The Corruption of Mankind

Now it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were [a]beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the Lord said, “(A)My Spirit will not [b]remain with man forever, [c](B)because he is also flesh; [d]nevertheless his days shall be 120 years.” The [e](C)Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that (D)every intent of the thoughts of [f]their hearts was only evil continually. So (E)the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was (F)grieved [g]in His heart. Then the Lord said, “(G)I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land; mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For (H)I am sorry that I have made them.” But (I)Noah (J)found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a (K)righteous man, [h](L)blameless in his generation. Noah (M)walked with God. 10 And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was (N)corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was (O)filled with violence. 12 And God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for [i](P)humanity had corrupted its way upon the earth.

13 Then God said to Noah, “(Q)The end of [j]humanity has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of [k]people; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. 14 Make for yourself an ark of [l]gopher wood; you shall make the ark with compartments, and [m]cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark shall be [n]three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a [o]window for the ark, and finish it to a [p]cubit from [q]the top; and put the door of the ark on the side; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 Now behold, (R)I Myself am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which there is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. 18 But I will establish (S)My covenant with you; and (T)you shall enter the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 (U)And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 (V)Of the birds according to their kind, and of the animals according to their kind, of every crawling thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 As for you, take for yourself some of every (W)food that is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and them.” 22 (X)So Noah did these things; according to everything that God had commanded him, so he did.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 6:2 Lit good
  2. Genesis 6:3 Or rule in; or strive with; meaning uncertain
  3. Genesis 6:3 Or in his going astray he is flesh
  4. Genesis 6:3 Or therefore
  5. Genesis 6:4 Lit fallen ones; LXX giants
  6. Genesis 6:5 Lit his heart
  7. Genesis 6:6 Lit to
  8. Genesis 6:9 Lit complete, perfect; or having integrity
  9. Genesis 6:12 Lit all flesh
  10. Genesis 6:13 Lit all flesh
  11. Genesis 6:13 Lit them
  12. Genesis 6:14 I.e., Unknown species of tree
  13. Genesis 6:14 Or pitch
  14. Genesis 6:15 About 450 ft. long, 75 ft. wide, and 45 ft. high or 135 m, 23 m, and 14 m
  15. Genesis 6:16 Or roof
  16. Genesis 6:16 One cubit is about 18 in. or 45 cm
  17. Genesis 6:16 Lit above

Sons of God and Daughters of Mankind

When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God(A) saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves.(B) And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain[a] with[b] mankind forever,(C) because they are corrupt.[c](D) Their days will be 120 years.” The Nephilim[d] were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.

Judgment Decreed

When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,(E) the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth,(F) and he was deeply grieved. Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the Lord.(G)

God Warns Noah

These are the family records(H) of Noah. Noah was a righteous man,(I) blameless among his contemporaries;(J) Noah walked with God.(K) 10 And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness.[e] 12 God saw how corrupt the earth was, for every creature had corrupted its way on the earth.(L) 13 Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.

14 “Make yourself an ark of gopher[f] wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside. 15 This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.[g] 16 You are to make a roof,[h] finishing the sides of the ark to within eighteen inches[i] of the roof. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper decks.

17 “Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth(M) to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you,(N) and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives. 19 You are also to bring into the ark two of all the living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive. 21 Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them.” 22 And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.(O)

Footnotes

  1. 6:3 Or strive
  2. 6:3 Or in
  3. 6:3 Lit flesh
  4. 6:4 Possibly means “fallen ones”; traditionally, “giants”; Nm 13:31–33
  5. 6:11 Or injustice, also in v. 13
  6. 6:14 Unknown species of tree; perhaps pine or cypress
  7. 6:15 Or 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high
  8. 6:16 Or window, or hatch; Hb uncertain
  9. 6:16 Lit to a cubit