Genesis 6:2-12

2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and took themselves wives of all that they chose.

3 And Jehovah said, My Spirit shall not always plead with Man; for he indeed is flesh; but his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.

4 In those days were the giants on the earth, and also afterwards, when the sons of God had come in to the daughters of men, and they had borne [children] to them; these were the heroes, who of old were men of renown.

5 And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of Man was great on the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil continually.

6 And Jehovah repented that he had made Man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart.

7 And Jehovah said, I will destroy Man, whom I have created, from the earth -- from man to cattle, to creeping things, and to fowl of the heavens; for I repent that I have made them.

8 But Noah found favour in the eyes of Jehovah.

9 This is the history of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect amongst his generations: Noah walked with God.

10 And Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was full of violence.

12 And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth.

Genesis 6:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 6

This chapter gives an account of the wickedness of the old world, both among the profane and the professors of religion, which was taken notice of and resented by God, upon which he determined the destruction of it, Ge 6:1-7 only one man, Noah, is excepted, who found favour with God, and whose character is given, Ge 6:8-10 and to whom was observed by God the general corruption of the earth, Ge 6:11-13 and to whom he gave orders and directions for the building an ark for himself, and his family, being determined to destroy the earth with a flood, and all creatures in it, Ge 6:14-17 only he would preserve him and his wife, his three sons and their wives, and two of every living creature, for which, and for himself and his family, he was to take food into the ark when built, Ge 6:18-21 and the chapter is concluded with observing, that Noah did as he was commanded, Ge 6:22.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'plead in (or amongst) men:' 'strive in.' Many read 'plead with men in their wandering (or erring), he is flesh.'
• [b]. Or 'the name,' i.e. who had a peculiar and known name on the earth. Heroes is Gibbor in Heb., meaning 'mighty men.'
• [c]. Lit. 'the whole day.'
• [d]. Lit. 'blot,' or 'wipe out:' so ch. 7.4,23.
• [e]. Lit. 'these are the generations.' See ch. 2.4.
• [f]. Refers to the circle in which Noah moved i.e. his contemporaries, as ch. 7.1; and could read 'in his times.'