Genesis 6:12
And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse emphasizes that the corruption wasn't just external actions, but that "all flesh" had fundamentally corrupted their way, meaning the very path or direction of their lives was ruined, impacting every aspect of their being. This wasn't a superficial problem; it was a deeply ingrained perversion of their intended course, a total deviation from what God designed for humanity.
In the generations leading up to Noah, humanity had multiplied and daughters were being born. However, this growth was accompanied by a terrible spiritual and moral decay, evidenced by the mingling of the "sons of God" with the "daughters of men" and the rise of violent, renowned individuals. The earth had become so thoroughly saturated with sin that God Himself observed its extreme corruption and prepared to enact judgment.
Imagine looking at something you created, only to find it completely ruined. This is the heartbreaking scene God faces here.
The phrase "God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt" (v. 12) isn't just a statement of fact; it's a deep, emotional observation from God's perspective.
It wasn't just a few bad apples. The corruption had spread everywhere, affecting 'all flesh.' What does this tell us about sin?
The phrase "all flesh had corrupted his way" is powerful. It emphasizes that the corruption wasn't limited to a specific group or behavior; it had become all-encompassing.
Understand the original words
basar · Hebrew Noun
Used to describe all living beings (humans and animals) in their state of mortality and physical weakness; it highlights the shared creaturely nature of life.
This verse points to a time of extreme moral and ethical collapse across the entire early human population, a corruption so profound that it moved God to initiate a global cleansing event. The context highlights that this was not a sudden divine whim, but a response to humanity's persistent and widespread departure from righteousness.
Pre-Flood Era— this verse
Widespread Human Wickedness and Violence
Humanity, having proliferated on Earth, became deeply corrupt. Every imagination of the heart was continually evil, leading to pervasive violence and moral decay across the globe.
Pre-Flood Era
The 'Sons of God' and 'Daughters of Men'
A significant corruption involved the mixing of the lineage of Seth (sons of God) with the lineage of Cain (daughters of men), leading to powerful and notorious offspring.
Pre-Flood Era
God's Grief and Decision to Destroy
God observed the extreme corruption and violence, leading to deep sorrow and a decision to wipe out humanity and all life from the Earth.
Pre-Flood Era
Noah's Righteousness and Divine Warning
Noah found favor with God due to his righteousness. God revealed His plan to Noah, commanding him to build an ark for preservation.
This passage directly echoes the Genesis account, stating that 'none is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.' This powerfully reflects the universal corruption described in Genesis 6:12.
Jeremiah 17:9The verse 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?' resonates with the Genesis description of the corruption stemming from 'every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' It highlights the internal source of the pervasive sin.
2 Peter 2:5This verse speaks of God 'not sparing the ancient world, but preserving Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.' It directly connects Noah's salvation to the judgment of a corrupt world, reinforcing the context of Genesis 6:12.
Jude 1:6This passage mentions angels who 'did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling.' While the interpretation of Genesis 6:12 is debated, this verse alludes to a similar kind of unnatural corruption and rebellion in the pre-flood era.
Matthew 24:37-39calvinGenesis 6:1-22: "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,"
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Gigantes fuerunt in terra in diebus illis: et etiam postquam ingressi sunt filii Dei ad filias hominum, genuerunt eis: isti sunt potentes, qui a saec…
ellicottGenesis 6:12: "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth."
(12) All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. —These material things were incapable alike of moral good or evil, but man had made them the instruments of working his carnal will, and because of the associations connected with them they must be effaced, or rubbed out. (See Note on Genesis 6:7 .)
The verse emphasizes that the corruption wasn't just external actions, but that "all flesh" had fundamentally corrupted their way, meaning the very path or direction of their lives was ruined, impacting every aspect of their being. This wasn't a superficial problem; it was a deeply ingrained perversion of their intended course, a total deviation from what God designed for humanity.
In the generations leading up to Noah, humanity had multiplied and daughters were being born. However, this growth was accompanied by a terrible spiritual and moral decay, evidenced by the mingling of the "sons of God" with the "daughters of men" and the rise of violent, renowned individuals. The earth had become so thoroughly saturated with sin that God Himself observed its extreme corruption and prepared to enact judgment.
In the generations leading up to Noah, humanity had multiplied and daughters were being born. However, this growth was accompanied by a terrible spiritual and moral decay, evidenced by the mingling of the "sons of God" with the "daughters of men" and the rise of violent, renowned individuals. The earth had become so thoroughly saturated with sin that God Himself observed its extreme corruption and prepared to enact judgment.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Genesis 6:12 is available in the Sola app.
Pre-Flood Era
Construction of the Ark
Following God's precise instructions, Noah and his family spent many years building the immense ark, a testament to their faith and obedience.
Jesus Himself references the days of Noah, saying, 'For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware of it until the flood came and swept them all away...' This highlights the normalcy and obliviousness of a world steeped in corruption just before judgment.
"And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth." — The verse emphasizes that the corruption wasn't just external actions, but that "all flesh" had fundamentally corrupted their way, meaning the very path or direction of their lives was ruined, impa…
