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Genesis 6 Commentary

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Genesis 6:1-4

The world’s population continued to grow. The “sons of God” took wives from the daughters of men. God says He will not strive with mankind forever because man is sinful.

Genesis 6:5-8

God saw that the wickedness of man was great and there was only evil in his heart continually. This grieved the Lord.

Genesis 6:9-13

Noah was a righteous man. He had three sons; Shem, Ham, and Japheth. God told Noah He was about to destroy the world.

Genesis 6:14-18

God tells Noah to make an ark and gives him specific instructions how to build it. God reminds Noah of the judgment of the flood and that everything on the earth will perish.

Genesis 6:19-22

God gives Noah further instructions for the ark. Two of every kind (a male and female) shall come to the ark to be saved. Birds, animals, and creeping things were to be kept alive.

Additional Resources

Genesis is a book about many beginnings. The beginnings of the world, the human race, sin and redemption, and the nation of Israel to name a few. In fact, the word Genesis from the Greek means “origin,” and in Hebrew it means “beginning.” The book of Genesis contains the events of the flood, tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the lives of the Patriarchs.

In the beginning, God created everything by simply speaking, “God said…and it was so” (Genesis 1:6-7, 9, 11, 14-15). This is not a scientific technical account of creation, but it shows a loving God creating a universe and mankind to rule it and fellowship with God. Man was formed especially from the ground and given the breath of life from God. The woman was made from the man’s rib (Genesis 2:7).

After man fell into sin, things began to spin out of control quickly. Cain murdered his brother Abel and the human race became so violent that God decided to destroy them all with a flood. God saved one righteous man (Noah) and his family in an ark filled with animals to deliver the human race from extinction. God chose Abraham and blessed a special group of people named “Israel.” God began to unfold a plan of salvation from a coming famine by sending Joseph to rule in Egypt. The failure of man in every circumstance is met by the salvation of God. We fail, but the good news is God saves us.

Chapter Context

Genesis chapter 6 covers the beginning of the famous flood story of Noah and the ark. During the time of Noah, the world had become a terrible place. The earth was filled with violence. Every thought and action was motivated by wicked intent. God’s kindness and warnings to mankind had not been successful, man chose to carry on in his evil ways. God sent His judgment in the form of a flood, wiping out wickedness from the earth. Only Noah (who was faithful and obedient to God) and his family were saved. In the flood story, we find divine judgment as well as God’s grace.