Genesischapter 6

22 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 299 cross-references outward and receives 272 — heaviest partner: Genesis.

Chapter summary

The world filled with violence, and the LORD's grief over the heart of man. The ‘sons of God’ and ‘daughters of men’ passage has drawn three readings — Sethite, angelic, and royal — and the text leaves the reader to weigh them. The verdict is clear: God determines to destroy what he has made. Yet Noah finds grace in the eyes of the LORD. The ark's dimensions are given, and Noah is told to bring two of every kind. Gill emphasises that grace precedes the building of the ark; Calvin, that judgment and mercy run together through the chapter and its remedy.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Genesis overview for the book's full setting.

1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them,

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

3 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.

4 The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.

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

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

7 And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah.

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, andperfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.