The Meaning of Genesis 6:6 Explained

Genesis 6:6

KJV: And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

YLT: and Jehovah repenteth that He hath made man in the earth, and He grieveth Himself -- unto His heart.

Darby: And Jehovah repented that he had made Man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Genesis 6:6 Mean?

Study Notes

repented the LORD
.
repented
Repentance (O.T.), Summary: In the O.T., repentance is the English word used to translate the Heb. nacham, to be "eased" or "comforted." It is used of both God and man. Notwithstanding the literal meaning of nacham, it is evident, from a study of all the passages, that the sacred writers use it in the sense of metanoia in the N.T.--a change of mind. Matthew 3:2 (See Scofield " Acts 17:30 ") . As in the N.T., such change of mind is often accompanied by contrition and self-judgment. When applied to God the word is used phenomenally according to O.T. custom. God seems to change His mind. The phenomena are such as, in the case of man, would indicate a change of mind.

Context Summary

Genesis 6:1-8 - The Wickedness Of Men
When a son was born to Lamech, he named him Noah, which means "Rest."He thought that the boy would grow up to share and alleviate the strain of daily toil. But his hope was premature: rest was not yet: the Deluge would soon sweep over the works of men. The world must await the true Rest-giver, who said, "Come unto Me." It was an age of abounding wickedness, but the language describing it is obscure. Some think that "the sons of God" were fallen angels; others that the seed of Seth became joined in marriage with the daughters of Cain. But God's Spirit strove with man, and though a limit was put to His pleadings, yet He sought men with yearning remonstrance, till His Holy Spirit received the final negative and turned away disappointed and grieved. There was considerable delay. For 120 years the Spirit of God waited. See 1 Peter 3:20. He will not wait for ever, Luke 13:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 6

1  The wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath
8  Noah finds grace
9  His family line
14  The order, form, dimensions, and building of the ark

What do the individual words in Genesis 6:6 mean?

And was sorry Yahweh that He had made - man on the earth and He was grieved in His heart
וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־ עָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־ הָֽאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּתְעַצֵּ֖ב אֶל־ לִבּֽוֹ

וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם  And  was  sorry 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָחַם  
Sense: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עָשָׂ֥ה  He  had  made 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָֽאָדָ֖ם  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
בָּאָ֑רֶץ  on  the  earth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וַיִּתְעַצֵּ֖ב  and  He  was  grieved 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָצַב 
Sense: to hurt, pain, grieve, displease, vex, wrest.
לִבּֽוֹ  His  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.