Genesis 6:9-7:24
Generation IV: The Generations of Noah (6:9)
Gen. 6:9-7:24
- Locate the passage
This passage follows the revelation of two great truths from the previous passage: the depth of mankind’s sin and the favor Noah found. This pericope begins the third toledoth section in Genesis.
- Genre
The passage is narrative. The “conversation” is one-direction from the Lord to Noah.
- Determine the structure of the passage
6:9-12 – Noah was just, but the earth was corrupt
6:13-14 – The end of all flesh has come, but you will be saved
6:15-21 – This is what you are to do; this is what I will do
6:22 – Noah’s obedience
7:1-10 – Instructions on entering the Ark
7:11-16 – Entering the Ark
7:17-24 – The Extent of the Flood
- Exegete the passage
Note something of a chiastic structure in the description of Noah’s justness and the earth’s corruption:
A – Noah was just
B – The earth was corrupt
B´ – The earth will be judged
B´ – Noah will be saved
6:9 – There are three descriptions of Noah in this verse
- Noah was just
Exp. Cf. 6:22 – See also the phrase said of him that Noah did “Just as God commanded him”- The phrase occurs four times in this pericope (6:22; 7:5, 9, 16), emphasizing why Noah was just
- Noah was perfect
- Noah walked with God
6:9 – Living righteous in an unrighteous time
- One man’s faith
- Noah’s faith stands out among all the earth
- The sad truth is that Noah (apparently) was the only person of faith in all the earth (Cf. Gen. 18:16-33; Jer. 5:1; Ezek. 22:30)
- Nothing is said of the “faith” of Noah’s family
6:9 – “Noah was just” (Cf. 7:1)
- “tzaddiq” means righteous
- The word occurs here for the first time in Scripture
- The Lord is frequently described as “righteous” and mankind if often instructed to be But, only Noah, Daniel, and Job are described as “righteous” (Cf. Ezek. 14:14, 20)
- Job 9:20 – Job referred to himself as just
- Matt. 1:19; Luke 1:6; 2:25; 23:50; Acts 10:22; Heb. 11:4; 2 Peter 2:7; 1 John 3:12
- Rom. 3:10 – there are none who are righteous
- 2 Peter 2:5 – Noah was a “preacher of righteousness”
- See Hab. 2:4 (Cf. Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38) – “The just shall live by faith”
- In this pericope, we see Noah living out this principle of living by faith
- See Prov. 14:34 – the impact of righteousness and sin
6:9 – Noah was “perfect”
- “tamim”
- Two other people are described as “perfect” in the OT
- Job 1:1
- 1 Kings 9:4 – “David walked in integrity (“tam”)
- Ezek. 28:15
6:9 – Noah “walked with God”
- 5:22 – This is the same description made of Enoch
- Of no one else, besides Noah and Enoch, is this said in Scripture
- Micah 6:8
6:11 – “Corruption and violence”
- Part of the evidence for the judgment of the Lord was the corruption and violence
6:12 – “God looked”
- Similar to 6:5, the verse emphasizes WHAT God saw, not THAT God saw
- The phrase connects this pericope with the 6:1-8.
6:13-21
- 6:13-16 and 6:17-21 are parallel
- Note in both the “I will” and “you shall” language
6:13 – “All flesh”
- Another indication of a worldwide flood as the only acceptable interpretation of this passage (Cf. 6:17)
- The Lord informs Noah what He is about to do
- Amos 3:7
- Matt. 24:37-38 – Jesus compared His future return to the days of Noah. As mankind was unprepared for God’s judgment in the flood, so also many will be unprepared for His return. They were marrying and giving in marriage; going about their lives as though nothing was about to happen.
6:14 – Make yourself an ark
- “Asa” means “make” or “fashion”
- It is the word used in creation in Gen. 1:7, 16, 25
- Heb. 11:7 – out of “reverence” Noah built an ark by faith
- Noah was 500 years old when the command to build came 5:32 and 600 when he entered the ark (7:6). So, he worked on the ark for approximately 100 years.
- The obedience and patience to work on a boat on dry ground when the earth had not seen rain (Gen. 2:5) explains why Noah was considered a man of faith (Heb. 11:7)
6:17 – “I, Myself”
- The emphatic nature of the first person here leaves no doubt that this flood was more than simply a catastrophic natural disaster. It was a direct judgment of the Lord on mankind’s sin.
6:18 – I will establish My covenant with you
- “berith”
- This is the first occasion of the word, “covenant” in Scripture
- This verse foreshadows 9:13-15
6:19 – “Two of every kind … male and female”
- The provision and expectation of continued procreation for the animals
6:22 – Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him
- Noah’s obedience is twice emphasized in this verse
7:1 – “I have seen … you are righteous”
- What the Lord “saw” in Noah is repeated (Cf. 6:9)
7:2 – Seven clean animals taken; two of the unclean
- The number of the animals taken were 7 of every clean animal and 2 of every unclean
7:11 – Noah was 600 years old when he entered the ark
7:12 – It rained for 40 days and 40 nights
7:11-16 – these verses recap the instructions of 7:1-10, but emphasize Noah’s obedience to follow God’s instructions
- 7:16 – “Just as God commanded him”
7:16 – “The Lord shut him in”
- The Lord closed the door to the ark
7:18 – The “great” increase of the water parallels the great increase of mankind’s sin on the earth (Cf. 6:5)
7:19 – “All the high hills under the whole heaven were covered”
- Another clear indication of a worldwide flood
7:21 – All flesh that moved on the earth died
- This leaves open the possibility that water life survived the flood
7:22 – All in whose nostrils was the breath of the Spirit
- Gen. 2:7
- See discussion above under 6:3
7:24 – The water prevailed on the earth 150 days
- The water was on the earth for 150 days
- 40 days of rain
- 110 more days before the water began to recede
- Thus, from the 2nd month, 17th day of Noah’s 600th year (7:11) to 7th month, 17th day (with 30 days per month) = 150 days
- However, that was not the total amount of time that Noah and his family were on the ark (Cf. 8:13-14)
- Let the structure of the text drive the sermon
Noah’s Obedience
Exp. Noah was just, perfect, and walked with God
App. The potential impact of our faith
- God’s Judgment
- God’s Covenant
- In wrath, He remembered mercy
- Our ultimate salvation foreshadowed in Christ
Exp. Noah’s obedience brought physical salvation for his family
App. However, the faith of our father’s will not save us spiritually
Exp. Christ is the One who ultimately brings, “rest.”