Please read my disclaimer to these study notes first. This is how I start my studies. I do a read through first in one translation – most likely Kings James Version. I do not look at the original language yet. The purpose of this first reading is to see what the scriptures say first. Below is the result of my first read through.
Study Notes for Genesis 6:1-22
The Sons of God (Genesis 6:1-4)
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
My Notes
- It came to pass.
- Men multiply on face of earth
- Daughters born to men
- Sons of God saw daughters of men
- Daughters were fair
- Took daughters and made them wives of all they chose
- Lord said
- My spirit will not always strive with man
- For he is also flesh
- His days will be 120 years
- Giants in the earth those days and afterwards
- When sons of God came into daughters of men
- Women bare children to them
- The children became mighty men of old, men of renown
My Questions
- Who were the sons of God?
- What does it mean by “took”?
- Were the women forced to be their wives?
- Did they have more than His spirit within them?
- Is this why His spirit wouldn’t always strive with man?
- Was this comment based on what happened in the previous verse?
- Why did God reduce the age of man so drastically?
- Where did the giants come from?
- Are the scriptures telling us that giants were already on the earth when the sons of God came to the daughters of men?
- What is considered a mighty man? A man of renown?
My Thoughts
The first four verses have spawned more debate and conspiracies than any other portion of scripture. There are several theories as to who the sons of God were, ranging from mere men from the line of Cain or Seth to fallen angels to aliens. I believe a lot of mythology is based off of this and the next section of scripture.
Wickedness was Great (Genesis 6:5-8)
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
My Notes
- God saw
- Wickedness of man was great in the earth
- Every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually
- How God felt about the situation
- It repented the Lord to have made man on earth
- It grieved him at his heart
- The Lord said
- I will destroy
- Man whom I created from the face of the earth
- Both man and beast, creeping thing, fowl of the air
- For it repents me that I made them
- I will destroy
- Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord
My Questions
- What does “wickedness” mean?
- What does “repented” mean?
- How did Noah find grace in God’s eyes?
- Should the word “repent” be used in verse 6 or would another word fit better?
My Thoughts
This is the first time the word wickedness is used. Man’s imagination was evil continuously. God was sorry he made man and now he would have to destroy his own creation. I can see why he was grieved over this.
This was also the first time the word repent was used. The sad part is that it is used by God to describe how he felt.
The Generations of Noah (Genesis 6:9-10)
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
My Notes
- Noah was
- A just man
- Perfect in his generation
- Walked with God
- Noah begat 3 sons at 500 years
- Shem
- Ham
- Japheth
My Questions
- What does the word “perfect” mean?
- What does it mean to walk with God?
My Thoughts
Noah is the second man to be mentioned as walking with God. Enoch was the first. Moses was the oldest man to have children. By the time those in previous generations reached 500 years, they were already great, great-grandparents (except his dad and granddad, of course).
Corruption of Earth and Flesh (Genesis 6:11-13)
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
My Notes
- The Earth
- Corrupt before God
- Filled with violence
- God saw the corruption
- All flesh ways were corrupted on earth
- God speaks to Noah
- End of all flesh is come before me
- The earth is filled with violence through them
- I will destroy them with the earth
My Questions
- Does flesh refer only to humans?
- Can flesh refer to man, beast, and fowl?
- How did violence fill the earth?
- What type of violence took place?
My Thoughts
God makes a distinction between earth and flesh being corrupt. The earth itself was corrupted; most likely as a result of what the flesh on the earth had done. God is going to destroy all flesh in the earth. It’s interesting wording for God to say that the end of all flesh came before him as if it presented itself to him. He didn’t have to go looking for it because everywhere he looked he saw wickedness so I guess it did present itself to him in a way.
The Ark (Genesis 6:14-22)
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
My Notes
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- God tells Noah to build an ark
- The construction of the ark
- Use gopher wood
- Make rooms
- Pitch it within and without with pitch
- Size of the ark
- Length = 300 cubits
- Breadth = 50 cubits
- Height = 30 cubits
- Make a window with a cubit finish above
- Make a door in the side
- Lower, second, and third floors
- What to bring into the ark
- Humans
- Noah and his wife
- Noah’s 3 sons and their wives
- 8 people all together
- All flesh
- Two of every living thing of all flesh
- To keep them alive
- Male and female
- After their kind
- Fowls
- Cattle
- Every creeping this on earth
- Two of every living thing of all flesh
- Food
- Gather all that is eaten
- For humans and animals
- Humans
- Noah did what God commanded him
- What God is going to do
- Bring a flood of waters on earth
- To destroy all flesh that have breath of life
- To cause everything in earth to die
- Establish his covenant with Noah
- Allow Noah and his family into the ark
- Bring a flood of waters on earth
My Questions
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- What does it mean to “pitch”?
- What is a cubit in today’s measurements?
- What does this type of ark look like?
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My Thoughts
While Noah is the only one who was considered perfect, his family and some of the animals received the benefits of that. The scriptures don’t tell us that Noah had any more children during this time. There were only the 3 boys and it took him 500 years to get them. But when he finally did have children, God gave him 3 sons at once. God knew he was going to need strong young men to help him build that ark one day.
Also, his sons were only 100 years old and most likely, still followed everything their father told them to do, especially since Noah was an older man. They probably helped him a lot in the land.
Essays like this are so important to barodnenig people’s horizons.
Thank you. That is definitely what I was going for. 🙂