Devine Scripture

Genesis 6:5

What does Genesis 6:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 6:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 6:5 means

This verse offers a profound insight into God's assessment of humanity's condition: their wickedness was not merely occasional but pervasive and deeply ingrained. Every thought and intention of the human heart was continuously evil, indicating a radical corruption that extended to the very core of human nature. This total depravity is presented as the primary reason for God’s impending judgment, demonstrating that sin had saturated every aspect of human existence.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jehovah 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

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jehovah 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the Lord saw that the sin of man was great on the earth, and that all the thoughts of his heart were evil.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jehovah seeth that abundant <FI>is<Fi> the wickedness of man in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil all the day;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And God seeing that the wickedness of men was great on the earth, and that all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all times,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of Man was great on the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil continually.

Context

This verse follows the description of the Nephilim and the widespread intermarriage, directly connecting these elements of corruption to God's deep and grieving perception. It serves as the theological justification for God's coming judgment, linking humanity's actions to His holy nature. This understanding makes God's subsequent decision to destroy mankind comprehensible.

v.4The Nephilim were 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 were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.

v.5This passage

v.6And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 14:1

    The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works; There is none that doeth good.

  • Ezekiel 8:12

    Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say, Jehovah seeth us not; Jehovah hath forsaken the land.

  • Ephesians 2:1

    And youdid he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,

  • Genesis 8:21

    And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:3

    This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:29

    Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

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