For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "I, even I" is a powerful, emphatic declaration from God, underscoring that this catastrophic flood is not a random act of nature but a direct, intentional act of divine judgment against sin. It highlights God's sovereign power and His active role in bringing this judgment upon the earth.
For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God, grieved by humanity's pervasive wickedness and violence, declares His intention to utterly destroy all living creatures with a great flood. This decision stems from the deep corruption that has infected all of mankind, leaving no hope for repentance or reform. Therefore, God commands Noah to build a large ark as a means of preservation for himself, his family, and pairs of all living creatures.
The sheer destruction described in this verse can be shocking. But why such a drastic measure?
Genesis 6:17 reveals a God who is not only merciful but also just. The flood wasn't a capricious act, but a deliberate, even sorrowful, response to the pervasive wickedness of humanity.
The Depth of Corruption
God looked upon the earth and saw that 'every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually' (Genesis 6:5). This wasn't just about a few bad actions; it was a deep-seated corruption affecting the very core of human beings. The 'flesh' itself, the very essence of humanity apart from God's Spirit, had become the source of constant evil.
A Necessary Cleansing
When sin reaches such a point of no return, God's justice demands a response. The flood, as devastating as it was, served as a cleansing of the earth, removing the pervasive corruption that had taken root. It's a solemn reminder that God cannot simply overlook sin, especially when it saturates the entire creation.
God's Grief in Judgment
It's crucial to note that this judgment brings grief to God (Genesis 6:6). This isn't the cold finality of an indifferent force, but the heartache of a Creator whose creation has gone so terribly wrong. The destruction of 'all flesh' is a testament to the severity of sin and the sorrow it brings to the heart of God.
In the face of total annihilation, a glimmer of hope appears. How is this possible?
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While Genesis 6:17 paints a picture of overwhelming destruction, the very next verse, 6:18, introduces the concept of God's covenant. This highlights a profound theological truth: God's judgment is always intertwined with His plan of salvation.
God's Initiative
It's 'I, even I, do bring a flood,' God declares. But immediately following this terrifying statement, He says, 'But with you will I establish my covenant.' God initiates both the judgment and the preservation. He doesn't leave humanity to its fate; He actively intervenes.
A Seed of Hope
The covenant is not merely a promise of continued existence; it's a promise of a future where God's relationship with humanity is restored. Noah and his family are chosen not because they are perfect, but because Noah 'found grace in the eyes of the LORD' (Genesis 6:8). This grace is the foundation of the covenant, ensuring that a remnant would survive to carry on God's purposes.
Faith and Obedience as Response
This covenant isn't passive. It requires a response from Noah – building the ark, trusting God's word even when it seemed impossible. The flood is the consequence of sin, but the covenant is God's powerful act of grace, demonstrated through Noah's obedience.
Understand the original words
basar · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the collective humanity or animal life created by God. Biblically, it emphasizes the frailty and mortality of created life, especially in contrast to the eternal Creator.
neshamah · Hebrew Noun
Often translated as 'spirit' or 'breath,' this term signifies the animating life force given by God to living creatures. It represents the dependence of all living things on God's sustaining power.
mabbul · Hebrew Noun
In the context of the Flood narrative, this signifies a divine act of judgment against humanity's wickedness. It is a reversal of creation, though strictly controlled and limited by God's sovereign plan.
c. 11000 BC
Early Human Settlements
Following the last Ice Age, human populations began to grow and establish more permanent settlements, leading to increased societal complexity and potential for widespread corruption.
c. 4000-3000 BC— this verse
The Great Flood of Noah
God brings a global flood to destroy all life on Earth due to humanity's extreme wickedness, saving only Noah, his family, and pairs of animals in an ark.
c. 3000 BC
Establishment of Noahic Covenant
After the flood, God establishes a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never again to destroy all life with a flood and setting a sign (the rainbow).
c. 3000 BC - 1st Millennium BC
Population Re-growth and Spread
Humanity and animal populations, repopulated from Noah's family, spread across the Earth, eventually leading to the development of diverse cultures and civilizations.
This passage directly follows the verse and describes the initiation of the flood, emphasizing that it was God's action and the 'fountains of the great deep' breaking open, which directly relates to the 'flood of waters' mentioned in Genesis 6:17.
Luke 17:26-27Jesus himself references the days of Noah, describing them as times when people were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, just before the flood came and destroyed them all. This highlights the normalcy and unsuspecting nature of life before the catastrophic judgment described in Genesis 6:17.
2 Peter 3:5-6The apostle Peter explicitly connects the flood to God's judgment, stating that the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. This reinforces the understanding of the Genesis 6:17 event as a divine act of destruction due to pervasive wickedness.
Revelation 16:1-21The imagery of God pouring out bowls of wrath upon the earth, causing destruction and death to 'all flesh,' echoes the judgment described in Genesis 6:17. It shows a pattern of divine judgment against sin that spans biblical history.
calvinGenesis 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…
gillGenesis 6:17: "And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die."
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth,.... That there was such a flood of waters brought upon the earth, is confirmed by the testimonies of Heathen writers of all nations; only instead of Noah they put some person of great antiquity in their nation, as the Chaldeans,…
The phrase "I, even I" is a powerful, emphatic declaration from God, underscoring that this catastrophic flood is not a random act of nature but a direct, intentional act of divine judgment against sin. It highlights God's sovereign power and His active role in bringing this judgment upon the earth.
God, grieved by humanity's pervasive wickedness and violence, declares His intention to utterly destroy all living creatures with a great flood. This decision stems from the deep corruption that has infected all of mankind, leaving no hope for repentance or reform. Therefore, God commands Noah to build a large ark as a means of preservation for himself, his family, and pairs of all living creatures.
God, grieved by humanity's pervasive wickedness and violence, declares His intention to utterly destroy all living creatures with a great flood. This decision stems from the deep corruption that has infected all of mankind, leaving no hope for repentance or reform. Therefore, God commands Noah to build a large ark as a means of preservation for himself, his family, and pairs of all living creatures.
"For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die." — The phrase "I, even I" is a powerful, emphatic declaration from God, underscoring that this catastrophic flood is not a random act of nature but a direct, intentional act of divine judgment against s…
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Last reviewed October 2026