▼6:2Augustine and others say that this passage refers to the lineages of Seth and Cain, the one being holy and close to God, and the other living apart from God. My suggestion is a more generalized version of what Augustine said, namely, that the sons of God are those who stayed close to God in their lives, and the sons of men are those who lived merely secular lives. In the Bible, the term ‘sons of’ does not necessarily connotate lineage. For example, those who commit adultery are called, ‘sons of adulterers,’ not because their parents were also adulterers, but because they act as if they were sons of adultery personified. There were, in ancient times, prior to any organized religion as we have today, some who were holy, who lived close to God, and who, as a result, lived long lives. But these sons of God were attracted to women who were not holy, who lived secular lives. Thus God generally limits the length of our lives because of sin.(Conte)

▼6:2 The sons of God: The descendants of Seth and Enos are here called sons of God from their religion and piety: whereas the ungodly race of Cain, who by their carnal affections lay grovelling upon the earth, are called the children of men. The unhappy consequence of the former marrying with the latter, ought to be a warning to Christians to be very circumspect in their marriages; and not to suffer themselves to be determined in their choice by their carnal passion, to the prejudice of virtue or religion.(Challoner)

▼6:3 His days shall be, etc: The meaning is, that man’s days, which before the flood were usually 900 years, should now be reduced to 120 years. Or rather, that God would allow men this term of 120 years, for their repentance and conversion, before he would send the deluge.(Challoner)

▼6:4The giants were perhaps those who were giants in their mental stature, not so much in their physical stature. There may also have been stark differences in the physical characteristics of different groups of people, due to small gene pools, in groups separated by tribe or lineage. Some groups may have been markedly larger or stronger than others. The sons of the sons of God and the daughters of men were mighty because God blesses the offspring of those who are holy.(Conte)

▼6:4 Giants: It is likely the generality of men before the flood were of a gigantic stature in comparison with what men now are. But these here spoken of are called giants, as being not only tall in stature, but violent and savage in their dispositions, and mere monsters of cruelty and lust.(Challoner)

▼6:6 It repented him, etc: God, who is unchangeable, is not capable of repentance, grief, or any other passion. But these expressions are used to declare the enormity of the sins of men, which was so provoking as to determine their Creator to destroy these his creatures, whom before he had so much favoured.(Challoner)

▼6:9Even though Noah lived among in evil generation, he was well-thought of and successful among them, because he walked with God. This verse also has the sense that Noah was predominate among his own family and descendents because he walked with God. And it also means that Noah was uncorrupted by his time.(Conte)

▼6:15 Three hundred cubits, etc: The ark, according to the dimensions here set down, contained four hundred and fifty thousand square cubits; which was more than enough to contain all the kinds of living creatures, with all necessary provisions: even supposing the cubits here spoken of to have been only a foot and a half each, which was the least kind of cubits.(Challoner)

▼6:16So, the top of the window was placed so that it would be within a cubit of the summit of the arc. Then Noah could see a greater distance from the window than if it were placed lower, and it would be less susceptible to leaks from waves hitting the window.(Conte)

▼6:19This verse does not yet say how many pairs, but merely instructs that every living creature placed on the ark should be in pair, male and female. This passage teaches us that human persons, as well as all other animals, are intended by God to be in pairs.(Conte)