Genesis 6:1-2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 6:1-2

Now here we have an account of two things which occasioned the wickedness of the old world:?1. The increase of mankind: Men began to multiply upon the face of the earth. This was the effect of the blessing (Gen. 1:28), and yet man's corruption so abused and perverted this blessing that it was turned into a curse. Thus sin takes occasion by the mercies of God to be the more exceedingly sinful. Prov. 29:16; When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth. The more sinners the more sin;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 6:1

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply upon the face of the earth ,.... Either mankind in general, or rather the posterity of Cain, who were mere natural men, such as they were when born into the world, and as brought up in it, destitute of the grace of God, and of the knowledge and fear of him; and who in proportion much more multiplied than the posterity of Seth, because of the practice of polygamy, which by the example of Lamech, one of that race, might prevail among them: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 6:2

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair ,.... Or "good" F11 טבת καλαι , Sept, "bonae" Cocceius. , not in a moral but natural sense; goodly to look upon, of a beautiful aspect; and they looked upon, and only regarded their external beauty, and lusted after them: those "sons of God" were not angels either good or bad, as many have thought, since they are incorporeal beings, and cannot be affected with fleshly lusts, or marry and be given in marriage, or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 6:1

When men began to multiply - It was not at this time that men began to multiply, but the inspired penman speaks now of a fact which had taken place long before. As there is a distinction made here between men and those called the sons of God, it is generally supposed that the immediate posterity of Cain and that of Seth are intended. The first were mere men, such as fallen nature may produce, degenerate sons of a degenerate father, governed by the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 6:1

Verse 1 1.And it came to pass, when men began to multiply. Moses, having enumerated in order, ten patriarchs, with whom the worship of God remained pure, now relates, that their families also were corrupted. But this narration must be traced to an earlier period than the five hundredth year of Noah. For, in order to make a transition to the history of the deluge, he prefaces it by declaring the whole world to have been so corrupt, that scarcely anything was left to God, out of the widely spread... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 6:2

Verse 2 2.That they were fair. Moses does not deem it worthy of condemnation that regard was had to beauty, in the choice of wives; but that mere lust reigned. For marriage is a thing too sacred to allow that men should be induced to it by the lust of the eyes. (259) For this union is inseparable comprising all the parts of life; as we have before seen, that the woman was created to be a helper of the man. Therefore our appetite becomes brutal, when we are so ravished with the charms of beauty,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-2

EXPOSITION And it came to pass. Literally, it was ; not in immediate sequence to the preceding chapter, but at some earlier point in the antediluvian period; perhaps about the time of Enoch (corresponding to that of Lamech the Cainite), if not in the days of Enos. Havernick joins the passage with Genesis 4:26 . When men — ha'adham , i.e. the human race in general, and not the posterity of Cain in particular (Ainsworth, Rosenmüller, Bush)— began to multiply —in virtue of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-5

The demoralization of the race. This was due to— I. THE LONG LIVES OF THE ANTEDILUVIANS . Long life, if helpful to the good, is much more injurious to the wicked. Giants in health and life are often giants in wickedness. II. THE UNHOLY ALLIANCES OF THE SETHITES AND CAINITES . Nothing so demoralizing as marriage with an evil woman. Its bad effects are commonly transmitted to, and intensified in, posterity. III. THE DEPRAVITY INDUCED BY THE FALL , which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-8

The days that were before the flood ( Matthew 24:38 ). I. SIN INCREASING . 1. Licentiousness raging . The special form it assumed was that of sensuous gratification, leading to a violation of the law of marriage. In the seventh age Lamech the Cainite became a polygamist. By and by the sons of God, captivated by the charms of beauty, cast aside the bonds of self-restraint, and took them wives of all whom they chose. 2. Violence prevailing . Those who begin by breaking the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-8

The work of sin. The moral chaos out of which the new order is about to be evolved. We find these features in the corrupt state depicted. I. ILL - ASSORTED MARRIAGES . The sons of God— i.e. the seed of the righteous, such men as the patriarchs described in Genesis 5:1-32 ; men who walked with God, and were his prophets—fell away from their allegiance to the Divine order, and went after the daughters of the Cainites, The self-will and mere carnal affections are denoted by the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 6:1-2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 6:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 6:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 6:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 6:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 6:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-8

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