Gen 6:5-7 | TNotes | STEP | 6:5 everything they thought or imagined (literally every intention of the thoughts of their hearts ): In the Old Testament, the heart is the core of volition, thought, and morality (see Prov 4:23 ). Wicked actions stem from a corrupt inner life. • consistently and totally evil: Strong language captures the pervasiveness, depth, and persistence of human wickedness. Human nature continued to be corrupt even after the flood (see Gen 8:21 ).

a6:5►

bProv 4:23►

cGen 8:21►

d6:6►

e6:7►

f1 Sam 15:11►

g35►

hGen 6:5►

i6:7►

j3:23►

k1:28►

l1:28-30►

m8:1►

nJob 38:41►

oHos 4:3►

pRom 8:19-22►

‏ Genesis 6:5-7

6:5 ^a everything they thought or imagined (literally every intention of the thoughts of their hearts): In the Old Testament, the heart is the core of volition, thought, and morality (see Prov 4:23 ^b). Wicked actions stem from a corrupt inner life.

• consistently and totally evil: Strong language captures the pervasiveness, depth, and persistence of human wickedness. Human nature continued to be corrupt even after the flood (see Gen 8:21 ^c).
6:6 ^d the Lord was sorry: The extent of human wickedness made the Lord regret having created them (see also 6:7 ^e; cp. 1 Sam 15:11 ^f, 35 ^g).

• It broke his heart: The evil in humanity’s heart (Gen 6:5 ^h) pained God greatly. Sending the flood was a heart-wrenching act on God’s part.
6:7 ⁱ wipe ... from the ... earth: As Adam and Eve were banished from the garden-sanctuary (3:23 ^j), all of humankind would be expunged from God’s good creation.

• every living thing: Human sin had so corrupted the earth that judgment fell on the animals and birds over which they had dominion (see 1:28 ^k and study note). The special role of humans in the created order (1:28-30 ^l) means that nature is affected by human moral choices (see 8:1 ^m; Job 38:41 ⁿ; Hos 4:3 ^o; Rom 8:19-22 ^p).