And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text doesn't just say God regretted making humans; it highlights that his "heart" was grieved. This shows a deep, personal sorrow for humanity's actions, not just a logical reevaluation of a plan. It emphasizes God's relational pain over our rebellion, a powerful, almost parental anguish.
And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The narrative is about the escalating wickedness of humanity, described as so pervasive that "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." This extreme corruption, coupled with the intermingling of the "sons of God" with the "daughters of men" and the emergence of violent giants, leads God to a profound sorrow and regret over His creation. The verse highlights God's grief as the immediate precursor to His decision to bring the flood.
Does God really 'change His mind'? The Bible uses strong language about God's feelings, but it doesn't mean God is fickle.
The verse says God 'repented' and was 'grieved.' This isn't like human regret, where we wish we'd done something differently because we made a mistake or our plans changed unexpectedly.
A Figure of Speech
When the Bible talks about God 'repenting' or being 'grieved,' it's using something called anthropopathia. This is a way of speaking about God using human emotions and experiences so we can understand Him better. God is spirit, and His being is perfect and unchanging. He doesn't experience emotions like we do, where our feelings are often reactions to external events or internal changes.
Why This Language?
This language is used to convey the depth of God's reaction to human sin. His 'repentance' signifies a change in His relationship or dealing with humanity due to their actions, not a change in His nature or eternal plan. His 'grief' highlights His intense hatred for sin and the sorrow it brings to His heart when His creation, made in His image, turns away from Him and corrupts themselves.
What does it mean for every imagination of the human heart to be evil continually? This verse paints a stark picture of deep-seated corruption.
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Genesis 6:5 is incredibly powerful: 'And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' This wasn't just about a few bad actions; it was about the very core of human existence being twisted.
Beyond Surface-Level Sin
The text emphasizes 'every imagination of the thoughts of his heart.' This means the corruption wasn't superficial. It had permeated their deepest intentions, desires, and thought processes. Even what they dreamed up or planned was inherently evil. There was no
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the God of Israel, the self-existent, eternal, covenant-keeping Creator who reveals Himself to His people.
nacham · Hebrew Verb
A strong emotional reaction of sorrow or pain, often used in Scripture to describe God’s response to human sin, though not implying a change in God's eternal nature or character.
atsab · Hebrew Verb
A deep-seated pain or sorrow, often associated with the seat of intellect and emotions; when attributed to God, it highlights His personal, emotional engagement with the moral state of His creation.
leb · Hebrew Noun
The inner part of a person, often representing the center of personality, will, emotions, and moral decision-making.
This verse arises from a period where humanity's moral compass had so severely degraded that God Himself is depicted as deeply grieved by His creation. The timeline shows the long arc of human civilization and the spiritual journey of Israel, highlighting a consistent tension between God's design for humanity and the recurring reality of human sinfulness and rebellion.
c. 10000 BC - 3000 BC
Early Human Migration and Development
Following the last Ice Age, human populations begin to spread, develop agriculture, and form early settlements, laying the groundwork for complex societies.
c. 3000 BC - 1800 BC
Rise of Early Civilizations
Major civilizations emerge in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley, marked by advancements in writing, law, and organized religion.
c. 1800 BC - 1500 BC
Patriarchal Period of Israel
The era of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, foundational figures in the Israelite faith, as they sojourn in Canaan and establish covenants with God.
c. 1500 BC - 1200 BC
Israel's Sojourn and Exodus
The Israelites experience enslavement in Egypt, followed by their miraculous deliverance under Moses, and their subsequent journey through the wilderness.
c. 1200 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites enter and begin the conquest of the Promised Land, displacing its inhabitants.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy of Israel
The establishment of a unified kingdom under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon, marked by Jerusalem as the capital and the construction of the First Temple.
c. 900 BC - 600 BC
Divided Kingdom and Prophetic Ministry
The Israelite kingdom splits into Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) kingdoms, with prophets like Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah warning against idolatry and injustice.
This Psalm describes God's people repeatedly turning away from Him, and the text states, 'Many times he delivered them, but they were inventors of trouble for their own ruin.' This echoes the deep sorrow and disappointment God felt with humanity's persistent sinfulness, mirroring the grief in Genesis 6:6.
Jeremiah 3:7In this prophetic passage, God laments Israel's unfaithfulness, saying, 'I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to me. But she did not return.' This sentiment of deep disappointment and a sense of 'regret' over the actions of His people, despite His desire for them to turn back, parallels the feeling expressed in Genesis 6:6.
Matthew 23:37Jesus expresses His sorrow over Jerusalem, crying out, 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not!' This shows God, through Jesus, deeply grieved by the persistent sin and rejection of His people, a sentiment akin to the grief described in Genesis 6:6.
Luke 19:41-42As Jesus approached Jerusalem, He wept over the city, saying, 'If you, even you, had only recognized on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts against you and surround you and hem you in on every side.'
Romans 8:20-22Paul writes about creation groaning and being subjected to futility, waiting for redemption. This broader cosmic groaning due to human sin and its devastating impact on all of creation reflects the deep sorrow and regret that God experienced when humanity's sin corrupted His good creation in Genesis 6:6.
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…
pooleGenesis 6:6: "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart."
2448 Properly God cannot repent, Numbers 23:19 1 Samuel 15:11, 1 Samuel 15:29 , because he is unchangeable in his nature and counsels, Malachi 3:6 Jam 1:17 , and perfectly wise, and constantly happy, and therefore not liable to any grief or disappointment. But this is spoken of God after the manner of man, by a common figure called anthropopathia, whereby also eyes, ears, hands, nose, &c.…
The text doesn't just say God regretted making humans; it highlights that his "heart" was grieved. This shows a deep, personal sorrow for humanity's actions, not just a logical reevaluation of a plan. It emphasizes God's relational pain over our rebellion, a powerful, almost parental anguish.
The narrative is about the escalating wickedness of humanity, described as so pervasive that "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." This extreme corruption, coupled with the intermingling of the "sons of God" with the "daughters of men" and the emergence of violent giants, leads God to a profound sorrow and regret over His creation. The verse highlights God's grief as the immediate precursor to His decision to bring the flood.
The narrative is about the escalating wickedness of humanity, described as so pervasive that "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." This extreme corruption, coupled with the intermingling of the "sons of God" with the "daughters of men" and the emergence of violent giants, leads God to a profound sorrow and regret over His creation. The verse highlights God's grief as the immediate precursor to His decision to bring the flood.
"And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart." — The text doesn't just say God regretted making humans; it highlights that his "heart" was grieved. This shows a deep, personal sorrow for humanity's actions, not just a logical reevaluation of a plan…
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Last reviewed October 2026