Genesis 6:12

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 6:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
Genesis 6:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt, etc.] This is spoken as if he had never looked upon it before; whereas his eyes are always upon the earth, and the inhabitants of it, and upon all their ways and works: but this denotes the special notice he took, and the particular observation he made upon the condition and circumstances the earth, and its inhabitants, were in. And this is remarked, as well as the particle “behold” is used, to denote the certainty of this corruption; it must needs be true, that the earth was corrupted, since the omniscient God had declared it to be so, who sees and knows all things: for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth: that is, all…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- Section VI - The Deluge - XXIII. The Ark 9. דור dôr “age, time from birth to death,” applied either to an individual or the whole contemporary race, running parallel with some leading individual. Hence, the “race” or “generation” living during that time. 14. תבה tēbâh “chest, ark.” It is used only of this vessel of Noah’s construction, and of the little vessel in which Moses was put Exodus 2:3, Exodus 2:5. The root, according to Furst, means “to be hollow.” אבה 'ēbeh a cognate word, signifies “a reed;” κιβωτός kibōtos Septuagint. גפר goper α. λ., perhaps “fir, cypress, resinous wood.” קן qēn “nest, room; related: prepare, rear up.” 16. צהר tsohar “shining, light;” not the same as…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“God looked upon the earth - And was himself an eye - witness of the corruption that was in it, for all flesh had corrupted his way - It was not some particular nations that were thus wicked, but the whole world so; there was none good beside Noah. Genesis 6:13”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“God: Gen 6:8, Gen 18:21; Job 33:27; Psa 14:2, Psa 33:13, Psa 33:14, Psa 53:2, Psa 53:3; Pro 15:3 for all: Gen 6:4, Gen 6:5, Gen 7:1, Gen 7:21, Gen 9:12, Gen 9:16, Gen 9:17; Job 22:15-17; Luk 3:6; Pe1 3:19, Pe1 3:20; Pe2 2:5 Genesis 6:13”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification