6.1-22

Genesis

When preaching through this chapter of the Bible, John MacArthur said to his ministry team during sermon preparation, "The only thing worse than preaching an evening message on Genesis 6:1-7 is preaching two nights on Genesis 6:1-7." He meant that this section of the Bible lacks great additional Biblical reference, despite being the subject of great speculation; therefore, he didn't intend to linger after asserting the basic truths he could deliver. Genesis Chapter Six is the "prequel" to the Great Flood. Mankind had grown to a more significant population (v1), and the "sons of God" bene Elohim, angels - (in this instance, the fallen angels who were cast out of heaven with Satan), had begun to cohabitate with mankind. Such was the degree to which man had become corrupted (v2). God determined that in 120 years, He would remove mankind (save eight) from the face of the earth (v3). The Nephilim (v4), only referred to otherwise in the Bible as of fearful and mythic legendary status in Numbers 13:33, may be considered the offspring of the unholy union of these fallen angels and human women or simply as men of renown. Such was the evil on the earth (v5) that God was grieved at having made man (v6). There is a word translated in most Bibles as "regretted" in verse six; however, this is wrong both theologically and in translation. God did not make a mistake. God still loved His creation and suffered the grief of their existence for the next 120 years while Noah, with whom God found favor (v8), built the Arc. But this word (way·yin·nā·ḥem וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם) is best translated as "relented," knowing the time had come.

CHAPTER 6

The Nephilim and the Daughters of Men

1 Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were good in appearance; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
3 Then Yahweh said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever because he indeed is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be 120 years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5 Then Yahweh saw that the evil of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And Yahweh regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 And Yahweh said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I regret that I have made them.”
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of Yahweh.

The Generations of Noah

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among those in his generations; Noah walked with God.
10 And Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 Now the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
13 Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.
14 “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and you shall cover it inside and out with pitch.
15 “Now this is how you shall make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits.
16 “You shall make a window for the ark, and complete it to one cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.
17 “As for Me, behold I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall breathe its last.
18 “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.
19 “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 “Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.
21 “As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.”
22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.