Genesis 6:12 - God saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
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What does "Genesis 6:12" mean?
Genesis 6:12 is a powerful and condemning statement about the state of the world before the Flood. Let's break down what it means:
"God saw the earth..." This highlights God's omniscience, meaning He knows and sees everything. He's not just aware of events; He's intimately observing the condition of His creation.
"...and saw that it was corrupt..." The word "corrupt" (Hebrew: shachat) implies a deep moral decay, a spoiling, a ruining, a perversion of what God had intended. It suggests a breakdown of order, goodness, and righteousness. This corruption wasn't just in a few isolated instances; it was pervasive.
"...for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth." This is the core of the verse. "All flesh" means all living beings, specifically referring to humanity. They had corrupted their "way" (Hebrew: derek), meaning their lifestyle, their behavior, their entire manner of living. This wasn't a mere slip-up or isolated sin; it was a consistent and intentional deviation from God's intended path.
In essence, the verse is saying that God observed the world and found it to be utterly morally bankrupt. Humanity, every living person, had deliberately and consistently chosen a path of wickedness, resulting in widespread corruption and a deviation from God's design.
Key implications and interpretations:
Moral responsibility: It emphasizes human responsibility for the state of the world. The corruption wasn't accidental; it was a result of human choices.
Universality of sin: The phrase "all flesh" underscores that sin had permeated the entire human race. It was not limited to a particular group or region.
Deep-seated corruption: The word "corrupt" indicates a profound and extensive decay, suggesting that sin had taken root and permeated every aspect of human life.
Justification for judgment: This verse provides the theological justification for God's decision to send the Flood. The world had become so corrupt that God deemed it necessary to cleanse the earth and start anew with Noah and his family.
The nature of God: While highlighting God's judgment, it also implies His holiness and righteousness. God cannot tolerate unrepentant and pervasive evil indefinitely.
This verse is a sobering reminder of the potential for human beings to stray from God's ways and the consequences of widespread moral decay. It serves as a warning and a call to righteousness.
Genesis 6:12 - God saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
What does "Genesis 6:12" mean?
Genesis 6:12 is a powerful and condemning statement about the state of the world before the Flood. Let's break down what it means:
"God saw the earth..." This highlights God's omniscience, meaning He knows and sees everything. He's not just aware of events; He's intimately observing the condition of His creation.
"...and saw that it was corrupt..." The word "corrupt" (Hebrew: shachat) implies a deep moral decay, a spoiling, a ruining, a perversion of what God had intended. It suggests a breakdown of order, goodness, and righteousness. This corruption wasn't just in a few isolated instances; it was pervasive.
"...for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth." This is the core of the verse. "All flesh" means all living beings, specifically referring to humanity. They had corrupted their "way" (Hebrew: derek), meaning their lifestyle, their behavior, their entire manner of living. This wasn't a mere slip-up or isolated sin; it was a consistent and intentional deviation from God's intended path.
In essence, the verse is saying that God observed the world and found it to be utterly morally bankrupt. Humanity, every living person, had deliberately and consistently chosen a path of wickedness, resulting in widespread corruption and a deviation from God's design.
Key implications and interpretations:
Moral responsibility: It emphasizes human responsibility for the state of the world. The corruption wasn't accidental; it was a result of human choices.
Universality of sin: The phrase "all flesh" underscores that sin had permeated the entire human race. It was not limited to a particular group or region.
Deep-seated corruption: The word "corrupt" indicates a profound and extensive decay, suggesting that sin had taken root and permeated every aspect of human life.
Justification for judgment: This verse provides the theological justification for God's decision to send the Flood. The world had become so corrupt that God deemed it necessary to cleanse the earth and start anew with Noah and his family.
The nature of God: While highlighting God's judgment, it also implies His holiness and righteousness. God cannot tolerate unrepentant and pervasive evil indefinitely.
This verse is a sobering reminder of the potential for human beings to stray from God's ways and the consequences of widespread moral decay. It serves as a warning and a call to righteousness.