Genesis 6
Genesis 6 begins with the continued deepening of humanity’s apostasy and describes how God grieves deeply over human sin. At that time, people’s wickedness filled the world, and God laments that, because of human sin, people were made on the earth, planning judgment. At this time, Noah appears as a person who has found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This chapter is an important introduction to Noah’s story—the great beginning of the later judgment (the Flood) and salvation.
1verseWhen men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them,
2verseGod’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives.
3verseThe LORD said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; so his days will be one hundred twenty years.”
4verseThe Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had children with them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5verseThe LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil.
6verseThe LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart.
7verseThe LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky—for I am sorry that I have made them.”
8verseBut Noah found favor in the LORD’s eyes.
9verseThis is the history of the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God.
10verseNoah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11verseThe earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12verseGod saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
13verseGod said to Noah, “I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them and the earth.
14verseMake a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.
15verseThis is how you shall make it. The length of the ship shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
16verseYou shall make a roof in the ship, and you shall finish it to a cubit upward. You shall set the door of the ship in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third levels.
17verseI, even I, will bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the earth will die.
18verseBut I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ship, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
19verseOf every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ship, to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.
20verseOf the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort will come to you, to keep them alive.
21verseTake with you some of all food that is eaten, and gather it to yourself; and it will be for food for you, and for them.”
22verseThus Noah did. He did all that God commanded him.
Main Structure and Flow
- Verses 1-4: The joining of the sons of God and the daughters of people, and the resulting corruption and confusion in the world are mentioned.
- Verses 5-8: God, who sees that human wickedness has increased, declares that he will wipe out every living thing on the earth. However, Noah finds favor with God.
- Verses 9-22: Noah’s genealogy and the fact that he is righteous are introduced. God tells him about the coming judgment (the Flood) and commands him to build an ark. Specific instructions are given to bring Noah, his family, and various kinds of animals into the ark.
Overall Meaning
Genesis 6 contains God’s plan to prepare salvation through one person who receives grace, amid God’s sorrow and judgment over human sin and corruption, and his response to it. Even despite humanity’s repeated failures, we can see that God keeps open the possibility of grace and salvation. This is an important passage where human responsibility and God’s justice and love are revealed at the same time.
Reflection Points
- As you reflect, ask yourself whether the pattern of the world I belong to is not similar to that of the time of Genesis 6.
- Reflect on God’s perspective on sin and how, amid it, he values a person’s faith.
- Think about what a life that walks with God—like Noah’s—should look like for us today.
Personal Application
- When sin and temptation are present in your life, remember that it is important to maintain an attitude of striving to discern and follow God’s heart and will.
- Practice living in obedience to God’s word, even if it seems like you are small—like Noah.
- I hope you will apply today, too, that God’s grace is not found in any particular conditions or environment, but in faithfully walking with God.
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