Genesis 6:1-12 The time before the flood

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. [kjv]

בראשיתבראאלהים … השמים … הארץ [he]

εν αρχη εποιησεν ο θεος τον ουρανον και την γην [lxx]

… principio … [v]

… bigynnyng … [wy]

… begynnynge … [ty]

The phrase "in the beginning" is not when a baseball team scores a lot of runs.

Eve stole first.
Adam stole second.
Cain struck out Abel.

Then the Giants-Angels game was rained out (Nephilim and the Flood)

[sleeping student in class and basketball]

Noah took some bats in the Ark. Someone was always on deck.
Who did Noah have warming up in the bull pen?
Noah's game was rained out.
Rebekah took the pitcher to the well.
David struck out Goliath.
The prodigal son made a home run.
The Pharisees and Sadduces kept looking for (to steal) a sign.
Tennis: Joseph served in Pharaoh's court.
In Matthew, Jesus pitched the Sermon on the Mound.

More: A recent new beginning

Go back to the time before the flood of Noah.

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. [kjv]

6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. [kjv]

then God laid it to heart that he had made man upon the earth, and he pondered it deeply. [bs3]

More: The Rephaim

Genesis 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, [kjv]

και εγενετο ηνικα ηρξαντο οι ανθρωποι πολλοι γινεσθαι επι της γης και θυγατερες εγενηθησαν αυτοις [lxx]

[Noah after the flood]
To sum it up, Many children these days have sum trouble with multiplication.
There is a difference of opinion, but times are tough. And their troubles are multiplying. Does that add up? What does the remainder say about what is left over?

More: Lent, Ash Wednesday, Fastnacht Day, Mardi Gras

Genesis 6:1

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KJV: And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

Hebrew: ויהי כי החל האדם לרב על פני האדמה ובנות ילדו להם׃

Greek: και εγενετο ηνικα ηρξαντο οι ανθρωποι πολλοι γινεσθαι επι της γης και θυγατερες εγενηθησαν αυτοις

Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. [kjv]

ιδοντες δε οι υιοι του θεου τας θυγατερας των ανθρωπων οτι καλαι εισιν ελαβον εαυτοις γυναικας απο πασων ων εξελεξαντο [lxx]

Jarad or Jared in Hebrew means "shall come down" or "descend". Jared is mentioned in the genealogy from Adam to Noah in Genesis 5:15-20.

More: Genesis 5:1-29 Hidden plan of salvation in the generations from Adam to Noah

English: For many angels of God now consorted with women and begat sons who were overbearing and disdainful of every virtue, such confidence had they in their strength; in fact the deeds that tradition ascribes to them resemble the audacious exploits told by the Greeks of the giants. (Jewish Antiquities, I, 73)

Greek: πολλοὶγὰρ ἄγγελοι θεοῦ γυναιξὶ συνιόντες τὸνβίον συνεδρίου παῖδας καὶπαντὸς ὑπερόπτας καλοῦ διὰ τὴν ἐπὶ τῇ δυνάμει πεποίθησιν· ὅμοιατοῖς ὑπὸ γιγάντων τετολμῆσθαι λεγομένοις ὑφ᾿ Ἑλλήνων καὶ οὗτοιδράσαι παραδίδονται. (Loeb #242, p. 35)

Examples: Centaur, Minotaur, etc. Whatever happened, this appears to have happened before the flood of Noah (with some additional references after the flood).

Until the 4th century A.D.: Angels had relations with humans to create hybrids. (Josephus)
Introduced in the 4th century A.D.: Sons of Seth married the daughters of Cain. (Augustine)

Genetic engineering before the flood: In Genesis 5 and as recorded by Josephus in the first century, these fallen angels appear to have consorted (had relations) with women. This "genetic" engineering created hybrids and was, in part, the reason for the flood of Noah. Noah was not "perfect" but his genes were not corrupted.

More: Flavius Josephus

Genesis 6:2

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KJV: That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Hebrew: ויראו בני האלהים את בנות האדם כי טבת הנה ויקחו להם נשים מכל אשר בחרו׃

Greek: ιδοντες δε οι υιοι του θεου τας θυγατερας των ανθρωπων οτι καλαι εισιν ελαβον εαυτοις γυναικας απο πασων ων εξελεξαντο

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. [kjv]

και ειπεν κυριος ο θεος ου μη καταμεινη το πνευμα μου εν τοις ανθρωποις τουτοις εις τον αιωνα δια το ειναι αυτους σαρκας εσονται δε αι ημεραι αυτων εκατον εικοσι ετη [lxx]

To what does the 120 years refer?

More than one choice may apply.

Josephus was a Jewish historian working for the Romans. His main works include a history of the Jews and a history of the Jewish War against the Romans. Josephus states the following.

English: God loved Noah for his righteousness, but, as for those men, He condemned not them alone for their wickedness, but resolved to destroy all mankind then existing and to create another race pure of vice, abridging their term of ]life from its former longevity to one hundred and twenty years; he therefore converted the dry land into sea. [Loeb #242, p. 35]

Greek: Ὁ δὲ θεὸς τοῦτον μὲν τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἠγάπησε, κατεδίκαζεδ᾿ οὐκ ἐκείνων μόνων τῆς κακίας, ἀλλὰ καὶ πᾶν ὅσον ἦν ἀνθρώπινον τότε δόξαν αὐτῷ διαφθεῖραι καὶ ποιῆσαι γένος ἕτερον πονηρίας καθαρόν, ἐπιτεμόμενος αὐτῶν τὸν βίον καὶ ποιήσας ἐτῶνοὐχ ὅσα πρότερον ἔζων, ἀλλ᾿ ἑκατὸν εἴκοσιν, εἰς θάλασσαν τὴνἤπειρον μετέβαλε. [Josephus Antiquities 1:8:5]

The translator of Josephus adds an inferred "years" and "therefore".

[Augustine, year chart, moon and sun]

More: Flavius Josephus

Psalms 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. [kjv]

αι ημεραι των ετων ημων εν αυτοις εβδομηκοντα ετη εαν δε εν δυναστειαις ογδοηκοντα ετη και το πλειον αυτων κοπος και πονος οτι επηλθεν πραυτης εφ ημας και παιδευθησομεθα [lxx]

dies … septuaginta anni … octoginta anni … [v]

What is the Biblical limit of old age? One contemporary Sunday School handout provides this verse.

The handout makes the following claim.

The Biblical estimates upper limit is now the average American life expectancy - 78.8 years, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And a Pew Research report in 2009 found that 79 percent of Americans say "old age" begins at 85. ...

Is this true? Is this misleading? The Bible must not be true in this respect if people live longer than the Biblical estimate.

The above is a statement by a "psalm-singer" in Psalms. What about God's statement in Genesis as to what would happen after the flood of Noah's time.

Psalms 90:10

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KJV: The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Hebrew: ימי שנותינו בהם שבעים שנה ואם בגבורת שמונים שנה ורהבם עמל ואון כי גז חיש ונעפה׃

Greek: αι ημεραι των ετων ημων εν αυτοις εβδομηκοντα ετη εαν δε εν δυναστειαις ογδοηκοντα ετη και το πλειον αυτων κοπος και πονος οτι επηλθεν πραυτης εφ ημας και παιδευθησομεθα

Latin: dies annorum nostrorum in ipsis septuaginta anni si autem multum octoginta anni et quod amplius est labor et dolor quoniam transivimus cito et avolavimus

Genesis 6:3

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: ויאמר יהוה לא ידון רוחי באדם לעלם בשגם הוא בשר והיו ימיו מאה ועשרים שנה׃

Greek: και ειπεν κυριος ο θεος ου μη καταμεινη το πνευμα μου εν τοις ανθρωποις τουτοις εις τον αιωνα δια το ειναι αυτους σαρκας εσονται δε αι ημεραι αυτων εκατον εικοσι ετη

Some Creation groups will claim that this means that Noah preached for 120 years before the flood - since people lived more than 120 years after the flood as the ages decreased steadily and dramatically over the next 1000 years or so to go below the 120 year limit. Josephus in the 1st Century AD, in recounting the history of the Jews, claims that this means that man's life is now limited to a 120 year lifespan.

Why would a handout claim the Biblical authority of the first verse (from a psalm singer) and ignore telling anyone about the second verse (from God)?

Genesis 6:3

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: ויאמר יהוה לא ידון רוחי באדם לעלם בשגם הוא בשר והיו ימיו מאה ועשרים שנה׃

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. [kjv]

הנפלים … [he]

οι δε γιγαντες ησαν επι της γης εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις και μετ εκεινο ως αν εισεπορευοντο οι υιοι του θεου προς τας θυγατερας των ανθρωπων και εγεννωσαν εαυτοις εκεινοι ησαν οι γιγαντες οι απ αιωνος οι ανθρωποι οι ονομαστοι [lxx]

The Hebrew word "הנפלים" (ha-ne-pi-lim) ≈ "Nephilim" is translated is "giants" but these were more than just big and what we would call "giants" today.

The English word "Jared"comes from the Latin word "Iared" ≈ "Jared" which comes from the ancient Greek word "Ἰαρέδ" ≈ "Jared" which comes from the Hebrew word "ירד" (yered) ≈ "descend, go down".

The Hebrew word "הנפלים" (ha-ne-pi-lim) ≈ "Nephilim".

War of the gods:

Titans (New York Titans in the AFL, Tennessee Titans more recently)
Giants (New York Giants)

The "bad" side, the Titans, were condemned to be sent to "Tartarus", the lower part of the depths of "hell".

Peter, written to Greeks, uses "Tartarus".
Jude does not mention the place.

(Josephus)

More: Tartarus and the bottomless pit

The Hebrew word "ירד" (yered) ≈ "descend". In Hebrew, Jared means "shall come down". It is during his time that it appears that the angels that left their habitation did their deeds.

The English word "Jared"comes from the Latin word "Iared" ≈ "Jared" which comes from the ancient Greek word "Ἰαρέδ" ≈ "Jared" which comes from the Hebrew word "ירד" (yered) ≈ "descend, go down".

More: Genesis 5:1-29 Hidden plan of salvation in the generations from Adam to Noah

Genesis 6:4

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: הנפלים היו בארץ בימים ההם וגם אחרי כן אשר יבאו בני האלהים אל בנות האדם וילדו להם המה הגברים אשר מעולם אנשי השם׃

Greek: οι δε γιγαντες ησαν επι της γης εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις και μετ εκεινο ως αν εισεπορευοντο οι υιοι του θεου προς τας θυγατερας των ανθρωπων και εγεννωσαν εαυτοις εκεινοι ησαν οι γιγαντες οι απ αιωνος οι ανθρωποι οι ονομαστοι

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. [kjv]

ιδων δε κυριος ο θεος οτι επληθυνθησαν αι κακιαι των ανθρωπων επι της γης και πας τις διανοειται εν τη καρδια αυτου επιμελως επι τα πονηρα πασας τας ημερας [lxx]

Genesis 6:5

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: וירא יהוה כי רבה רעת האדם בארץ וכל יצר מחשבת לבו רק רע כל היום׃

Greek: ιδων δε κυριος ο θεος οτι επληθυνθησαν αι κακιαι των ανθρωπων επι της γης και πας τις διανοειται εν τη καρδια αυτου επιμελως επι τα πονηρα πασας τας ημερας

Genesis 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. [kjv]

και ενεθυμηθη ο θεος οτι εποιησεν τον ανθρωπον επι της γης και διενοηθη [lxx]

then God laid it to heart that he had made man upon the earth, and he pondered it deeply. [bs3]

The LXX (Septuagint) has "pondered it deeply". The HOT (Hebrew Old Testament) and KJV (King James Version) have "grieved him at his heart".

Genesis 6:6

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KJV: And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Hebrew: וינחם יהוה כי עשה את האדם בארץ ויתעצב אל לבו׃

Greek: και ενεθυμηθη ο θεος οτι εποιησεν τον ανθρωπον επι της γης και διενοηθη

Brenton: then God laid it to heart that he had made man upon the earth, and he pondered it deeply.

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. [kjv]

και ειπεν ο θεος απαλειψω τον ανθρωπον ον εποιησα απο προσωπου της γης απο ανθρωπου εως κτηνους και απο ερπετων εως των πετεινων του ουρανου οτι εθυμωθην οτι εποιησα αυτους [lxx]

And God said, I will blot out man whom I have made from the face of the earth, even man with cattle, and reptiles with flying creatures of the sky, for I am grieved that I have made them. [bs3]

The creature categories can be considered as "land", "sea" and "air".

Genesis 6:7

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KJV: 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.

Hebrew: ויאמר יהוה אמחה את האדם אשר בראתי מעל פני האדמה מאדם עד בהמה עד רמש ועד עוף השמים כי נחמתי כי עשיתם׃

Greek: και ειπεν ο θεος απαλειψω τον ανθρωπον ον εποιησα απο προσωπου της γης απο ανθρωπου εως κτηνους και απο ερπετων εως των πετεινων του ουρανου οτι εθυμωθην οτι εποιησα αυτους

Brenton: And God said, I will blot out man whom I have made from the face of the earth, even man with cattle, and reptiles with flying creatures of the sky, for I am grieved that I have made them.

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. [kjv]

… חן … [he]

νωε δε ευρεν χαριν εναντιον κυριου του θεου [lxx]

But Noe found grace before the Lord God. [bs3]

The Hebrew word "חן" (chen) ≈ "favor". Noah did not find "joy" in the eyes of the Lord. Noah received a "favor" or "grace" or "joy" from God. Christians received a "favor" or "grace" or "joy" from Christ.

The ancient Greek word "χάρη" ≈ "favor, grace" was the word used to translate the Hebrew word "חן" (chen) ≈ "favor". That Greek word had an associated meaning that could be misinterpreted as English "joy" as in "bliss".

Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [kjv]

πληρωσατε μου την χαραν ινα το αυτο φρονητε την αυτην αγαπην εχοντες συμψυχοι το εν φρονουντες [gnt]

Paul: I did a favor for you. Do a favor for me. Be like-minded, ...

More: A joyous thank you for the grace of a gaudy favor

Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. [kjv]

αυται δε αι γενεσεις νωε νωε ανθρωπος δικαιος τελειος ων εν τη γενεα αυτου τω θεω ευηρεστησεν νωε [lxx]

And these are the generations of Noe. Noe was a just man; being perfect in his generation, Noe was well-pleasing to God. [bs3]

Was Noah without sin? What does it mean that Noah was "perfect in his generations"?

The LXX uses the Greek word that means "complete" or "purposeful" and not the English idea of "perfect" as being without error.

Genesis 6:9

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KJV: These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Hebrew: אלה תולדת נח נח איש צדיק תמים היה בדרתיו את האלהים התהלך נח׃

Greek: αυται δε αι γενεσεις νωε νωε ανθρωπος δικαιος τελειος ων εν τη γενεα αυτου τω θεω ευηρεστησεν νωε

Brenton: And these are the generations of Noe. Noe was a just man; being perfect in his generation, Noe was well-pleasing to God.

Genesis 6:10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. [kjv]

εγεννησεν δε νωε τρεις υιους τον σημ τον χαμ τον ιαφεθ [lxx]

… tres filios Sem Ham … Iafeth [v]

… tres hijos… Sem… Cam … Jafet. [es]

The table of nations, later in Genesis, details the lines of the three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.

This is something you should "Noah" about!

Details are left as a future topic.

Genesis 6:10

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KJV: And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Hebrew: ויולד נח שלשה בנים את שם את חם ואת יפת׃

Greek: εγεννησεν δε νωε τρεις υιους τον σημ τον χαμ τον ιαφεθ

Latin: et genuit tres filios Sem Ham et Iafeth

Spanish: Y engendró Noé tres hijos: a Sem, a Cam y a Jafet.

Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. [kjv]

εφθαρη δε η γη εναντιον του θεου και επλησθη η γη αδικιας [lxx]

The LXX uses the Greek word for "unrighteousness" rather than "violence". The idea of "unrighteousness" is more general than that of "violence".

Genesis 6:11

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KJV: The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Hebrew: ותשחת הארץ לפני האלהים ותמלא הארץ חמס׃

Greek: εφθαρη δε η γη εναντιον του θεου και επλησθη η γη αδικιας

Genesis 6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. [kjv]

και ειδεν κυριος ο θεος την γην και ην κατεφθαρμενη οτι κατεφθειρεν πασα σαρξ την οδον αυτου επι της γης [lxx]

Does the corrupt world before the flood have anything to do with what is happening today?

More: 2 Peter 2:1-22 Déjà vu all over again

Genesis 6:12

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KJV: And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Hebrew: וירא אלהים את הארץ והנה נשחתה כי השחית כל בשר את דרכו על הארץ׃

Greek: και ειδεν κυριος ο θεος την γην και ην κατεφθαρμενη οτι κατεφθειρεν πασα σαρξ την οδον αυτου επι της γης

According to Micah 3 God used the Nephilim giants to punish Israel. They are hidden now but they will soon return during the Tribulation to lead the nations against Israel. This will be the taller ones. http://www.stargods.org/AlienNation.htm (as of 1997)

After the Church was established as the official church of the Roman Empire, the "angel" view of Genesis 6 became embarrassing to the church. Some attacks were made using Genesis 6. And, celibacy was becoming an important church institution.

A way out was the "Lines of Seth" theory whereby the lineage of Seth was not kept separate from the lineage of Cain. For this reason, God chose to send the Flood of Noah's time.