Genesis 6

1People started to increase in number and spread out across the earth. Daughters were born to them, 2and the sons of God#6:2. “Sons of God”: some have seen this as a reference to angels, but Jesus clearly stated that angels do not marry (Matthew 22:30), and in the very next verse punishment falls on all as human beings. The sons of God can be identified as those in the lineage of Seth, distinguished from these women who are descended from Cain. The genealogies of both groups have just been presented (chapters 4 and 5). saw that these women were beautiful, and they took whichever ones they wanted.

3Then the Lord said, “My life-giving Spirit will not remain in these people forever, because they are only mortal. The time they have left will be 120 years.”#6:3. That this refers to a new maximum lifespan seems unlikely since many after this time lived much longer than 120 years. The Hebrew says literally, “His days shall be 120 years.” Here “days” can be taken simply as time, or even time remaining, until the Flood would come.

4There were giants#6:4. “Giants”: literally, “Nephelim.” This word is translated “giants” in the Septuagint. However, some take the word to be based on the Hebrew word “fallen.” These “giants” are also referenced later (see Numbers 13:33). In Symmachus' Greek translation he renders “Nephelim” as “the violent ones.” on earth in those days, and also later on. They were born after the sons of God slept with the daughters of these people. Their sons became the great warriors and famous men of ancient times.

5The Lord saw how terribly evil people on earth had become—every single thought in their minds was evil all the time! 6The Lord was sorry he'd made human beings to live on the earth; it made him very sad to think about it. 7So the Lord said, “I'm going to wipe out these people I created from the earth, and not only them but also the animals, the creatures that run along the ground, and the birds, because I'm sorry I made them.”

8But the Lord was pleased with Noah.

9This is the story of Noah and his family. Noah was a man of integrity, living a moral life among the people of his time. He had a close relationship with God. 10Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11God saw how corrupt the whole world had become, full of violent and lawless people. 12God recognized that the corruption in the world was due to everyone on earth living corrupt lives. 13So God told Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all people on earth because they are all violent and lawless. I myself am going to destroy all of them, along with the earth.

14Build an ark#6:14. The word used here for “ark” is different from that used later to describe the Ark of the Lord's Agreement. out of cypress wood. Make rooms inside the ark, and coat it with tar, both inside and out. 15This is how to build it: the ark is to measure 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. 16Make a roof for the ark, leaving a cubit-wide opening between the roof and the top of the sides.#6:16. The Hebrew of this last phrase is unclear. Put a door in the side of the ark, and construct three decks inside.

17I myself am going to flood the earth with water that will destroy everything that breathes. Every living thing everywhere on earth will die. 18But I will keep my agreement with you. You are to go into the ark, taking with you your wife and your sons and their wives. 19Take a pair, male and female, of every kind of animal into the ark and make sure you keep them alive. 20The same applies to every kind of bird, livestock, and the creatures that run along the ground—a pair of every kind will come to you so they can be kept alive. 21Take all kinds of food with you too. Store it so you and the animals will have enough to eat.”

22Noah did exactly what God ordered him to do.

Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com

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Genesis 6

The Wickedness and Judgment of Man

1Now it came to pass, #Gen. 1:28when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they #Deut. 7:3, 4took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

3And the Lord said, #Gen. 41:38; (Gal. 5:16, 17); 1 Pet. 3:19, 20“My Spirit shall not #2 Thess. 2:7strive with man forever, #Ps. 78:39for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4There were giants on the earth in those #Num. 13:32, 33; Luke 17:27days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

5Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every #Gen. 8:21; Ps. 14:1–3; Prov. 6:18; Matt. 15:19; Rom. 1:28–32intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And #Gen. 6:7; 1 Sam. 15:11, 29; 2 Sam. 24:16; Jer. 18:7–10; Zech. 8:14the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and #Ps. 78:40; Is. 63:10; Eph. 4:30He was grieved in His #Mark 3:5heart. 7So the Lord said, “I will #Gen. 7:4, 23; Deut. 28:63; 29:20; Ps. 7:11destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8But Noah #Gen. 19:19; Ex. 33:12, 17; Luke 1:30; Acts 7:46found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Noah Pleases God

9This is the genealogy of Noah. #Gen. 7:1; Ezek. 14:14, 20; Heb. 11:7; 2 Pet. 2:5Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah #Gen. 5:22, 24; 2 Kin. 23:3walked with God. 10And Noah begot three sons: #Gen. 5:32; 7:13Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11The earth also was corrupt #Deut. 31:29; Judg. 2:19; Rom. 2:13before God, and the earth was #Ezek. 8:17filled with violence. 12So God #Ps. 14:2; 53:2, 3looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for #Ps. 14:1–3; Is. 28:8all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

The Ark Prepared

13And God said to Noah, #Is. 34:1–4; Jer. 51:13; Ezek. 7:2, 3; Amos 8:2; 1 Pet. 4:7“The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; #Gen. 6:17and behold, #2 Pet. 2:4–10I will destroy them with the earth. 14Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17#Gen. 7:4, 21–23; 2 Pet. 2:5And behold, I Myself am bringing #2 Pet. 3:6floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall #Luke 16:22die. 18But I will establish My #Gen. 8:20—9:17; 17:7covenant with you; and #Gen. 7:1, 7, 13; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring #Gen. 7:2, 8, 9, 14–16two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind #Gen. 7:9, 15will come to you to keep them alive. 21And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.”

22#Gen. 7:5; 12:4, 5; Heb. 11:7Thus Noah did; #Gen. 7:5, 9, 16according to all that #(1 John 5:3)God commanded him, so he did.

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