Genesis 6:22

¶ Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Thus did {H6213} Noah {H5146}; according to all that God {H430} commanded {H6680} him, so did {H6213} he.

This is what Noach did; he did all that God ordered him to do.

So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him.

Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Commentary

Genesis 6:22 marks the culmination of God's detailed instructions to Noah concerning the construction of the ark, preceding the great flood. This concise verse powerfully summarizes Noah's response: complete and unwavering obedience to God's divine command.

Context of Genesis 6:22

This verse concludes the section of Genesis where God outlines His plan to judge the earth's widespread wickedness and corruption (Genesis 6:5, 6:11-12). Amidst this depravity, Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:8) and was described as "a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). The instructions for the ark were incredibly specific, detailing dimensions, materials, and inhabitants (Genesis 6:14-21). Noah's task was monumental, requiring immense faith and diligent labor over many years.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unquestioning Obedience: The central message is Noah's exemplary obedience. The phrase "according to all that God commanded him, so did he" underscores the totality and precision of his response. There was no deviation, no partial fulfillment.
  • Faith in Action: Noah's obedience was not blind but rooted in a profound faith in God's word, even regarding an event (the flood) that had never occurred before (Hebrews 11:7). His belief was demonstrated through his diligent labor in building the ark.
  • Divine Sovereignty: This verse highlights God's authority to command and His expectation of human compliance. God's plan for salvation required a specific, detailed response from His chosen instrument.
  • Diligence and Perseverance: The magnitude of building the ark implies years of sustained effort. Noah's obedience was not a one-time act but a long-term commitment, demonstrating perseverance in carrying out God's will.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew text emphatically repeats the idea of completeness: "כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֹתוֹ אֱלֹהִים כֵּן עָשָׂה" (k'kōl asher tzivvāh ʾōtō ʾĕlōhīm kēn ʿāśāh). This literally translates to "according to all that commanded him God so he did." The repetition of "all" (k'kōl) and the conclusive "so he did" powerfully convey that Noah did not omit anything, nor did he add anything. His obedience was exact and perfect in its execution of the divine instructions.

Practical Application

Noah's response in Genesis 6:22 serves as a timeless model for believers today. It teaches us the importance of:

  • Complete Obedience: God desires our full obedience, not just partial compliance. When God gives clear instructions, our response should be "so did he."
  • Faith Leading to Action: True faith is not passive; it compels us to act on God's word, even when the task seems daunting or the outcome uncertain. Just as faith without works is dead, Noah's faith was alive because he acted upon it.
  • Trusting God's Wisdom: God's commands, though they may seem unusual or challenging from a human perspective, are always for our good and ultimately for His glory. Noah trusted God's plan for salvation.
  • Perseverance in God's Work: Many of God's callings require sustained effort and patience. Noah's long years of ark building remind us that faithfulness often involves enduring diligence.

Noah's story underscores that a life of obedient faith is foundational to being used by God for His purposes, even to be an instrument of salvation for others.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 40:16 (10 votes)

    ¶ Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

  • John 15:14 (10 votes)

    Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

  • Genesis 7:5 (9 votes)

    ¶ And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

  • John 2:5 (9 votes)

    His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it].

  • Matthew 7:24 (9 votes)

    Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

  • Matthew 7:27 (9 votes)

    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

  • Hebrews 11:7 (8 votes)

    By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.