6:1-4Some people have thought that the “sons of God” were fallen angels. But the “sons of God” were probably not angels, because angels do not marry or reproduce (Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25). Some scholars believe this phrase refers to the descendants of Seth who intermarried with Cain's evil descendants. This would have weakened the good influence of the faithfut and increased moral depravity in the world, resulting in an explosion of evil.
Life Application Study BibleGenesisChapter 6
Genesis 6
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 16, 17, 18
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
6Genesis 6
1. The Flood
16 Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. 2The sons of God saw the beautiful women* and took any they wanted as their wives. SThen the LORD said, “My Spirit will not put up with* humans for such along time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.” 4In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times. 5The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7And the LORD said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. 1am sorry I ever made them.” ®But Noah found favor with the LORD.
The Story of Noah
99This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13So God said to Noah, “Ihave decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! 14“Build a large boat* from cypress wood* and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. 5:29 Noah sounds like a Hebrew term that can mean “relief” or “comfort.” 6:2 Hebrew daughters of men; also in 6:4. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. ‘SMake the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.* 16Leave an 18-inch opening* below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.; 17“Look! J am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 19Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a fermale—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 20Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small anima) that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. 21And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.” 22So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him. 6:15 Hebrew 300 cubits [138 meters} /ong, 50 cubits [23 meters] wide, and 30 cubits [13.8 meters] high. The Flood Covers the Earth -
Textual footnotes
- 6:3 Greek version reads will not remain in.
- 6:14a Traditionally rendered an ark.
- 6:14b Or gopher wood.
- 6:16 Hebrew an opening of 7 cubit [46 centimeters].
Life Application Notes 9 notes
6:3“Their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years” has been interpreted by some commentators to mean that God was allowing the people of Noah’s day 120 years to change their sinful ways. God shows his great patience with us as well. He is giving us time to quit living our way and begin tiving his way, the way he shows us in his Word. While 120 years seems like a long time, eventually the time ran out, and the floodwaters swept across the earth. Your time also may be running out. Turn to God to forgive your sins. You can’t see the stopwatch of God’s patience, and there is no bargaining for additional time.
6:4These “giant Nephilites” were people probably nine or ten feet tall. This same Hebrew term was used to name a tall race of people in Numbers 13:33. Goliath, who was nine feet tall, appears in 1 Samuel 17. The giants used their physical advantage to oppress the people around them.
6:6,7Does this mean that God regretted creating humanity? Was he admitting he made a mistake? No, God does not change his mind (1 Samuel 15:29). Instead, he was expressing sorrow for what the people had done to themselves, as a parent might express sorrow over a rebellious child. God was sorry that the people chose sin and death instead of a relationship with him.
6:6-8The people's sin grieved God. Our sins break God’s heart as much as sin did in Noah's day. Noah, however, pleased God, although he was far from perfect. We can follow Noah’s example and find “favor with the LORD” in spite of the sin that surrounds us.
6:9Saying that Noah was “righteous” and “blameless” does not mean that he never sinned (the Bible records one of his sins in 9:20ff). Rather, it means that Noah wholeheartedly loved and obeyed God. For a lifetime he walked step by step in faith as a living example to his generation. Like Noah, we live in a world filled with evil. Are we influencing others or being influenced by them?
6:15The boat Noah built was no canoe! Picture yourself building a boat the length of one and a half football fields and as high as a four-story building. The boat was exactly six times longer than it was wide-—the same ratio used by modern shipbuilders. This huge boat was probably built miles from any body of water by only a few faithful men who believed God's promises and obeyed his commands.
6:18When God said, “I will confirm my covenant,” he was making a promise. This is a familiar theme in Scripture—God making covenants with his people. How reassuring it is to know God’s covenant is established with us. He is sti!l our salvation, and we are kept safe through our relationship with him. For more on covenants, see 9:8-17; 12:1-3; and 15:17-21.
6:22Noah got right to work when God told him to build the huge boat. Other people must have been warned about the coming disaster (1 Peter 3:20), but apparently they did not expect it to happen. Today things haven't changed much. Each day thousands of people are warned of God’s inevitable judgment, yet most of them don’t really believe it will happen. Don’t expect people to welcome or accept your message of God's coming judgment on sin. Those who don't believe in God will deny his judgment and try to get you to deny God as well. But remember God’s promise to Noah to keep him safe. This can inspire you to trust God for deliverance in the judgment that is sure to come. MOUNTAINS OF ARARAT The boat touched land in the mountains of Ararat, located in present-day Turkey. There it rested for almost eight months before Noah, his family, and the animals stepped onto dry land.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Personality profile · page 17
Profile: Cain
In spite of parents’ efforts and worries, conflicts between children in a family seem inevitable. Sibling relationships allow both competition and cooperation. In most cases, the mixture of loving and fighting eventually creates a strong bond between brothers and sisters. It isn’t unusual, though, to hear parents say, “They fight so much I hope they don’t kill each other before they grow up.” In Cain’s case, the troubling potential became a reality. And while we don’t know many details of this first child’s life, his story can still teach us. Cain got angry. Furious. Both he and his brother Abel had given offerings to God, and his had been rejected. Cain’s reaction gives us a clue that his attitude was probably wrong from the start. Cain had a choice to make. He could correct his attitude about his offering to God, or he could take his anger out on his brother. His decision is a clear reminder of how often we are aware of opposite choices, yet choose the wrong one just as Cain did. We may not be choosing to murder, but we are still intentionally choosing what we shouldn't. The feelings motivating our behavior can’t always be changed by simple thought-power. But here we can begin to experience God’s willingness to help. Asking for his help to do what is right can prevent us from setting into motion actions that we will later regret.
Strengths and accomplishments
• First human child
• First to follow in father’s profession, farming
• When disappointed, reacted in anger
• Took the negative option even when a positive possibility was offered
• Was the first murderer
Weaknesses and mistakes
• Anger is not necessarily a sin, but actions motivated by anger can be sinful. Anger should be the energy behind good action, not evil action
• What we offer to God must be from the heart—the best we are and have
• The consequences of sin may last a lifetime
Lessons from his life
• Where: Near Eden, which was probably located in present-day lraq or Iran
• Occupation: Farmer, then wanderer
• Relatives: Parents: Adam and Eve. Brothers: Abel, Seth, and others not mentioned by name
Vital statistics
“You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master” (Genesis 4:7).
Key verse
Cain’s story is told in Genesis 4:1-17. He is also mentioned in Hebrews 11:4; 1 John 3:12; Jude 1:11,
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Study feature · page 18
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