Genesis 7:6 kjv

And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

Genesis 7:6 nkjv

Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth.

Genesis 7:6 niv

Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth.

Genesis 7:6 esv

Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth.

Genesis 7:6 nlt

Noah was 600 years old when the flood covered the earth.

Genesis 7 verses

Genesis 7 6 Meaning

Genesis 7:6 records the precise age of Noah, six hundred years, at the moment the universal flood began upon the earth. It signifies the commencement of God's definitive judgment on a corrupted world, executed at the divinely appointed time after Noah's long preparation and a period of God's long-suffering. This verse highlights the faithful patriarch's age at a pivotal historical event.

Genesis 7 6 Context

Genesis 7:6 acts as a crucial timestamp, marking the precise moment of a global turning point. It follows a significant narrative arc detailing the moral degeneration of humanity (Gen 6:5-7), God's decision to destroy life from the face of the earth (Gen 6:7), His unique grace and covenant with Noah (Gen 6:8, 18), and Noah's meticulous obedience in constructing the ark over decades (Gen 6:22). The preceding verses indicate Noah's entry into the ark with his family and the animals. This verse then declares the arrival of the floodwaters, emphasizing Noah's venerable age at this monumental event, highlighting the completion of his lengthy period of preparation and warning.

Genesis 7 6 Word analysis

• And Noah (וְנֹחַ - wə-Nōaḥ): The Hebrew connective "wə" (and) links this statement to the preceding narrative, signaling a continuation of Noah's story as the central figure chosen by God. Noah's name, meaning "rest" or "comfort," takes on a poignant significance as he enters into the ark for deliverance from the tumultuous waters. His consistent faith and obedience set him apart (Gen 6:8-9).
• was (הָיָה - hā-yāh): The verb "to be" simply states Noah's state or condition at this moment, emphasizing a past completion.
• six hundred years old (בֶּן־שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה - ben-shēš mēʾōwṯ šānāh): Literally "son of six hundred years." This standard Hebrew idiom denotes "at the age of." The exact figure, six hundred, underscores the meticulous detail in the biblical account. It speaks to Noah's remarkable longevity and highlights the considerable period of time (over 100 years from God's decree in Gen 6:3 to the Flood) over which Noah exercised faith and patiently built the ark, a testament to divine patience and human perseverance (Heb 11:7).
• when (וְהַמַּבּוּל - wə-ham·mab·būl): This conjunctive 'waw' serves to introduce a simultaneous event, meaning "and, while, or when."
• the floodwaters (הַמַּבּוּל - ham·mab·būl): This specific Hebrew term, mabbul, is almost exclusively used in reference to Noah's Flood (occurring 13 times, almost all in Genesis 6-11), distinguishing it from any common rain or deluge (gešem or zaqaḥ). The definite article "ha-" ("the") further emphasizes that this was the unique, universal, catastrophic Flood, unlike any other historical or legendary flood. This term highlights the divinely-orchestrated, global nature of the judgment. It's not a mere localized event.
• were on (הָי֥וּ עַל־ - hā-yū ‘al-): "Were" indicates their presence, while ‘al signifies "upon" or "over," confirming the expansive spread of the waters.
• the earth (הָאָ֖רֶץ - hā-ʾā-reṣ): "Ha-’arets" denotes the land or earth. In the context of the mabbul, and in conjunction with descriptions like "all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered" (Gen 7:19), it refers to the entire planet, encompassing all landmasses known and unknown, not just a localized region.

Genesis 7 6 Bonus section

• Typological Significance: Noah, the lone righteous man and his family preserved through water, serves as an Old Testament type or shadow of salvation through Christ and baptism in the New Testament. Just as Noah was "carried safely through water" (1 Pet 3:20-21), believers are saved through the "washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5), with baptism symbolizing this spiritual deliverance from sin.
• Polemical undertones: While not explicitly stated as a polemic, the biblical account of Noah's age and the flood (recorded with specific ages and dates) subtly contrasts with ancient Near Eastern flood narratives (like the Epic of Gilgamesh) which often present floods as capricious actions of deities, without the same moral justification or detailed, sober chronological context. The Genesis account consistently highlights God's singular sovereignty, justice, and precise timing.
• God's patience and warning: The period from Genesis 6:3's declaration (often interpreted as 120 years before the flood) until the flood itself demonstrates God's immense patience (1 Pet 3:20) and Noah's continuous role as a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Pet 2:5) through both his words and the tangible warning of the ark's construction. Noah being 600 at the flood marks the culmination of this lengthy divine forbearance.

Genesis 7 6 Commentary

Genesis 7:6 serves as a stark transition from preparation to execution. It precisely dates the catastrophic judgment to Noah's six hundredth year. This timing is significant; it underscores God's perfect sense of timing, patience, and unwavering resolve to execute justice after a prolonged period of human wickedness and divine warning. Noah, at a venerable age, demonstrates not only personal longevity but also consistent faithfulness across generations. The unique term mabbul for "floodwaters" emphasizes the distinct, unprecedented, and universal nature of this divine intervention. This verse is a testament to the sovereign hand of God bringing His words to pass, even amidst humanity's indifference, highlighting that God's patience has a limit and His judgments, when they come, are decisive and inescapable for those outside His provision.