfold, highlighting the profound grief and resolve of the Creator who saw the extent of human depravity (Genesis 6:5-6).

Key Themes

  • Divine Patience and Justice: This verse reveals God's long-suffering nature, yet also His unwavering justice. While He is slow to anger, His patience has a limit, and persistent rebellion will eventually lead to consequences.
  • Human Depravity: The phrase "for that he also [is] flesh" underscores humanity's inherent weakness, mortality, and propensity towards sin. It highlights the stark contrast between God's eternal Spirit and the corruptible nature of man, which had become utterly perverse in the pre-Flood world.
  • A Period of Grace: The declaration that "his days shall be an hundred and twenty years" is widely interpreted as a specific period of grace—a final warning and opportunity for repentance—before the cataclysmic judgment of the Flood. This timeframe provided ample opportunity for Noah to build the ark and preach righteousness, serving as a testament to God's desire for humanity to turn from its wicked ways.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Strive" (Hebrew: dun or din): The Hebrew word translated "strive" carries multiple layers of meaning, including to rule, contend, judge, or even abide. In this context, it suggests God's Spirit will not perpetually contend with, restrain, or indwell within humanity in their state of rebellion. It implies a withdrawal of His life-giving and restraining influence, leading to a surrender of humanity to its own corrupt desires.
  • "Flesh" (Hebrew: basar): While literally referring to the physical body, "flesh" here extends beyond mere physicality. It emphasizes humanity's fallen, mortal, and sinful nature, which stands in opposition to the divine Spirit. It signifies a state of being dominated by earthly, carnal desires rather than spiritual obedience, as seen in other biblical contexts regarding the "mind of the flesh" (Romans 8:7).

Related Scriptures

The concept of God's Spirit striving with humanity finds echoes in the New Testament, where the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The 120-year period of grace before the Flood is also referenced in 1 Peter 3:20, highlighting God's longsuffering "in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing." This period culminates in the divine judgment described in Genesis 7:4, when the Flood finally came.

Practical Application

Genesis 6:3 serves as a powerful reminder of God's character: He is both infinitely patient and perfectly just. It teaches us that while God extends grace and opportunities for repentance, there is a limit to human rebellion. For us today, it underscores the importance of responding to the Spirit's conviction and not taking God's patience for granted. It calls us to reflect on our own lives, ensuring that we are not living in persistent disobedience to God's will, but rather yielding to His Spirit and seeking to live righteously in the time He has given us.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Nehemiah 9:30

    Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.

  • Isaiah 63:10

    But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] he fought against them.

  • Jeremiah 11:11

    ¶ Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.

  • 1 Peter 3:18

    ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

  • 1 Peter 3:20

    Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

  • Galatians 5:16

    [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

  • Galatians 5:24

    And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
← Back