Genesis 6:5
New English Translation
5 But the Lord saw[a] that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination[b] of the thoughts[c] of their minds[d] was only evil[e] all the time.[f]
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- Genesis 6:5 sn The Hebrew verb translated “saw” (רָאָה, raʾah), used here of God’s evaluation of humankind’s evil deeds, contrasts with God’s evaluation of creative work in Gen 1, when he observed that everything was good.
- Genesis 6:5 tn The noun יֵצֶר (yetser) is related to the verb יָצָר (yatsar, “to form, to fashion [with a design]”). Here it refers to human plans or intentions (see Gen 8:21; 1 Chr 28:9; 29:18). People had taken their God-given capacities and used them to devise evil. The word יֵצֶר (yetser) became a significant theological term in Rabbinic literature for what might be called the sin nature—the evil inclination (see also R. E. Murphy, “Yeser in the Qumran Literature,” Bib 39 [1958]: 334-44).
- Genesis 6:5 tn The related verb חָשָׁב (khashav) means “to think, to devise, to reckon.” The noun (here) refers to thoughts or considerations.
- Genesis 6:5 tn Heb “his heart” (referring to collective “humankind”). The Hebrew term לֵב (lev, “heart”) frequently refers to the seat of one’s thoughts (see BDB 524 s.v. לֵב). In contemporary English this is typically referred to as the “mind.”
- Genesis 6:5 sn Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil. There is hardly a stronger statement of the wickedness of the human race than this. Here is the result of falling into the “knowledge of good and evil”: Evil becomes dominant, and the good is ruined by the evil.
- Genesis 6:5 tn Heb “all the day.”sn The author of Genesis goes out of his way to emphasize the depth of human evil at this time. Note the expressions “every inclination,” “only evil,” and “all the time.”
Genesis 8:21
New English Translation
21 And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma[a] and said[b] to himself,[c] “I will never again curse[d] the ground because of humankind, even though[e] the inclination of their minds[f] is evil from childhood on.[g] I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done.
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- Genesis 8:21 tn The Lord “smelled” (וַיָּרַח, vayyarakh) a “soothing smell” (רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ, reakh hannikhoakh). The object forms a cognate accusative with the verb. The language is anthropomorphic. The offering had a sweet aroma that pleased or soothed. The expression in Lev 1 signifies that God accepts the offering with pleasure, and in accepting the offering he accepts the worshiper.
- Genesis 8:21 tn Heb “and the Lord said.”
- Genesis 8:21 tn Heb “in his heart.”
- Genesis 8:21 tn Here the Hebrew word translated “curse” is קָלָל (qalal), used in the Piel verbal stem.
- Genesis 8:21 tn The Hebrew particle כִּי (ki) can be used in a concessive sense (see BDB 473 s.v. כִּי), which makes good sense in this context. Its normal causal sense (“for”) does not fit the context here very well.
- Genesis 8:21 tn Heb “the inclination of the heart of humankind.”
- Genesis 8:21 tn Heb “from his youth.”
Ecclesiastes 9:3
New English Translation
3 This is the unfortunate fact[a] about everything that happens on earth:[b]
the same fate awaits[c] everyone.
In addition to this, the hearts of all people[d] are full of evil,
and there is folly in their hearts during their lives—then they die.[e]
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 9:3 tn Heb “evil.”
- Ecclesiastes 9:3 tn Heb “under the sun.”
- Ecclesiastes 9:3 tn The term “awaits” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness and stylistic reasons.
- Ecclesiastes 9:3 tn Heb “also the heart of the sons of man.” Here “heart” is a collective singular.
- Ecclesiastes 9:3 tn Heb “and after that [they go] to [the place of] the dead.”
Jeremiah 17:9
New English Translation
9 The human mind is more deceitful than anything else.
It is incurably bad.[a] Who can understand it?
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 17:9 tn Or “incurably deceitful”; Heb “It is incurable.” For the word “deceitful” compare the usage of the verb in Gen 27:36 and a related noun in 2 Kgs 10:19. For the adjective “incurable” compare the usage in Jer 15:18. It is most commonly used with reference to wounds or of pain. In Jer 17:16 it is used metaphorically for a “woeful day” (i.e., day of irreparable devastation).sn The background for this verse is Deut 29:18-19 (29:17-18 HT) and Deut 30:17.
Matthew 15:19
New English Translation
19 For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
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Mark 7:21
New English Translation
21 For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder,
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