Genesis 6:12

And God looked upon the earth . "God knows at all times what is doing in our world, but his looking upon the earth denotes a special observance of it, as though he had instituted an inquiry into its real condition" (Bush; cf. Psalms 14:2 ; Psalms 33:13 , Psalms 33:14 ; Psalms 80:2 , Psalms 80:3 ). And, behold, it was corrupt. "Everything stood in sharpest contradiction with that good state which God the Creator had established" (Delitzsch, quoted by Lange). The nature of this corruption is further indicated. For all flesh, i.e. the human race, who are so characterized here not so much for their frailty ( Isaiah 40:5 , Isaiah 40:6 ) as for their moral and spiritual degeneracy ( Genesis 6:3 , q.v. )— had corrupted— skachath ( καταφθει ì ρω , LXX . ); literally, had destroyed, wrecked, and ruined, wholly subverted and overthrown— his way — derech (from darach, to tread with the feet), a going; hence a journey, a way; e.g.

Here it signifies the entire plan and course of life in all its ethical and religious aspects as designed for man by God (cf. Psalms 119:9 ; and contrast "the way of Cain," Jude 1:11 ; "the way of Balaam," 2 Peter 2:15 )— upon the earth .