Geneses Chapter 6- Judgement for the Corrupt

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Geneses Chapter 6-

Judgement for the Corrupt

The Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/GEN.6.NIV

Wickedness in the World

1 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, (Human population grew.) 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. (Intermarriage between the sons of God and the daughters of humans.)(1)

3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” (God destined the lifespan of humans to one hundred and twenty years out of frustration of human sinfulness. The set year should be the time to the Flood.)(2)

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days- and also afterward- when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. (The Nephilim(3) showed up from the intermarriage. They were prominent people.)

5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. (The human race was corrupted with wickedness.)

6 The Lord regretted(4) that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. (God disliked the failure of human being.)

7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created- and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground- for I regret that I have made them.” (God decided to renew the history by wiping out the earthly life.)

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Noah was not one of those fallen. So his family too. Rom. 12:1-2)

Noah and the Flood

9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. (Noah and his family were separated from the evil generation by staying in God's grace.)

10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. (3 sons)

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.

12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. (Violence filled the lawless and loveless world. Human nature is evil without God.)

13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.

14 So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. (God told Noah to make an ark for upcoming judgement.)

15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.

16 Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. (Specification of the ark given.)

17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. (Global Judgement)

18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark- you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. (God's covenant with Noah: Obedience and Salvation)

19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. (The ark will be the salvation; prisoned in the ark for life.)

20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. (Save all lives according to its kind.)

21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” (Prepare food for all to survive.)

22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Noah obeyed God in his action.)

(1, Intermarriage Between) (AI)

(Note: There are many difficult sayings in the Bible. Some of them are beyond of our comprehension as mentioned in Deut. 29:29. We must see the whole picture within the scope rather than stuck to the individual particles.)

Genesis 6:2 describes a pivotal, highly debated moment in biblical narrative often interpreted as a forbidden intermarriage that directly precedes the Flood. The passage states: "the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose" (NKJV).

This event is generally understood as a violation of divine order and a major factor in the widespread wickedness of humanity.

Key Interpretations of the Intermarriage

The Sethite View (Godly vs. Ungodly Line): This interpretation suggests the "sons of God" are the descendants of Seth (who walked with God) marrying the "daughters of men," who were the descendants of Cain (who were ungodly).

   Significance: This represents a failure of the godly line to remain separate, leading to spiritual corruption.

The Angelic View (Fallen Angels/Nephilim): Many scholars, ancient Jewish tradition (e.g., Josephus), and early church fathers (e.g., Justin Martyr, Tertullian) interpreted "sons of God" as angelic beings.

   Significance: These beings mated with human women, producing the Nephilim ("mighty men of old").

The Royal/Ruler View (Tyranny): Some argue the "sons of God" are kings, rulers, or powerful men who abused their authority to take any woman they desired, contributing to societal corruption.

Context and Consequences

Violation of Limits: The passage implies an unnatural mixture or a violation of divine, created boundaries between angelic and human realms (in the Angelic view) or a moral violation of separating godly lines (in the Sethite view).

The Nephilim (v. 4): The union produced the Nephilim, frequently translated as "giants" or "fallen ones," who were noted as "mighty men of renown".

Divine Judgment: Following this intermarriage, God declares that human lifespan will be reduced to 120 years and determines to wipe out humanity due to their overwhelming wickedness.

Parallel to Later Law: This action is often seen as an early parallel to the prohibitions against marrying people of other faiths, which tended to turn God's people away from Him.

(2, 120 Years) (AI)

In Genesis 6:3, God states, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years" (NKJV). This statement, occurring just before the account of Noah and the Flood, is generally interpreted in two main ways:

1. The Countdown to the Flood

The most common interpretation among scholars is that the 120 years represents a "countdown" or a grace period until God sends the Flood to judge the earth.

Meaning: God was declaring that human wickedness would no longer be tolerated, and judgment would come in 120 years, during which time Noah built the ark.

Context: This view fits within the context of Genesis 6, which immediately proceeds to describe the corruption of humanity and God's plan to bring the Flood.

2. A Limit on Human Lifespan

Another interpretation is that God was restricting the maximum lifespan of human beings from hundreds of years to a maximum of 120 years.

Context: Before this, people lived for several centuries (e.g., Methuselah at 969). After the flood, lifespans gradually decreased.

Challenges: Many people continued to live longer than 120 years immediately after the flood (e.g., Shem, Arpachshad), though eventually, this did become a common, though not absolute, upper limit for human life.

Summary

Answers in Genesis suggests the 120 years is a decree that the flood would come in 120 years, not a immediate lifespan limit.

The phrase "his days shall be..." can refer to either the duration of human life generally or to the duration of humanity's grace period before the flood.

Historically, this passage is also noted for being understood by some ancient interpreters as a direct limitation on how long humans could live.

(3, The Nephilim) (AI)

The Nephilim (pronounced Neh-fuh-lim) are mysterious, giant "fallen ones" mentioned in Genesis 6 and Numbers 13 as the offspring of "sons of God" and human women, often interpreted as hybrid beings or ancient warrior elites. They are associated with great wickedness and the destruction of the world via the flood, described as "heroes of old" and "men of renown".

Origin and Mentions

Biblical Sources: Primarily in Genesis 6:1-4, just before the Great Flood, and mentioned in Numbers 13:32-33, where spies see them as giants in Canaan.

Theories of Origin: Angelic/Supernatural View: Traditionally, they are considered the offspring of fallen angels ("sons of God") who mated with human women.

Sethite View: A common alternative view suggests the "sons of God" are the godly line of Seth intermarrying with the ungodly line of Cain.

Elite Warrior View: Some modern scholars interpret them as "fallen" individuals—tyrants, kings, or elite warriors.

Role and Interpretation

Purpose: Their role in the biblical narrative is often to represent the extreme wickedness, violence, and corruption that leads God to bring on the Flood.

Description: Known for their enormous size ("giants" in the Greek Septuagint) and power, the Nephilim were feared "mighty men".

Interpretations: Many interpret them as human rebels or demonic-human hybrids designed to disrupt humanity, with some views linking them to mythical, heroic figures rather than explicitly monstrous entities.

(4, the Regret of the Lord) (AI)

"The Regret of the Lord" typically refers to the theological concept derived from Genesis 6:6-7, where the Bible states, "The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled" (see Genesis 6:6-7 in context).

This concept is often interpreted in the following ways:

Context of the Flood: The regret (Hebrew: naham) occurs when God sees the extreme wickedness of humanity, prompting the decision to bring the Great Flood.

Divine Compassion, Not Mistake: While human regret implies a mistake in judgment, divine regret is understood as a compassionate, sympathetic emotion toward creation that has chosen to disobey and must face the consequences, according to Truth Applied.

Grief Over Human Action: The Lord is not regretting His own actions (making man) as a mistake, but rather the destruction of his creation by the wickedness of mankind, says The Gospel Outpost.

Divine Sorrow: It is described as a reflection of God’s relational nature and his heartbreak over having to discipline those He loves, notes Bible Hub.

Distinction from Human Change: Many theologians, including Kevin DeYoung on The Gospel Coalition, distinguish this from the promise that God does not change His mind or lie (Numbers 23:19*), arguing instead that when humans change and turn to sin, God's reaction toward them changes.

This theme also appears in 1 Samuel 15:11, 35, where God "regrets" making Saul king, following Saul's disobedience.

*Numbers 23:19 (ESV): "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (and more biblical references.)