Devine Scripture

Genesis 6:11

What does Genesis 6:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 6:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 6:11 means

This verse reiterates the pervasive wickedness that characterized the earth before the flood. The earth was \"corrupt before God,\" meaning morally depraved and rotten in His sight, and \"filled with violence.\" This paints a picture of societal breakdown, where injustice and harm were rampant. This deep corruption and violence serve as further justification for God's impending judgment, emphasizing the severity of the moral decay that had engulfed creation.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the earth was evil in God's eyes and full of violent ways.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the earth is corrupt before God, and the earth is filled <FI>with<Fi> violence.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the earth was corrupted before God, and was filled with iniquity.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the earth was corrupt beforeGod, and the earth was full of violence.

Context

This verse reinforces the assessment of universal corruption introduced earlier (verses 5-7), leading up to God's direct address to Noah. It provides a generalized overview of the global situation, explaining the extent of the sin that must be judged, making God's subsequent instructions to Noah both necessary and urgent. It builds the case for the judgment.

v.10And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

v.11This passage

v.12And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ezekiel 8:17

    Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have turned again to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

  • Romans 2:13

    for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified;

  • Romans 3:19

    Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:

  • Habakkuk 2:8

    Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.

  • Jeremiah 6:7

    As a well casteth forth its waters, so she casteth forth her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually is sickness and wounds.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:27

    because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and hast humbled thyself before me, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah.

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