Genesis 6

1 Now when men [people, humanity] began [to start, to initiate] to multiply [increase, become numerous] on the face [surface, presence] of the earth [land, ground] and daughters [female children, women] were born [brought forth, given birth] to them [their families, descendants], word study 2 the sons [descendants, having God’s nature] of God [Elohim, the supreme Being] saw [looked upon, gazed at] that the daughters [female children, women] of men [humans, Adam’s descendants] were beautiful [fair, pleasing], and they took [selected, chose] as wives [female partners, companions] whomever [anyone, all] they chose [desired, wanted]. word study 3 So the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said, “My Spirit [the breath of life, the divine presence] will not contend [strive, judge] with man [the human, mortal being] forever [always, to the age], for he is mortal [flesh, frail]; his days [the time of his life, years] shall be 120 years [a hundred and twenty, the allotted time].” word study 4 The Nephilim [giants, bullies, or tyrants] were on the earth [land, ground, or territory] in those days [a period of time, an era]—and afterward as well [also, even later]—when the sons of God [divine beings, heavenly messengers] had relations [intimate connections, sexual relationships] with the daughters of men [human women, female descendants of Adam]. And they bore them children who became the mighty men [strong warriors, powerful heroes] of old [ancient times, forever], men of renown [famous, well-known, having a great name]. word study 5 Then the LORD [Yehovah] saw that the wickedness [bad, evil, or morally wrong] of man [the first human, Adam, or humanity in general] was great [abundant, numerous, or excessive] upon the earth [the land, the material world, or the earthly realm], and that every inclination [intention, plan, or thought] of the thoughts [plots, devices, or imaginations] of his heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] was altogether [only, solely, or completely] evil [bad, or morally wrong] all the time [continually, or every day]. word study 6 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] regretted [was sorry, had sorrow] that He had made [created, formed] man [the first human, Adam] on the earth [the land, the ground], and He was grieved [hurt, pained] in His heart [the center of feelings, will, and intellect]. word study 7 So the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] said, “I will blot out [destroy, wipe away] man, whom I have created [brought into being, formed], from the face [presence, sight] of the earth—every man and beast [animal, living creature] and crawling creature [creeping thing, reptile] and bird of the air [heavens, sky]—for I am grieved [sorry, regretful] that I have made [formed, created] them.” word study 8 Noah [the patriarch, a righteous man], however, found [discovered, attained] favor [grace, kindness] in the eyes [sight, regard] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study 9 This is the account [story, history] of Noah [the patriarch, namesake]. Noah was a righteous [just, upright] man, blameless [unblemished, perfect] in his generation [time, people]; Noah walked [lived, had a close relationship] with God [Elohim, the supreme One]. word study 10 And Noah [the patriarch, a righteous man] had [begat, became the father of] three [exactly, a trio of] sons: Shem [the firstborn, a son of renown], Ham [a son, a descendant], and Japheth [a son, an ancestor of many nations]. word study 11 Now the earth [land, territory, or region] was corrupt [ruined, destroyed, or evil] in the sight [face, presence] of God [Elohim, the supreme God], and full [filled, complete] of violence [cruelty, injustice, or lawless behavior]. word study 12 And God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] looked upon [saw and observed carefully] the earth [the land, the material world] and saw that it was corrupt [ruined, morally decayed]; for all living creatures [all flesh, every living being] on the earth had corrupted [ruined, destroyed] their ways [path, manner of life]. word study 13 Then God [Elohim, the supreme Judge] said to Noah, “The end [conclusion, finality] of all living creatures [flesh, humanity] has come before Me, because through them [their actions, presence] the earth [land, world] is full of violence [cruelty, injustice]. Now behold [look, see], I will destroy [ruin, corrupt] both them and the earth [together, as one]. word study 14 Make for yourself [as a means of salvation] an ark [a large boat, vessel of safety] of gopher wood [possibly cypress, a durable tree]; make rooms [nests, compartments] in the ark and coat [cover, seal] it with pitch [a waterproofing substance, tar] inside [within] and out [outside, externally]. word study 15 And this [the following instructions] is how you are to build it: The ark [tebah, a vessel of salvation] is to be 300 [three hundred] cubits [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] long, 50 [fifty] cubits wide, and 30 [thirty] cubits high [in height, stature]. word study 16 You are to make [construct, build] a roof [covering, upper covering] for the ark [vessel, container], finish [complete, bring to an end] its walls [sides, barriers] a cubit [unit of measurement, about 18 inches] from the top [highest point, uppermost part], place [set, put] a door [entrance, opening] in the side [area, region] of the ark, and build [construct, make] lower [bottom, lowest], middle [central, intermediate], and upper [highest, topmost] decks [levels, floors]. word study 17 And behold [look, take notice], I [the Lord, the Creator] will bring [send, cause to come] floodwaters [a great deluge, overwhelming waters] upon the earth [the land, the world] to destroy [ruin, annihilate] every creature [all flesh, living being] under the heavens [the sky, the atmosphere] that has the breath of life [a living spirit, the essence of life]. Everything [all, every living thing] on the earth [the land, the ground] will perish [die, come to an end, expire]. word study 18 But I will establish [make firm, confirm] My covenant [agreement, promise] with you, and you will enter [come into, go aboard] the ark [vessel, boat]—you and your sons [descendants, offspring] and your wife [woman, spouse] and your sons’ wives [daughters-in-law, women] with you [in your company, together]. word study 19 And you are to bring two [a pair, male and female] of every living creature [of all flesh, including animals] into the ark [the vessel of salvation]—male [the masculine gender] and female [the feminine gender]—to keep them alive [to preserve their physical life, to sustain them] with you [in your company, under your care]. word study 20 Two [a pair, one male and one female] of every kind [species, type] of bird [fowl, flying creature] and animal [beast, livestock] and crawling [creeping, reptilian] creature [living thing] will come [approach, go in] to you [toward thee, unto thee] to be kept [preserved, maintained] alive [living, in life]. word study 21 You [as a direct address, personally] are also to take [gather, collect] for yourself every kind [all types, variety] of food [sustenance, nourishment] that is eaten [consumed, devoured] and gather [collect, store] it as food [provisions, supplies] for yourselves [your family, those with you] and for the animals [living creatures, beasts].” word study 22 So Noah [as a faithful servant] did everything precisely as God [Elohim, the supreme Commander] had commanded [given orders, instructed] him [to obey, to follow]. word study