Genesis 6

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 6

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

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

3¶ And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also [is] flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4¶ There were giants 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 [became] mighty men which [were] of old, men of renown.

5And GOD 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 the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8¶ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

9These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.

10And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11¶ The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

13¶ And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

14Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

15And this [is the fashion] which thou shalt make it [of]: The length of the ark [shall be] three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

16A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; [with] lower, second, and third [stories] shalt thou make it.

17And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein [is] the breath of life, from under heaven; [and] every thing that [is] in the earth shall die.

18But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

19And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every [sort] shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep [them] alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

20Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every [sort] shall come unto thee, to keep [them] alive.

21And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather [it] to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

22¶ Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Mankind's wickedness and corruption grew exceedingly great on the earth, grieving the Lord's heart. Consequently, God determined to destroy all flesh by a flood, but Noah, a just man, found grace in His eyes. The Lord then commanded Noah to build an ark, providing specific instructions for its construction and the preservation of his family and all living creatures. Noah faithfully obeyed God's every command.

Medium Summary

As humanity multiplied, the "sons of God" took "daughters of men" as wives, leading to the birth of "giants" and "mighty men of renown." The Lord observed that man's wickedness was pervasive, and every imagination of his heart was continually evil, causing Him sorrow and repentance for having made man. Therefore, God resolved to destroy all living things from the face of the earth. However, Noah, described as a just man who walked with God, found favor in the Lord's sight. God revealed His plan to Noah, instructing him to construct a large ark of gopher wood according to precise dimensions. Noah was commanded to bring his family and two of every kind of living creature, male and female, into the ark to preserve them. God also established a covenant with Noah, promising to save him and his household. Noah diligently carried out all that God commanded him.

Long Summary

The chapter begins by describing the multiplication of mankind and the controversial union between the "sons of God" and "daughters of men," which resulted in the birth of "giants" and "mighty men of old." Observing the pervasive and continuous wickedness of humanity, where every thought of man's heart was only evil, the Lord expressed deep sorrow and regret for having created mankind. This profound grief led God to declare His intention to utterly destroy all flesh—man, beast, creeping thing, and fowl—from the face of the earth through a catastrophic flood. Amidst this universal corruption, Noah alone "found grace in the eyes of the LORD." The text highlights Noah's character as a "just man" who was "perfect in his generations" and "walked with God," and lists his sons as Shem, Ham, and Japheth. God reiterated the earth's corruption and violence, confirming His decision to bring an end to all flesh. He then issued detailed instructions to Noah for building an ark of gopher wood, specifying its dimensions (300 cubits long, 50 broad, 30 high), the need for rooms, and pitching it within and without. Noah was also commanded to make a window, a door, and three stories within the vessel. God explicitly stated His purpose to bring a flood that would destroy all life under heaven. Crucially, God established a covenant with Noah, promising to preserve him, his wife, his sons, and their wives within the ark. Furthermore, Noah was instructed to bring two of every living creature, male and female, into the ark to keep them alive, including fowls, cattle, and creeping things. Finally, Noah was to gather all necessary food for himself and the animals. The chapter concludes by affirming Noah's complete obedience, stating that "according to all that God commanded him, so did he."

Core Concepts

  • Wickedness of ManThe pervasive and continuous evil of human thoughts and actions, which grieved the Lord's heart and led to His decision to destroy all flesh.
  • Sons of God and Daughters of MenA mysterious union described as occurring when men multiplied, resulting in the birth of "giants" (Nephilim) and "mighty men of renown," contributing to the earth's corruption.
  • Divine Repentance and GriefThe Lord's profound sorrow and regret over having created man, expressed as "it repented the LORD" and "it grieved him at his heart," leading to the decision for a global flood.
  • Noah's RighteousnessNoah is singled out as a "just man" who was "perfect in his generations" and "walked with God," distinguishing him from the corrupt humanity and making him worthy of divine grace.
  • The Ark CommandGod's detailed instructions to Noah to build a massive vessel of specific dimensions and materials, designed to preserve life during the impending flood.
  • Covenant with NoahGod's promise to establish a covenant with Noah, ensuring the survival of his family and the designated animals through the flood, signifying a new beginning.
  • Universal DestructionGod's decree to bring a flood that would destroy all flesh—man, beast, creeping thing, and fowl—from the face of the earth due to its widespread corruption and violence.