Menu
41 Pharaoh’s Dreams
42 Joseph Sees His Brothers
43 Joseph Sees His Brothers Again
44 Joseph Detains Benjamin
45 Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers
46 Israel’s Migration to Egypt
47 Jacob’s Family Settles in Goshen
48 Blessing for Joseph’s Sons
49 Jacob’s Last Words
50 Burial in the Promised Land
42 Joseph Sees His Brothers
43 Joseph Sees His Brothers Again
44 Joseph Detains Benjamin
45 Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers
46 Israel’s Migration to Egypt
47 Jacob’s Family Settles in Goshen
48 Blessing for Joseph’s Sons
49 Jacob’s Last Words
50 Burial in the Promised Land
Genesis 6: People’s Universal Wickedness
Who do you think the “sons of God” were?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:1–2 As the population on Earth increased and more and more daughters were born, the sons of God saw how beautiful the women were and chose wives to suit them.
King James
Genesis 6:1–2 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
In what ways do you think God was pleading with people?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:1–3 As the population on Earth increased and more and more daughters were born, the sons of God saw how beautiful the women were and chose wives to suit them.
God said, “My Spirit won’t plead with people forever. Their days will end 120 years from now.
King James
Genesis 6:1–3 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 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.
What is the significance of God’s promise of 120 years?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:3 God said, “My Spirit won’t plead with people forever. Their days will end 120 years from now.
King James
Genesis 6:3 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.
How might people seeing themselves as great and mighty, living many hundreds of years, affect their relationship with God?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:4 In those days, there were giants on Earth, as the sons of God became one with the women. Their children became mighty men of valor.
King James
Genesis 6:4 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.
Prior to the giving of the Law, how could people be held responsible for knowing right from wrong?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:5 God saw how wicked that people on Earth had become, how their thoughts and motives were consistently evil.
King James
Genesis 6:5 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.
If God is longsuffering, not wanting anyone to perish, at what point will he give up on people?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:6 So God was sorry he had made man. It broke his heart.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t slow in keeping his promise, not like some people think. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, giving time for everyone to repent.
King James
Genesis 6:6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Why do you think God chose to destroy everything, not just the wrongdoers?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:7 “I will eliminate the human race from the earth,” God said. “I will destroy humans and animals, birds and beasts, for I regret making any of them.”
King James
Genesis 6:7 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.
How did Noah’s behavior differ from others?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:8 Noah was an exception because he pleased God.
King James
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Why weren’t Noah’s father and grandfather found righteous?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:8 Noah was an exception because he pleased God.
King James
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
What do you think might have motivated Noah to walk with God when others had not?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:9 This is Noah’s story. He was a righteous man, blameless in his evil generation, because he walked with God.
King James
Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
How do you think Noah’s faith affected his sons?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
King James
Genesis 6:10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
To what extent is God aware of people’s behavior?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:11–12 God saw how corrupt and violent the people on Earth were. He observed all the corruption, seeing how bad human society had become, for their ways were perpetually evil.
Psalm 139:2–3 You see every time I sit or stand. No matter how distant I might think I am, you still know my thoughts. You see everywhere I walk and know when I lie down to rest. You know everything about who I am and what I do.
King James
Genesis 6:11–12 he earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Psalm 139:2–3 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
How do you think Noah felt after God said he would destroy the land and its inhabitants?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:13 “I will put an end to all people,” God said to Noah, “for violence is everywhere. I will destroy the land and its inhabitants.
King James
Genesis 6:13 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.
What resources would Noah have needed to build a ship that met God’s specification?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:14–16 Build a ship of planed timbers, with rooms, and seal it with tar, inside and out. Make it 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Build it with lower, middle, and upper decks, a door in the side, and a roof set eighteen inches above the sides.
King James
Genesis 6:14–16 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 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. 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.
How much time did Noah need to finish building the ship?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:14–16 Build a ship of planed timbers, with rooms, and seal it with tar, inside and out. Make it 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Build it with lower, middle, and upper decks, a door in the side, and a roof set eighteen inches above the sides.
King James
Genesis 6:14–16 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 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. 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.
What might people have thought when they saw the ship being built?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:14–16 Build a ship of planed timbers, with rooms, and seal it with tar, inside and out. Make it 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Build it with lower, middle, and upper decks, a door in the side, and a roof set eighteen inches above the sides.
King James
Genesis 6:14–16 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 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. 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.
What kind of message might Noah have preached while building the ship?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:17 “Listen, I will bring a great flood that will destroy every living thing beneath the sky. Everything on Earth will die.
2 Peter 2:5 God spared none of the ungodly of the ancient world. Only Noah, who preached righteousness, and seven others were saved in the Great Flood.
King James
Genesis 6:17 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.
2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
How did Noah determine what rooms and provisions would be needed?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:18–21 But I promise to keep you safe. You will enter the ship with your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring two of every living thing into the ship, male and female, to keep them alive with you—birds, livestock, and everything else that roams the earth. Two of every kind will come to you to be kept alive. Store food on board for you and the animals.
King James
Genesis 6:18–21 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. 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. 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. 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.
By what means were all the animals gathered for the ark?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:18–21 But I promise to keep you safe. You will enter the ship with your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring two of every living thing into the ship, male and female, to keep them alive with you—birds, livestock, and everything else that roams the earth. Two of every kind will come to you to be kept alive. Store food on board for you and the animals.
King James
Genesis 6:18–21 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. 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. 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. 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.
How complete do you think God’s construction plans were?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Genesis 6:22 Noah precisely followed all of God’s instructions.
King James
Genesis 6:22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.