Genesis 6

Genesis 6:1

It came about

This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.

daughters were born to them

"the women bore daughters"

Genesis 6:2

sons of God

Translators could add a footnote saying: "It is not clear whether this refers to heavenly beings or human beings. In either case, they were beings that God created." Some believe these words refer to angels who rebelled against God, that is, evil spirits or demons. Others think this may refer to powerful political rulers, and others think this may refer to the descendants of Seth.

Genesis 6:3

My spirit

Here Yahweh is talking about himself and his spirit, which is the Spirit of God.

flesh

This means that they have physical bodies that will one day die.

Genesis 6:4

The Nephilim

These seem to have been giants, very tall, large people.

This happened when

"The Nephilim were born because"

sons of God

See how you translated this in Genesis 6:2.

These were the mighty men of old

"These Nephilim were the mighty men who lived long ago" or "These children grew to become the powerful fighters who lived long ago"

men of renown

"famous men"

Genesis 6:5

every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts

"everything their hearts wanted to think about"

the thoughts of their hearts

"their inner, secret thoughts"

Genesis 6:6

it grieved him to his heart

"he was very, very sad about it"

Genesis 6:7

I will wipe away mankind whom I have created

"I created mankind. I will destroy mankind ... so that there will not be any people on the earth"

wipe away

"completely destroy." Here "wipe away" is used in a negative sense, for God is talking about destroying the people because of their sin.

Genesis 6:8

Noah found favor in the eyes of Yahweh

"Yahweh looked favorably on Noah" or "Yahweh was pleased with Noah"

Genesis 6:9

walked with God

See how you translated this in Genesis 5:21.

Genesis 6:10

Noah became the father of three sons

"Noah had three sons" or "Noah's wife had three sons"

Shem, Ham, and Japheth

Translators may add the following footnote: "The sons are not listed in the order in which they were born."

Genesis 6:11

The earth

Possible meanings are 1) the people who lived on the earth or 2) "The earth itself."

was corrupt

"was rotten" or "was completely evil"

before God

Possible meanings are 1) "in God's sight" or 2) "in the presence of Yahweh"

and it was filled with violence

"and there were very many violent people on the earth" or "because it was full of people who did evil things to each other"

Genesis 6:12

behold

The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.

all flesh

Possible meanings for what "all flesh" represents are 1) all human beings or 2) all physical beings, including humans and animal.

had corrupted their way

"had stopped living the way God wanted" or "had behaved in an evil way"

Genesis 6:13

all flesh

See how you translated these words in Genesis 6:12.

the earth is filled with violence through them

"people everywhere on earth are violent"

I will destroy them with the earth

"I will destroy both them and the earth" or "I will destroy them when I destroy the earth"

Genesis 6:14

an ark

This refers to a very large box that would be able to float on water even in a very bad storm. "a large boat" or "a ship" or "a barge"

cypress wood

People do not know exactly what kind of tree this was. "wood used for building boats" or "good wood"

cover it with pitch

"spread pitch on it" or "paint tar on it" or "cover it with pitch to make it waterproof"

pitch

This is a thick, sticky or oily liquid that people put on the outside of a boat to stop water from going through gaps in the wood into the boat.

Genesis 6:15

cubits

A cubit was a unit of measure, a little less than half a meter long.

three hundred cubits

"138 meters." or you may also write a footnote that says: "Three hundred cubits is about 138 meters."

fifty cubits

"twenty-three meters"

thirty cubits

"fourteen meters"

Genesis 6:16

a roof for the ark

This was probably a peaked or slanted roof. Its purpose was to protect everything in the ark from the rain.

a lower, a second, and a third deck

"a lower deck, a middle deck, and an upper deck" or "three decks inside"

deck

"floor" or "level"

Genesis 6:17

Listen

God said this in order to emphasize that he would do what he was about to say. "Pay attention" or "Listen to what I am saying"

I am about to bring the flood of waters

"I am about to send a flood of waters" or "I am about to cause a flood"

all flesh

Here "flesh" represents all physical beings, including humans and animals.

that has in it the breath of life

"that lives"

Genesis 6:18

establish my covenant with you

"make a covenant between you and me"

with you

with Noah

You will come into the ark

"You will enter the ark." Some translations say "You will go into the ark."

Genesis 6:19

Of every living creature of all flesh, two of every kind you must bring into the ark

"You must bring into the ark two of every kind of living creature"

creature

an animal God created

Genesis 6:20

after their kind

"of each different kind"

creeping thing of the ground

This refers to small animals that move on the ground .

two of every sort

This refers to two of every kind of bird and animal.

to you

This refers to Noah and so is singular.

to keep them alive

"so you can keep them alive"

Genesis 6:21

yourself ... you

These refer to Noah and are singular.

Genesis 6:22

So Noah did this. According to all that God commanded him, so he did

"So Noah did everything that God commanded him to do"