1The wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath, and caused the flood. 8Noah findeth grace, being just and upright. 14The order, form, and end of the ark.
1AND it came to pass, when men began to multiply 1on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
1 Or, upon the earth. Hebr. upon the face of the earth, that is, upon the plain or flat parts.
2That 2the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were 3fair; and they took them wives 4of all which they chose.
2 That is, the posterity of the faithful forefathers, making profession of the true religion, and being with their families (which constituted the church of God) separated from the unbelieving and carnal generation of Cain. As on the contrary, by the daughters of men, these are principally understood to be those of Cain’s posterity, practicing idolatry, and living after the flesh. See Deut. 14:1; John 1:12; Luke 17:27; Jude verse 19.
3 Hebr. good, that is, fair. See Gen. 24:16; 41:22; Exod. 2:2.
4 Regarding only the outward beauty and worldly pleasure, not the true religion and fear of the LORD, nor their honest parents’ consent. See Gen. 26:34, 35; 28:8.
3And the LORD said, 5My spirit shall not 6always strive with man, for that he also is 7flesh: 8yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
5 That is, My Holy Spirit shall not strife any longer with these stubborn men, to wit, by the mouth of the honest godly remnant and especially by Noah. Other, my mind (that is, I Myself) shall deliberate no longer (spoken after the manner of men) what course I shall take with this evil generation, seeing that by no admonition nor punishment they will amend. See 2 Peter 2:5.
6 Hebr. eternally; that is, at all times.
7 That is, corrupt; understand this not only of the children of men, but likewise of God’s children. Thus the word flesh is taken for the corrupt nature of man, John 3:6; Rom. 7:18; 8:7.
8 That is, so much time I will allow them yet unto amendment and after that defer My judgment no longer. See 1 Peter 3:20.
4There were 9giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God 10came in unto the daughters of men, 11and they bare children to them, the same became 12mighty men which were 13of old, 14men of renown.
9 That is, men of taller stature and more strength than others. See Num. 13:33. The Hebrew word signifying giant is deduced from falling, in regard that they, being fallen off from God, fell upon men with all manner of violence and tyranny, fearing neither God nor man, whereby every one, who saw them, grew dejected, his heart and courage failing and falling to the ground, as it were, before them. This matter is likewise brought in here as a particular cause and provocation of God’s wrath.
10 Or, have come, whereby is modestly and soberly implied, the cohabitation of man and wife. See Gen. 16:2; 30:3, etc.
11 Or, then they (those women namely) did bear (children to their husbands).
12 Or, powerful.
13 Hebr. from eternity. See Jer. 2 on verse 20.
14 That is, famous and renowned men, who, according to the world’s judgment, had achieved great things; as on the contrary Job 30:8 it is said of others, that they are men of no name.
5 ¶ 15And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that everya imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
15 In this verse there is contained a very plain and fundamental description of Original Sin, and the fruits thereof.
a Gen. 8:21; Job 15:16; Prov. 6:14; Jer. 17:9; Mat. 15:19; Rom. 3:10, 11, 12; 8:6.
6And it 16repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, 17and it grieved him at his heart.
16 Thus the Holy Scripture speaks of God after the manner of man, when He alters His work or doings, although in Himself He remains unchangeable; see the next verse and Num. 23:19; 1 Sam 15:11, 29; 2 Sam. 24:16; Mal. 3:6; Acts 15:18; James 1:17.
17 This is also humanly spoken of God, to show us the great displeasure of God against man, by reason of his perverseness. Compare Isa. 63:10. Thus sorrow likewise is attributed to God, Eph. 4:30.
7And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created 18from the face of the earth; both man, and 19beast, and the 20creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
18 Hebr. to blot out from the face of the earth.
19 The Hebrew word signifies here, not only the tame, but also the wild beasts of the earth. Also verse 20. See Gen. 1 on verse 26.
20 Namely, that is creeping upon the earth, and cannot live in the water. Thus the Hebrew word is taken Gen. 1:24, 25, 26, 28, 30.
8But Noah 21found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
21 That is, the Lord of His grace took pleasure in Noah, not for his own worthiness. See of this phrase Gen. 19:19; Exod. 33:13 etc.
9¶These are the 22generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and 23perfect in his 24generations, and Noahb25walked with God.
22 That is, the generation and acts of Noah, or, that which befell him in his generation. For the Hebrew word does not only signify, descent and posterity, but likewise that which betides and befalls them; which is as much as to say, the history or relation of such a one and his affairs. Compare Gen. 25:19; 37:2 and Num. 3:1.
23 That is, one who in matter of the true profession of faith and honest life, was without hypocrisy and falsehood. See Gen. 17:1; 25:27; Job 1:1.
24 That is, among the people who lived in his age. Also Gen. 7:1.
b Gen. 5:22.
25 See Gen. 5 on verse 22.
1026And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
26 See Gen. 5:32.
11The 27earth also was corrupt 28before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
27 Understand the people inhabiting the earth. See Gen. 41:57; 2 Sam. 15:23; 1 Kings 10:24; Ezek. 14:13.
28 That is, sinning openly, daringly, presumptuously, without either shame before men, but also without fear before God. See Gen. 10:9.
12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for 29all flesh had corrupted 30his way upon the earth.
29 That is, all men. Thus the word flesh is to be taken likewise Psalm 78:39; Isa. 40:6, and elsewhere.
30 That is, to say, his intention, manners, life and conduct. Also Job 23:10; Psalm 1:1; Prov. 12:15, etc.
13And God said unto Noah, 31The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence 32through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
31 That is, the time of their destruction is at hand, as Ezek. 7:2, 3, 6; Amos 8:2.
32 Hebr. from their face and with the earth. Other, from the earth.
14¶Make thee 33an ark of 34gopher wood;c35rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with 36pitch.
33 A covered ship of wood, in manner almost of a chest, fitted to float upon the water.
34 It is uncertain what kind of wood or tree this gopher was.
c possibly cypress wood
35 Hebr. nests.
36 The Hebrew word signifies a very tough, gluey and tenacious matter, not unlike to our pitch.
15And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred 37cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.d
37 Or, cubits, or elbows. Many are of the opinion that this kind of measure was threefold, the common or vulgar, the holy one, and the geometrical. The common to have contained five palms, each palm holding the breadth of four fingers; the holy, six palms Ezek. 40:5 (though some perceive the common was of six palms, and the holy one as long again) which was used in holy structures or buildings, as that of the tabernacle and temple. But the geometrical they say, was six times as long as the common, and in the building of the ark, some hold, that Noah may have followed the last measure.
d of a man (ordinary cubit): OT length (Heb. ammah): from elbow to fingertip; 2 spans; 17.5 inches or 445 millimeters
16 A 38window shalt thou make to the ark, and 39in a cubit shalt thou finish 40it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
38 Other, clear light, which by one or more windows may conveniently diffuse and spread itself throughout the ark.
39 Some do understand this of the cover of the ark, which slopes downwards on both sides from the height of one el, for the running down of the water.
40 Namely, the ark.
17And, behold, I, even I, do bring 41a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all 42flesh, wherein is the 43breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall 44die.
41 Hebr. mabbul, signifying a falling and striking down flood.
42 Namely, of man and beast, except the fishes and all that was in the ark, as follows.
43 Other, a living soul. See Gen. 1:20.
44 Hebr. expire, or breathe out.
18But with thee will I establish 45my covenant; and thoue shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
45 Understand hereby, besides the common covenant made with all the faithful, a particular covenant to preserve Noah in the ark, on condition that Noah would trust and obey God.
e 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5.
19And 46of 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.
46 That is, of all manner of earthly living creatures.
20Of fowls after their kind, and of 47cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort 48shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
47 See on verse 7.
48 Understand by My driving and ordering, without your labor or carefulness. Compare this with Gen. 2:19.
21And take thou unto thee of 49all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
49 That is, all manner of food: See Gen. 1:29, 30.
22Thus did Noah; 50accordingf to all that God commanded him, so did he.
50 Noah did execute and perform all, and in such a manner, as God had commanded him. Compare Exod. 40:16.
f Gen. 7:5; Heb. 11:7.