Gen 6:1

cross-referenceGen 6:1–22; 1 Pet 3:19–20; 2 Pet 2:4–5; Jude 1:6; Matt 22:30; Matt 24:37–39; Luke 17:26–27; Heb 11:7

Gen 6 and its NT texts: form only

• Says1 Pet 3:20 speaks of the ark in the days of Noah and eight souls; the SBLGNT apparatus records the Byzantine Textform’s ὀλίγαι; 1 Pet 3:19 and Heb 11:7 have no unit.
• Says2 Pet 2:4 has σειραῖς ζόφου, against σιροῖς in Westcott and Hort and Tregelles; 2 Pet 2:5 and Jude 6 have no unit.
• SaysMatt 22:30 has ὡς ἄγγελοι θεοῦ with Byzantine and Westcott and Hort units recorded; Matt 24:37–39 and Luke 17:26–27 have wording and spelling units.
• Saysκιβωτός and κατακλυσμός in these texts agree in form with Swete 6:14 and 6:17.
• UncertainWhether 1 Pet 3:19–20, 2 Pet 2:4, Jude 6, or Matt 22:30 refer to Gen 6:1–4 is not settled; no lean is taken. The angelic reading cites 1 Pet 3:19–20, 2 Pet 2:4, and Jude 6; the main alternative, the Sethite reading, answers that they do not name Gen 6 and cites Matt 22:30. Form agreement is not a claim about which text a writer used.

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exegeticalGen 6:1–22

Genesis 6 in the New Testament

• SaysHebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 2:5, Matthew 24:37–39 and Luke 17:26–27 use Noah and the flood as a past history. 1 Peter 3:19–20, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6 and Matthew 22:30 say what they say, and are cited by each side of the 6:1–4 question.
• UncertainWhether 1 Peter 3:19–20, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6, or Matthew 22:30 refer to Genesis 6:1–4 is not settled. The NT use of the flood is not a verdict on geographic extent. No application is drawn.

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exegeticalGen 6:1–22

Overview of Genesis 6

• SaysGenesis 6 moves from the sons of God and the hundred and twenty years, through wickedness, regret and favor, to the toledot of Noah, the ark, the first covenant, and Noah's obedience. Swete 6:1 holds English 5:32 and 6:1.
• ImpliesNoah is a real person, as the New Testament treats him.
• UncertainThe sons of God and the Nephilim, the hundred and twenty years, the wording of regret, the flood's reach, and צֹהַר are open. No lean is taken.

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exegeticalGen 6:1–22

Persons and history in Genesis 6

• SaysHebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 2:5, Matthew 24:37–39 and Luke 17:26–27 treat Noah as a man of the past who built an ark and was preserved in the flood.
• ImpliesNoah is a real person, consistent with those texts and with the Genesis 2 notes on Adam. No lean is taken between historical narrative and history told with literary features.
• UncertainA purely non-historical reading is presented by its grounds and stands outside that core. No lean is taken between historical narrative and history told with literary features.

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exegeticalGen 6:1–4

The sons of God and the Nephilim (Genesis 6:1–4)

• Says6:2 and 6:4 set the sons of God against the daughters of man; Job has the same phrase; Swete has angels at 6:2 (apparently over an erasure in Alexandrinus) and sons at 6:4; the Nephilim were in those days and afterward; Swete has γίγαντες for both nouns.
• UncertainHeavenly beings, Seth's line, or rulers; giants or fallen ones; the Nephilim and the children; the link of the cited NT texts to 6:1–4; no lean.

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historicalGen 6:1–22

The flood story in early Jewish and Christian reading

• SaysGen 6:3 gives 120 years; 6:6 says the Lord regretted making man; 6:9 calls Noah righteous and blameless; 6:22 says he did all God commanded.
• UncertainWhether the 120 years mark a lifespan or the time until the flood, and how God’s regret is to be read, are open; no lean, and these readings do not fix the meaning of Gen 6.

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historicalGen 6:1–4

The sons of God in early Jewish and Christian reading

• SaysGen 6:2: the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and took as wives whomever they chose.
• UncertainWhich early reading of the sons of God (angels, rulers, Seth’s line) is right, and whether 2 Pet 2:4 and Jude 6 refer to Gen 6:1–4, are open; no lean, and these readings do not fix the meaning.

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languageGen 6:1–4

LXX Gen 6:1–4: “the angels of God”, “remain”, and “giants”

• SaysSwete 6:1a is ENG 5:32 and Swete 6:1b is ENG 6:1, with the English numbers bracketed in the margin.
• Says6:2 is printed οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ for בְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים, with ἄγγελοι queried as apparently over an erasure in Alexandrinus; 6:4 prints οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ for the same phrase.
• Says6:3 has καταμείνῃ … τούτοις … σάρκας for לֹא־יָדוֹן … בָשָׂר, with τούτοις lacking a Hebrew counterpart, and ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι ἔτη as in the MT.
• SaysAt 6:4 γίγαντες stands both for הַנְּפִלִים and for הַגִּבֹּרִים.
• UncertainThe Greek wording does not settle who the sons of God are, who the Nephilim were, what the 120 years measure, or what יָדוֹן means; no lean is taken.

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languageGen 6:1–4

Gen 6:1–4: "the sons of God" and the Nephilim

• Saysבְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים against בְּנוֹת הָאָדָם; BDB on the two nouns; Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7; Swete "the angels of God" (over an erasure in Alexandrinus) at 6:2 and "the sons of God" at 6:4.
• Saysהַנְּפִלִים (BDB "giants") "in those days, and also afterward"; the mighty men, men of the name; Swete γίγαντες for both nouns.
• UncertainHeavenly beings, Seth's line, or rulers; grounds and objections; the NT texts each side cites; "giants" or "fallen ones"; the Nephilim and the children; no lean.

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VariantGen 6:1–22

Genesis 6: minor variants

• SaysGreek wording differs at 6:2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 16; the dimensions agree.
• SaysThe Samaritan main text has 120 years (6:3) and 300 × 50 × 30 cubits (6:15).
• UncertainWhether the Greek differences reflect other Hebrew or the translator.

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Gen 6:3

exegeticalGen 6:3

The hundred and twenty years (Genesis 6:3)

• Says6:3: the Spirit will not contend with man forever; his days shall be 120 years. BSB contend; Swete remain, with Κύριος and τούτοις. The 120 years stand in the Hebrew, the Greek and the Samaritan.
• ImpliesAs tagged, the verb belongs with judging and contending; remain is the Greek's sense.
• UncertainA lifespan limit or the time until the flood (5:32, 7:6); grounds and objections; no lean.

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languageGen 6:3

Gen 6:3: "my spirit shall not …" and the 120 years

• Saysיָדוֹן Qal imperfect under H1777 (BDB "judge," "plead the cause," "govern," once "contend"); BSB "contend," Swete "remain" with "these" added; בְּשַׁגַּם as OSHB divides it; "flesh"; the 120 years.
• ImpliesAs tagged, the verb belongs with judging and contending; "remain" is the Greek's sense.
• UncertainA lifespan limit or the time until the flood (5:32, 7:6); grounds and objections; no lean.

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Gen 6:4

historicalGen 6:4

The Nephilim in early reading

• SaysGen 6:4: the Nephilim were on the earth in those days and afterward; the children became the mighty men of old, men of renown. The word recurs in Num 13:33.
• UncertainWhether the Nephilim were giants or violent men, whether they were the children of 6:2 or earlier, and how they relate to Num 13:33, are open; no lean, and these readings do not fix the meaning.

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Gen 6:5

exegeticalGen 6:5–8

Wickedness, regret, and favor (Genesis 6:5–8)

• Says6:5–7: the Lord sees man's wickedness, regrets that He has made man, and is grieved; the Niphal of נחם, with the Piel at 5:29; Swete pondered, considered, I was angered. 6:8: Noah found favor.
• ImpliesThe Niphal is set with regret over a deed of one's own. The narrative draws a name-play between Noah and favor.
• UncertainSpeech of God with human feelings is a feature of the language; 1 Sam 15:11, 35 against Num 23:19 and 1 Sam 15:29; no lean on a theory of impassibility.

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historicalGen 6:5–22

Babylonian flood stories

• SaysGen 6:13–22: God tells Noah to build an ark of stated size with three decks, to enter it with his family, and to bring two of every living creature.
• UncertainHow the Babylonian flood stories (Gilgamesh XI, the Atra-khasis recension, Berossus, the Sumerian Ziusudu text) relate to Gen 6 is open; no dependence claimed, no lean, and background does not fix the meaning.

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languageGen 6:5–22

LXX Gen 6:5–22: “pondered”, the ark, and the covenant

• Says6:6 has ἐνεθυμήθη … καὶ διενοήθη for וַיִּנָּחֶם … וַיִּתְעַצֵּב, and 6:7 ἐθυμώθην for נִחַמְתִּי.
• Says6:8 and 6:11 have ἐναντίον; 6:13 has ἥκει ἐναντίον μου for בָּא לְפָנַי; 6:9 has αἱ γενέσεις Νῶε, ἐν τῇ γενέσει αὐτοῦ, and εὐηρέστησεν for הִתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹחַ, as at 5:22 and 5:24.
• Says6:14 has κιβωτὸν ἐκ ξύλων τετραγώνων for תֵּבַת עֲצֵי־גֹפֶר and νοσσιὰς for קִנִּים; 6:16 ἐπισυνάγων for צֹהַר; 6:17 κατακλυσμὸν for הַמַּבּוּל; 6:21 λήμψῃ.
• ImpliesAt 6:18 διαθήκη stands for בְּרִיתִי, and this is its first use in Greek Genesis, as the noun is in the Hebrew.
• UncertainNo lean is taken on the sense of צֹהַר, on how far the flood reached, or on a theory of God’s feeling in 6:6–7.

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languageGen 6:5–7

Gen 6:5–7: the heart of man and the Lord's regret

• Saysוְכָל־יֵצֶר מַחְשְׁבֹת לִבּוֹ (BDB "form, framing, purpose"); וַיִּנָּחֶם Niphal (BDB "be sorry," "rue … repent, of one's own doings," "comfort oneself"); וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל־לִבּוֹ Hithpael; אֶמְחֶה; נִחַמְתִּי (BSB "I am grieved"); Piel "comfort" at 5:29; Swete ἐνεθυμήθη … διενοήθη, ἐθυμώθην.
• ImpliesIn the Niphal the root ranges from regret to pity and comfort; the object "that he had made man" sets it with regret over one's own deed.
• UncertainSpeech of God with human feelings is a feature of the language; the root is used of God regretting and of God not relenting (1 Sam 15:11, 29, 35; Num 23:19); wording fitted to human understanding or a real response within an unchanging purpose; no lean.

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Gen 6:8

languageGen 6:8–10

Gen 6:8–10: Noah finds favor; "these are the generations of Noah"

• Saysוְנֹחַ מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה (BDB "favour, grace"); the name and the noun share two consonants in reverse; MT break after 6:8; אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ (toledot note); אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים; plural "generations"; the Hithpael of 5:22, 24, Swete εὐηρέστησεν; 6:10 and 5:32.
• SaysHeb 11:7; 2 Pet 2:5; Matt 24:37; Luke 17:26 speak of Noah as a man of the past.
• Uncertain"In his generations": his contemporaries or the generations of his life; no lean.

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Gen 6:9

exegeticalGen 6:9–22

The account of Noah, the ark, the flood, and the first covenant (Genesis 6:9–22)

• Says6:9 opens the toledot of Noah; he is righteous, blameless, and walked with God. The ark's dimensions are 300 × 50 × 30 cubits. 6:18 is the first covenant in Genesis. Noah did all that God commanded. Swete 6:10 has Σήμ.
• ImpliesThe ark noun names a box or chest; its only other use is Moses' basket. The covenant noun is first used here, with no terms stated in 6:18.
• UncertainWhat צֹהַר is, and whether the flood is of the whole earth or of a region, are open. The NT use does not settle extent. No lean. No dependence on Babylonian flood stories is claimed.

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Gen 6:11

languageGen 6:11–13

Gen 6:11–13: ruin, violence and "all flesh"

• SaysOne root: וַתִּשָּׁחֵת and נִשְׁחָתָה (Niphal), הִשְׁחִית and מַשְׁחִיתָם (Hiphil), לְשַׁחֵת; BDB "be marred, spoiled," "spoil, ruin," "pervert, corrupt"; חָמָס (BDB "violence, wrong"), Swete ἀδικίας; "all flesh" (BSB "all living creatures," footnote); Swete Καιρὸς παντὸς ἀνθρώπου ἥκει.
• Uncertain"All flesh" in 6:12–13: humankind or all living things; no lean.

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Gen 6:14

languageGen 6:14–16

Gen 6:14–16: the ark, gopher wood and the cubits

• Saysתֵּבַת (BDB "ark (prop. chest, box)"), elsewhere only Exod 2:3, 5; גֹפֶר (BDB "only in Gn 6:14"), BSB footnote cypress or cedar; Swete ξύλων τετραγώνων, νοσσιὰς; קִנִּים (BDB "cells, like nests"); וְכָפַרְתָּ … בַּכֹּפֶר; 300 × 50 × 30 cubits, the BSB conversion not the Hebrew; 6:16.
• ImpliesThe ark noun names a box or chest; its only other use is Moses' basket.
• Uncertainצֹהַר: roof, skylight or window (Swete ἐπισυνάγων); the cubit "from above"; no lean.

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Gen 6:17

languageGen 6:17–18

Gen 6:17–18: the flood and the first "covenant"

• Saysהַמַּבּוּל (BDB "flood in time of Noah"), with "waters"; "to ruin all flesh," "under the heavens," "all … shall perish"; וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי אִתָּךְ, Hiphil, the first בְּרִיתִי in Genesis (BDB "between God and man"); Swete στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου; 9:9, 11, 17.
• ImpliesThe noun is first used here, as "my covenant," with no terms stated in 6:18; terms are stated in 9:8–17.
• Says2 Pet 2:5; Matt 24:39 speak of the flood as a past judgment.
• UncertainWhole earth or a region; grounds and objections; the NT use does not settle the extent; no lean.

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Gen 6:19

languageGen 6:19–22

Gen 6:19–22: two of every kind, and "so he did"

• Saysשְׁנַיִם מִכֹּל תָּבִיא; "to keep alive"; "male and female"; the kinds of 6:20 as in 6:7; Swete δύο δύο; food; וַיַּעַשׂ נֹחַ … כֵּן עָשָׂה; MT break after 6:22.
• SaysHeb 11:7: Noah built an ark to save his family.

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