Genesis 6:9-22

God Warns Noah

9 These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.

10 And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.^[a]

12 God saw how corrupt the earth was, for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth.

13 Then God said to Noah, "I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence^[b] because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.

14 "Make yourself an ark of gofer^[c] wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside.

15 This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.^[d]

16 You are to make a roof,^[e] finishing [the sides of the ark] to within 18 inches^[f] [of the roof.] You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper [decks].

17 "Understand that I am bringing a deluge-floodwaters on the earth to destroy all flesh under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will die.

18 But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives.

19 You are also to bring into the ark two of every living thing of all flesh, male and female, to keep them alive with you.

20 Two of everything-from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from every animal that crawls on the ground according to its kind-will come to you so that you can keep them alive.

21 Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them."

22 And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.

Genesis 6:9-22 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 injustice
• [b]. Or injustice
• [c]. Unknown species of tree; perhaps pine or cypress
• [d]. Or 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high
• [e]. Or window, or hatch; Hb uncertain
• [f]. Lit to a cubit