What is the meaning of Genesis 6?

Introduction to Genesis 6

Genesis 6 stands as one of the most dramatic chapters in all of Scripture, marking a pivotal moment in human history where divine judgment and mercy intersect. This chapter introduces the famous narrative of Noah’s ark, but more importantly, it reveals the depth of human depravity and God’s response to it. The chapter opens with a mysterious account of the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men,” continues with יהוה’s (Yahweh’s) grief over human wickedness, and concludes with the introduction of Noah, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Context of Genesis 6

Within the immediate context of Genesis, chapter 6 serves as a crucial transition point from the genealogies of Adam through Seth (Genesis 5) to the flood narrative (Genesis 7-9). It follows the pattern established in earlier chapters of Genesis where human sin leads to divine judgment, yet God preserves a righteous remnant through whom He will continue His redemptive plan.

In the broader biblical narrative, Genesis 6 establishes several critical theological themes that resonate throughout Scripture. It demonstrates God’s holiness and His inability to tolerate sin, while simultaneously revealing His mercy in preserving Noah and his family. This chapter also serves as a prototype for future biblical narratives of judgment and salvation, referenced by the Messiah Himself in Matthew 24:37-39 and by Peter in 2 Peter 2:5.

The events of Genesis 6 are foundational to understanding the biblical concept of divine judgment and the necessity of righteousness before God. It sets up the covenant relationship that God will establish with Noah, which serves as a precursor to His later covenants with Abraham, Moses, and ultimately, the New Covenant in the Messiah.

Ancient Key Word Study

• Sons of God (בְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים, bene ha’elohim): This term appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible and has sparked much debate. In Job, it clearly refers to angelic beings (Job 1:6, 2:1). The term suggests beings of the heavenly court, emphasizing their direct creation by God and their supernatural nature.
• Nephilim (נְפִילִים): Derived from the Hebrew root נָפַל (nafal, “to fall”), this term has been variously interpreted as “fallen ones” or “those who cause others to fall.” They are described as the “mighty men of old, men of renown,” suggesting both their physical prowess and their infamous reputation.
• Wickedness (רָעַת, ra’at): The term goes beyond mere bad behavior, indicating a complete moral corruption that encompasses thoughts, intentions, and actions. The word suggests an active force of evil rather than passive wrongdoing.
• Thoughts (יֵצֶר, yetzer): This Hebrew word refers to the formation or framing of thoughts and intentions. It’s the same root used in Genesis 2:7 for God’s formation of man, suggesting humanity’s capacity to shape their internal moral world.
• Grieved (וַיִּנָּחֶם, vayinnachem): This term expresses deep emotional pain and regret. When applied to God, it anthropomorphically conveys His profound displeasure with human sin while maintaining His unchangeable nature.
• Noah (נֹחַ, Noach): His name comes from the root נחם (nacham), meaning “comfort” or “rest.” This etymology plays on the hope that Noah would bring relief from the curse on the ground (Genesis 5:29).
• Grace (חֵן, chen): The first mention of grace in the Bible, this word implies favor freely given, not earned. It establishes a fundamental principle of God’s relationship with humanity that continues throughout Scripture.
• Righteous (צַדִּיק, tzaddik): Applied to Noah, this term indicates both moral uprightness and right relationship with God. It suggests complete conformity to God’s standard, though not sinless perfection.
• Corrupt (שָׁחַת, shachat): This word implies destruction and ruin, suggesting that humanity had not merely sinned but had destroyed the very purpose for which they were created.
• Violence (חָמָס, chamas): More than physical violence, this term encompasses all forms of wrong done to others, including oppression, injustice, and ethical violations.

Compare & Contrast

• Genesis 6:2 uses “sons of God” (בְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים) rather than “sons of men” (בְנֵי־הָאָדָם). This specific terminology suggests supernatural beings rather than human rulers or the godly line of Seth. The phrase appears elsewhere exclusively in reference to angelic beings, indicating a deliberate choice to convey supernatural activity.
• The phrase “every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (6:5) uses a unique combination of Hebrew terms (כָל־יֵצֶר מַחְשְׁבֹת לִבּוֹ רַק רַע כָּל־הַיּוֹם) to emphasize the totality of human corruption. The repetition of “all” (כָל) and the addition of “only” (רַק) creates the strongest possible statement of human depravity.
• The term “grieved” (וַיִּנָּחֶם) in 6:6 is chosen over other Hebrew words for sorrow to convey both emotional pain and a change in God’s disposition toward humanity. This anthropopathism communicates God’s personal investment in His creation while maintaining His sovereignty.
• Noah’s characterization as “righteous” (צַדִּיק) and “blameless” (תָּמִים) in 6:9 uses two distinct terms to emphasize different aspects of his character. צַדִּיק focuses on his right standing before God, while תָּמִים emphasizes his moral integrity.
• The description of corruption in 6:11-12 employs three different terms (שָׁחַת, corrupt; חָמָס, violence; דַּרְכּוֹ, way) to paint a comprehensive picture of earth’s degradation. This triadic structure emphasizes the complete nature of creation’s fall from God’s intended order.

Genesis 6 Unique Insights

The rabbinical literature provides fascinating insights into Genesis 6, particularly regarding the nature of the “sons of God.” The Book of Enoch, while not canonical, elaborates extensively on this chapter, identifying the “sons of God” as the “Watchers” – angels who abandoned their heavenly station. This interpretation was widely accepted in Second Temple Judaism and appears to be referenced in Jude 1:6 and 2 Peter 2:4.

The chapter presents a unique theological tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The text portrays God as both grieving over human sin and executing judgment, while simultaneously preserving a remnant through Noah. This dynamic foreshadows the ultimate expression of this tension in the Messiah’s work of redemption.

Early church fathers like Justin Martyr and Irenaeus saw in this chapter a warning about the mixing of the holy and the profane. They interpreted the corruption of the pre-flood world as a cautionary tale about maintaining spiritual purity in the face of worldly influence. The rabbinical tradition adds that Noah was called “perfect in his generations” because he maintained genetic purity in an age of widespread corruption.

The mention of 120 years in verse 3 has been interpreted various ways throughout history. While some see it as a reduction in human lifespan, others, including Rashi, viewed it as a period of grace before the flood, during which humanity had the opportunity to repent. This interpretation aligns with Peter’s description of Noah as a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5).

Genesis 6 Connections to Yeshua

Genesis 6 powerfully prefigures the Messiah’s work in several ways. Just as Noah found grace in God’s eyes and became the means of saving a remnant, Yeshua is the ultimate expression of God’s grace, through whom a remnant of humanity is saved. The Messiah Himself drew this parallel in Matthew 24:37-39, comparing the days before His return to the days of Noah.

The corruption of all flesh described in Genesis 6 establishes the universal need for redemption that only the Messiah could provide. Just as God provided specific instructions for the ark’s construction as the means of salvation, He has provided one way of salvation through the Messiah. The preservation of Noah and his family through the waters of judgment prefigures baptism and salvation through the Messiah, as Peter explicitly states in 1 Peter 3:20-21.

Genesis 6 Scriptural Echoes

Genesis 6 reverberates throughout Scripture in numerous ways. The theme of divine judgment paired with merciful preservation appears repeatedly: in the Exodus, the Babylonian exile, and ultimately in the final judgment described in Revelation. The concept of a righteous remnant, exemplified by Noah, becomes a recurring motif in prophetic literature (Isaiah 10:20-22, Romans 11:5).

The corruption described in Genesis 6 is paralleled in Paul’s description of human depravity in Romans 1:18-32. The supernatural rebellion of the “sons of God” finds echoes in Jude 1:6 and 2 Peter 2:4, where it serves as a warning about the certainty of divine judgment.

Genesis 6 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our own hearts in light of God’s holiness. Like Noah, we live in a world that often stands in opposition to God’s ways. The call to be “righteous” and “blameless” in our generation echoes through the centuries to us today. We must ask ourselves: Are we, like Noah, walking with God despite the corruption around us?

Noah’s example teaches us that finding grace in God’s eyes doesn’t mean an easy life – it often means being called to difficult tasks that require long-term faithfulness. Noah worked for decades building the ark, likely facing ridicule and opposition. This reminds us that obedience to God sometimes requires swimming against the cultural current and maintaining faith even when results aren’t immediately visible.

Did You Know

• The mention of 120 years in Genesis 6:3 is understood by many Jewish sages as the length of time Noah spent building the ark and calling people to repentance, making him one of the longest-serving prophets in Scripture.
• The Hebrew word for “ark” (תֵּבָה, tevah) appears only here and in Exodus 2:3-5, where it describes Moses’ basket, creating a linguistic link between these two great deliverances through water.
• Ancient Near Eastern flood accounts like the Epic of Gilgamesh share similarities with the biblical flood story, but Genesis uniquely emphasizes moral causes rather than divine caprice as the reason for judgment.
• The dimensions of Noah’s ark have been analyzed by modern naval engineers and found to be remarkably stable for a floating vessel of that size.
• The phrase “sons of God” (בְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים) appears only four other times in the Old Testament, all referring to angelic beings.
• The Nephilim are mentioned again in Numbers 13:33, suggesting either their reappearance after the flood or the use of the term as a general description for mighty warriors.
• The concept of “walking with God” used to describe Noah is used only of two other individuals in Genesis: Enoch and Abraham.
• Noah is the first person in Scripture to be called “righteous” (צַדִּיק), establishing a prototype for biblical righteousness.
• The 120-year figure has been interpreted in Jewish tradition as the ideal lifespan of a human being, influencing the traditional blessing for long life.
• The word for “violence” (חָמָס, chamas) in Genesis 6:11 appears 60 times in the Old Testament and is often associated with the reason for divine judgment.