1
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἤρξαντο οἱ ἄνθρωποι πολλοὶ γίνεσθαι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ θυγατέρες ἐγεννήθησαν αὐτοῖς.
And it came to pass, when humans began to multiply on the earth, that daughters were born to them.
The classic καὶ ἐγένετο formula (calquing וַיְהִי) opens a new narrative section. The temporal clause ἡνίκα ... γίνεσθαι introduces the demographic condition (human multiplication) that precipitates the crisis of vv.2–4. The birth of daughters specifically — not sons — is the detail that triggers the following episode.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
Καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: direct calque of וַ in the narrative formula וַיְהִי; marks the onset of a new episode.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (framing formula)→ constative aorist (inaugurating the narrative episode)γίνομαι: in the formula καὶ ἐγένετο, renders וַיְהִי; a standard LXX narrative opener. Here it heads a temporal construction with ἡνίκα.
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunction (introducing subordinate clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἡνίκα: 'when, at the time that'; a temporal connective, rendering כִּי or כַּאֲשֶׁר; less common than ὅτε but used in the Pentateuch LXX.
ἤρξαντοbeganAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἄρχωmain verb of temporal clause (ingressive)→ ingressive aorist (onset of the process of multiplication)ἄρχω: middle 'begin'; the aorist middle is the standard form for 'began to'; renders Hebrew הֵחֵל. The onset of multiplication is the narrative trigger.
οἱtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποιhumans / peopleNominativesubject of ἤρξαντο→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'human being'; renders הָאָדָם with the article (generic: 'humanity'); the LXX uses the generic noun, not ἀνήρ (adult male), indicating the whole species.
πολλοὶmany / greatlyNominativepredicate adjective / adverbial (with infinitive: 'to become many')→ participant prominenceπολύς: 'many, much'; here predicative with γίνεσθαι, rendering לָרֹב ('to become many'); the quantitative growth sets the ecological-demographic stage for the marriage crisis.
γίνεσθαιto multiply / to becomePres Mid Inf · γίνομαιinfinitive complement of ἤρξαντο→ progressive infinitive (ongoing process of multiplication)γίνομαι: complement of 'began'; the present tense marks the ongoing, iterative character of population growth.
ἐπὶupon / onpreposition + genitive (spatial: on the surface of)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (spatial: on the surface of).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearth / landGenitivegenitive after ἐπί (locative: on the earth)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth, land'; renders הָאֲדָמָה ('the ground/earth'); the cosmic scope — the whole earth — contrasts with the created goodness of Gen 1 and anticipates its destruction.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis of ἐγένετο ... ἡνίκα)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject of ἐγεννήθησαν→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בָּנוֹת; the birth of daughters specifically, set against the background of human multiplication, provides the occasion for the 'sons of God' episode of v.2.
ἐγεννήθησανwere bornAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · γεννάωmain verb (apodosis: existential fact)→ constative aorist (summarizing the births as a class of events)γεννάω: 'beget, bear, be born'; passive 'were born'; renders יֻלְּדוּ (Pual of יָלַד). The passive removes the fathers from view, foregrounding the daughters as the narrative object.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of advantage / indirect object (born to them)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage / indirect object (born to them).
2
ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ τὰς θυγατέρας τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὅτι καλαί εἰσιν, ἔλαβον ἑαυτοῖς γυναῖκας ἀπὸ πασῶν ὧν ἐξελέξαντο.
And the sons of God, seeing that the daughters of men were beautiful, took for themselves wives from all those whom they chose.
The δέ marks narrative continuation-with-contrast: the daughters born to mankind (v.1) now attract the attention of the 'sons of God.' The participial structure (ἰδόντες ... ὅτι καλαί εἰσιν) makes the visual perception and its evaluative judgment the immediate cause of the wives-taking — a pattern reminiscent of Eve's visual perception in Gen 3:6 (εἶδεν ... ὅτι καλόν).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἰδόντεςseeing / having seenAor Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · ὁράωadverbial participle (causal: 'because they saw')→ constative aorist participle (single decisive act of perception)ὁράω: 'see, perceive'; the aorist participle precedes the main verb ἔλαβον — a causal sequence. The verb of seeing as the trigger for sin echoes Gen 3:6 and 13:10 (Lot looks up and sees the Jordan plain).
δὲand / butpost-positive particle (narrative continuation)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἔλαβον→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; renders בְּנֵי; in the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ ('the sons of God') the LXX follows one tradition of the Hebrew. A major textual variant — reflected in many MSS, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, and the tradition behind 1 Enoch — reads ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ ('angels of God'), the angelic interpretation presupposed by Jude 6, 2 Pet 2:4, and the whole Watcher tradition. The Rahlfs–Hanhart critical text follows the leading uncials (Vaticanus, Alexandrinus) with υἱοί.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (genitive phrase: sons of God)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship / source→ relational specificationθεός: renders אֱלֹהִים; the genitive defines the identity of this group — whether divine beings, angelic beings, or the line of Seth (the patristic alternative reading) has been debated for two millennia.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle with direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativedirect object of ἰδόντες→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: links back to v.1; the daughters born to humanity become the object of the sons of God's desire.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπωνhumans / menGenitivegenitive of relationship ('daughters of humans')→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: picks up v.1; the contrast with υἱοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ — divine/angelic beings on one side, human women on the other — is the crux of the cosmological mythology here.
ὅτιthatcomplementary conjunction (indirect perception: 'seeing that')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here introduces the content of their perception after the verb of seeing; renders כִּי.
καλαίbeautiful / goodNominativepredicate adjective→ participant prominenceκαλός: 'beautiful, good'; renders טֹבֹת; in the Hebrew the same word is used in the creation refrain ('and God saw that it was good,' Gen 1:4 etc.); here the 'goodness' of the women is perceived by the divine beings — a tragic inversion of divine sight in the creation narrative.
εἰσινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (predicate of ὅτι-clause)→ stative presentεἰμί: see v.11.
ἔλαβονthey tookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (decisive narrative action)→ constative aorist (summarizing the wife-taking as a completed category of act)λαμβάνω: 'take'; renders וַיִּקְחוּ; the unqualified taking without divine sanction — from any they chose — signals transgression of proper boundaries.
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativedative of advantage (reflexive: for themselves)→ sphere or referenceἑαυτός: the reflexive dative 'for themselves' (לָהֶם) underscores the self-serving nature of the act; no divine consent or social legitimacy is invoked.
γυναῖκαςwives / womenAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβον→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders נָשִׁים; the formal marriage term underlines that this is a permanent relational claim, not a momentary encounter.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: from among all)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive: from among all).
πασῶνallGenitivepartitive genitive (from all those whom)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all, every'; renders מִכֹּל; the universal scope of selection — from every woman they chose — magnifies the transgression: no restriction of lineage or propriety governed their choice.
ὧνwhomGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction; antecedent: πασῶν)→ relational specificationὧν: meaning 'whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (genitive by attraction; antecedent: πασῶν).
ἐξελέξαντοthey chose / selectedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐκλέγωmain verb of relative clause→ constative aorist (selection as completed decision)ἐκλέγω: 'choose, select'; renders בָּחָרוּ; the verb is used in the LXX for divine election (Deut 7:6 'the LORD has chosen you') — its use here for the divine beings' self-directed choosing is a pointed irony.
3
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεός· Οὐ μὴ καταμείνῃ τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τούτοις εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς σάρκας· ἔσονται δὲ αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτῶν ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι ἔτη.
And the Lord God said: 'My spirit shall by no means remain in these humans forever, because they are flesh; and their days shall be one hundred and twenty years.'
The divine speech formula introduces God's responsive word to the crisis of v.2. The double negative οὐ μή with the aorist subjunctive is the strongest Greek construction for emphatic denial. The verse contains two clauses: a withdrawal of the divine spirit from humanity and a limitation of human life to 120 years — though whether the 120 years refers to the remaining time before the flood or a new cap on human lifespan has been debated since antiquity.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: the speech-introduction formula; renders וַיֹּאמֶר.
κύριοςLordNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: renders יהוה; the Tetragrammaton is consistently rendered κύριος in the LXX — the standard convention adopted from early in the translation tradition.
ὁtheNominativearticle with appositive title→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativeappositive to κύριος (double divine title: Lord God)→ participant prominenceθεός: renders אֱלֹהִים; the compound κύριος ὁ θεός renders יהוה אֱלֹהִים, the standard Genesis formula (cf. Gen 2:4ff.).
Οὐnotfirst element of emphatic double negation (οὐ μή + subj.)→ participant referenceοὐ: the first element of the emphatic οὐ μή + aorist subjunctive construction; one of the strongest negations in Greek.
μὴnotsecond element of emphatic double negation→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: together with οὐ forms the double negative that emphatically denies the proposition; renders לֹא (Hebrew simple negative, but Greek strengthens it).
καταμείνῃremain / abideAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταμένωverb of double-negation clause (aorist subjunctive in strong prohibition)→ strong denial (οὐ μή + aorist subj. = categorical future denial)καταμένω: 'remain, stay, abide'; renders the Hebrew יָדוֹן (6:3), one of the most debated words in the MT — possibly related to דּוּן ('judge/contend') or דּוּר ('dwell'). The LXX translator renders it as 'remain/abide,' understanding the verse as God's withdrawal of the life-giving spirit from flesh (cf. Gen 2:7). The Vulgate chose iudicabit ('will not judge') — a different reading. The LXX reading profoundly shaped the Fathers.
τὸtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πνεῦμάspiritNominativesubject of καταμείνῃ→ participant prominenceπνεῦμα: 'spirit, breath, wind'; renders רוּחִי ('my spirit/breath'); in Gen 2:7 God breathed the breath of life (πνοήν ζωῆς) into the human; here God threatens to withdraw this animating principle. NT resonance: the flesh-spirit antithesis of Rom 8:3–9; Gal 5:17.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession ('my spirit')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('my spirit').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: within these humans)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: within these humans).
τοῖςtheDativearticle with object of ἐν→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώποιςhumansDativedative of location (within these humans)→ sphere or referenceἄνθρωπος: the generic human; with τούτοις ('these'), the demonstrative narrows to the specific generation under judgment.
τούτοιςtheseDativedemonstrative adjective (attributive with ἀνθρώποις)→ sphere or referenceοὗτος: 'this, these'; the demonstrative marks the contemporary generation as the object of the divine word — a temporal limitation.
εἰςunto / forpreposition + accusative (temporal extent: forever)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'unto'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (temporal extent: forever).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰῶναage / foreverAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα = forever)→ object specificationαἰών: 'age, eternity'; εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα = 'forever, for ever and ever'; renders לְעֹלָם. The irony: God will not remain with them forever — he sets a term.
διὰbecause / on account ofpreposition + accusative (causal: because they are flesh)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + accusative: causal 'because of'; introduces the ground for the divine withdrawal.
τὸtheAccusativearticle with articular infinitive (causal phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἶναιto bePres Act Inf · εἰμίarticular infinitive (cause: 'because of their being flesh')→ stative infinitiveεἰμί: in the construction διὰ τὸ + inf., the infinitive carries the causal force; renders כְּשַׁגָּם ('because also they are flesh') — a crux in the Hebrew.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative subject of infinitive.
σάρκαςfleshAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἶναι: 'because they are flesh')→ object specificationσάρξ: 'flesh'; renders בָּשָׂר; the term denotes mortal, creaturely, frail humanity as opposed to the divine — God's spirit will not permanently abide in mere flesh. Paul uses the same antithesis (Rom 7:14; 8:3–9); the LXX use here is the conceptual root.
ἔσονταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb of second divine declaration→ predictive future (settled divine decree)εἰμί future: announces the fixed limit on human lifespan that follows.
δὲand / butpost-positive particle (continuation of divine speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιdaysNominativesubject of ἔσονται→ participant prominenceἡμέρα: 'day'; pl. ἡμέραι αὐτῶν = 'their days' = the span of human life; renders יָמָיו.
αὐτῶνof them / theirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their days')→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'of them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('their days').
ἑκατὸνone hundrednumeral (predicate of ἔσονται)→ measure or countἑκατόν: '100'; indeclinable numeral.
εἴκοσιtwentynumeral (part of compound number 120)→ measure or countεἴκοσι: '20'; indeclinable. The 120-year limit (מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה) has been interpreted as (a) the remaining time before the flood, or (b) a new cap on human lifespan replacing the antediluvian centuries of Gen 5; both interpretations have ancient support.
ἔτηyearsNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσονται)→ participant prominenceἔτος: 'year'; neuter plural; renders שָׁנָה.
4
οἱ δὲ γίγαντες ἦσαν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις· καὶ μετ᾿ ἐκεῖνο, ὡς ἂν εἰσεπορεύοντο οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ πρὸς τὰς θυγατέρας τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ ἐγεννῶσαν ἑαυτοῖς· ἐκεῖνοι ἦσαν οἱ γίγαντες οἱ ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος, οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ ὀνομαστοί.
Now the giants were on the earth in those days; and after that also, whenever the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them — those were the giants, the ones of old, the men of renown.
The verse is a parenthetical gloss identifying the γίγαντες (the Nephilim of the MT) as pre-existing in 'those days' and also as the offspring of the divine-human unions — the syntax is slightly compressed. The note 'the ones of old, the men of renown' (οἱ ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος, οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ ὀνομαστοί) functions as a narrative etiology explaining the mythological race.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
οἱtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲnow / andpost-positive particle (introducing explanatory aside)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γίγαντεςgiantsNominativesubject of ἦσαν→ participant prominenceγίγας: 'giant'; plural γίγαντες; renders נְפִילִים (Nephilim, from נָפַל 'fall'). The translation choice 'giants' is momentous: the LXX equates the Nephilim with the race of giants (Titans) known from Greek mythology, making this one of the most dramatically interpretive translations in the entire LXX Pentateuch. The same rendering appears at Num 13:33 (the spies' report). In the MT and later tradition the Nephilim are simply the pre-flood mighty ones; in the LXX they become literally physical giants. This feeds the tradition of the Watchers and giants in 1 Enoch 6–16, and the reference in Num 13:33 to 'the sons of Anak from the Nephilim' — a tradition that NT texts like Jude 6 and 2 Pet 2:4 assume.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (existential: the giants existed)→ progressive imperfect (ongoing existence in those days)εἰμί imperfect: the imperfect marks their continued presence in the antediluvian era — they were a persistent feature of the pre-flood world.
ἐπὶupon / onpreposition + genitive (locative: on the earth)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (locative: on the earth).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive after ἐπί (locative)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth'; with ἐπί marks the worldwide scope of the giants' presence.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ταῖςtheDativearticle with temporal dative→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (in those days)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the phrase ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ('in those days') places the giants specifically in the pre-flood period; echoed in Matt 24:37 ('as the days of Noah').
ἐκείναιςthoseDativedemonstrative adjective (attributive: 'those days')→ sphere or referenceἐκείναις: meaning 'those'; it serves as demonstrative adjective (attributive: 'those days').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (adding temporal extension)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετ᾿afterpreposition + accusative (temporal: after that)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + accusative: temporal 'after'; the phrase καὶ μετ᾿ ἐκεῖνο ('and after that') indicates the unions continued beyond the original episode.
ἐκεῖνοthatAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (after that event)→ object specificationἐκεῖνο: meaning 'that'; it serves as accusative object of μετά (after that event).
ὡςwhenever / astemporal conjunction (iterative: 'whenever')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς ἄν: 'whenever'; iterative temporal clause with imperfect indicating repeated action.
ἂνevermodal particle (making the clause indefinite/iterative with ὡς)→ discourse linkage or contrastἂν: meaning 'ever'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσεπορεύοντοwere coming in to / went intoImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰσπορεύομαιverb of iterative clause (iterative imperfect)→ iterative imperfect (repeatedly entering, on each occasion)εἰσπορεύομαι: 'enter, go in to'; the imperfect with ὡς ἄν marks the iterative character — not once but repeatedly; the euphemistic phrase 'go in to' (εἰσπορεύεσθαι πρός) renders בֹּא אֶל, the standard biblical idiom for sexual union.
οἱtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of εἰσεπορεύοντο→ participant prominenceυἱός: picking up v.2; the same phrase 'sons of God' recurs.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (genitive phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationθεοῦ: meaning 'God'; it serves as genitive of relationship.
πρὸςto / towardpreposition + accusative (directional: going in to)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (directional: going in to).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (direction of entry)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: picks up vv.1–2.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπωνhumansGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἀνθρώπων: meaning 'humans'; it serves as genitive of relationship.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential in iterative clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγεννῶσανwere bearing / begotImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · γεννάωverb of result (iterative: and they were bearing children)→ iterative imperfect (repeated bearing of children from repeated unions)γεννάω: 'beget, bear'; the imperfect parallels εἰσεπορεύοντο — repeated unions, repeated offspring. The subject shifts to the daughters (or possibly both parties together).
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselves / to themselvesDativedative of advantage (reflexive)→ sphere or referenceἑαυτός: as in v.2, the reflexive underscores that the offspring accrued to them personally.
ἐκεῖνοιthoseNominativedemonstrative pronoun, subject of identificatory clause→ participant referenceἐκεῖνος: 'those (ones)'; with strong demonstrative force, identifies the offspring just described as the famous giants: 'those were the giants.'
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (identificatory: those = the giants)→ imperfect of ongoing identityεἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦσαν with the perfect participle ἠτιμασμένοι forms a periphrastic pluperfect-like construction ('had been / were in a state of being dishonored'), stressing the men's continuing condition of shame.
οἱtheNominativearticle with predicate noun→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γίγαντεςgiantsNominativepredicate nominative (identificatory)→ participant prominenceγίγας: second occurrence in the verse; the repetition makes the identification emphatic.
οἱtheNominativearticle with appositional phrase→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (temporal: 'from of old')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: temporal 'from, since'; ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος = 'from of old, from ancient times'; renders מֵעוֹלָם.
αἰῶνοςof old / of the ageGenitivegenitive after ἀπό (temporal: 'from ancient time')→ relational specificationαἰών: 'age, antiquity'; ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος ('from of old') renders מֵעוֹלָם; the phrase frames these figures as the archetypes of pre-diluvian heroic mythology.
οἱtheNominativearticle with second appositional noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποιmen / peopleNominativeappositive to γίγαντες (further identification)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: here 'men of renown' — a humanizing designation despite the supernatural origin; the paradox (divine-human offspring who are yet 'men') is theologically significant.
οἱtheNominativearticle with attributive adjective→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀνομαστοίrenowned / namedNominativeattributive adjective (the men of renown)→ participant prominenceὀνομαστός: 'famous, renowned, of great name'; renders אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם ('men of name/renown'); the LXX translates rather than calques the Hebrew idiom. These are the culture heroes of the antediluvian era.
5
Ἰδὼν δὲ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὅτι ἐπληθύνθησαν αἱ κακίαι τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ πᾶς τις διανοεῖται ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐπιμελῶς ἐπὶ τὰ πονηρὰ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας,
And the Lord God, seeing that the evil deeds of humans had multiplied upon the earth, and that everyone was intent in his heart upon evil things continually,
The participial construction Ἰδὼν ... κύριος ὁ θεός mirrors the human perception of v.2 (ἰδόντες ... οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ) but with tragic irony — now God sees, and what he sees is universal wickedness. The verse is a participial protasis whose apodosis comes in v.6 (ἐνεθυμήθη). The phrase 'everyone was intent upon evil continually' is a totalizing moral diagnosis comparable to Ps 14:1–3 and Rom 3:10–12.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
Ἰδὼνseeing / having seenAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ὁράωadverbial participle (causal/temporal: 'when/because the Lord saw')→ constative aorist participle (decisive act of divine perception)ὁράω: picks up ἰδόντες of v.2 — the same verb, now with God as subject. The divine gaze answers the human gaze that triggered the crisis; God's seeing is judicial, not lustful.
δὲand / nowpost-positive particle (narrative continuation, slight contrast with vv.1–4)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κύριοςLordNominativesubject of Ἰδὼν (and of the main verb in v.6)→ participant prominenceκύριος: renders יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle with appositive→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeappositive to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: renders אֱלֹהִים; double divine title κύριος ὁ θεός = יהוה אֱלֹהִים.
ὅτιthatcomplementary conjunction (content of divine perception: 'seeing that')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπληθύνθησανhad multiplied / were multipliedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πληθύνωmain verb of ὅτι-clause (what God saw)→ constative aorist (summarizing the accumulated buildup of wickedness)πληθύνω: 'multiply, increase'; passive 'were multiplied'; renders רַבָּה; the irony is sharp — human multiplication in v.1 produces daughters; wickedness has multiplied even more.
αἱtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακίαιevil deeds / wickednessNominativesubject of ἐπληθύνθησαν→ participant prominenceκακία: 'wickedness, vice, evil'; plural 'evil deeds'; renders רָעָה; the quantification of moral evil — it has multiplied — is the judicial warrant for the flood.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπωνhumansGenitivegenitive of origin/source ('the wickedness of/from humans')→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: the human race generally; the wickedness is identified as belonging to humans, not the 'sons of God.'
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (locative: on the earth)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (locative: on the earth).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive after ἐπί (locative)→ relational specificationγῆ: the cosmic scope recurs — wickedness covers the whole earth.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adding second element of what God saw)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςeveryone / allNominativesubject of διανοεῖται (indefinite-universal: every person)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all, every'; with τις makes a distributive-universal ('everyone without exception'); renders כָּל — the scope of the indictment is absolute.
τιςsomeone / a personNominativeindefinite pronoun (distributive with πᾶς: each one)→ participant referenceτις: the indefinite pronoun with πᾶς creates the totalizing expression 'every single person'; a Hebraism of כֹּל.
διανοεῖταιthinks / is intent onPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · διανοέομαιmain verb of second ὅτι-clause→ progressive present (continuous habitual orientation)διανοέομαι: 'think intently, plan, devise'; renders יֵצֶר (the 'inclination/impulse' of the heart, יֵצֶר לֵב); the LXX verb emphasizes intentional mental orientation. The Hebrew יֵצֶר becomes the rabbinic concept of the yetzer ha-ra ('evil inclination') — this very verse is the ground of the rabbinic doctrine.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: within the heart)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: within the heart).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίᾳheartDativedative of location (in his heart)→ sphere or referenceκαρδία: 'heart'; the seat of thought and will in Hebrew anthropology (לֵב); renders לִבּוֹ. Paul's moral diagnosis of humanity in Rom 1:21 ('their heart was darkened') and 1:24 echoes this verse.
αὐτοῦof him / hisGenitivegenitive of possession (his heart)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'of him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (his heart).
ἐπιμελῶςcarefully / diligently / continuallyadverb (manner: with deliberate intent, 'carefully' = continually toward evil)→ clausal contributionἐπιμελῶς: 'diligently, carefully, with care'; renders רַק רַע ('only evil'); the LXX captures the total orientation of the will toward evil with the adverb of deliberate attention rather than the Hebrew exclusivity particle.
ἐπὶupon / towardpreposition + accusative (directional: oriented toward evil things)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (directional: oriented toward evil things).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing adjective)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὰevil thingsAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (substantival adjective: evil things)→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil, wicked, harmful'; substantival neuter plural 'evil things'; renders רָע; the word anticipates the divine grief and decision in v.6.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (all the days: temporal scope)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ('all the days') renders כָּל הַיּוֹם ('all the day, continually'); total temporal scope of the evil orientation.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of time (duration: all his days = continually)→ object specificationἡμέρα: the accusative of time gives the temporal extent — every day, without exception.
6
καὶ ἐνεθυμήθη ὁ θεὸς ὅτι ἐποίησεν τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ διενοήθη.
And God repented / was grieved that he had made humanity upon the earth, and he deliberated.
This is the apodosis to the long participial protasis of v.5. The two verbs ἐνεθυμήθη and διενοήθη describe the inner divine response to the observation of universal wickedness. Both are anthropomorphic expressions — among the most daring in the Torah. The LXX renders the Hebrew נִחָם ('was sorry, repented') with ἐνθυμέομαι ('reflect, consider deeply, be troubled in mind') rather than the more common μεταμέλομαι — a nuanced choice suggesting pondering rather than simple regret.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνεθυμήθηrepented / was grieved / reflected deeplyAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐνθυμέομαιmain verb (divine emotional-cognitive response)→ constative aorist (onset of the divine inner change)ἐνθυμέομαι: 'reflect on, consider, be troubled in mind'; renders נִחָם (Niphal of נחם, 'to be sorry, repent, grieve'). The LXX avoids μεταμέλομαι (simple 'regret') and chooses a verb of deep deliberation — a theologically significant nuance. The verse became a classic locus for the discussion of divine impassibility: can God 'repent'? 1 Sam 15:11, 35 uses the same Hebrew root. The NT does not apply this language directly to God, but the divine responsiveness tradition it reflects informs passages like Luke 15:10.
ὁtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of ἐνεθυμήθη→ participant prominenceθεός: renders אֱלֹהִים; notably the text now says simply θεός without κύριος; the alternation of divine names within the chapter reflects the Hebrew's Yahwistic source material.
ὅτιthatcomplementary conjunction (content of the deliberation: 'that he had made')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησενhe had madeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of ὅτι-clause (content of divine reflection)→ constative aorist (referring back to the creation act of Gen 1)ποιέω: 'make, create'; refers back to the creation of humanity in Gen 1:26–27 (also ποιέω in the LXX); the creative act that was pronounced 'very good' (1:31) is now the occasion of deep sorrow.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle with object→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωπονhumanity / the humanAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν→ object specificationἄνθρωπος: the generic human of Gen 1:26–27; the article makes it the specific creature already introduced.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (locative: on the earth)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (locative: on the earth).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive after ἐπί (locative)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth'; God created humanity on the earth — now that earth is filled with wickedness.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (adding the second divine action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διενοήθηhe deliberated / ponderedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · διανοέομαιmain verb (second divine cognitive action)→ ingressive aorist (entry into a state of deliberation leading to the decree of v.7)διανοέομαι: 'think through, deliberate'; the same root as in v.5 for human mental orientation — now God's orientation is toward resolution of the crisis. The verse ends here — abruptly — leaving the content of God's deliberation to v.7.
7
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός· Ἀπαλείψω τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ὃν ἐποίησα, ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς γῆς, ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἕως κτήνους καὶ ἀπὸ ἑρπετῶν ἕως τῶν πετεινῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ὅτι ἐθυμώθην ὅτι ἐποίησα αὐτούς.
And God said: 'I will blot out humanity, whom I made, from the face of the earth — from human to cattle and from creeping things to the birds of the sky — for I am angered that I made them.'
The divine speech of v.7 announces the flood decision with comprehensive scope: the list 'from human to cattle, from creeping things to birds' echoes the creation sequence in reverse (Gen 1:20–28), suggesting an un-creation or de-creation. The motivation clause ὅτι ἐθυμώθην ('for I was angered') is a frank anthropomorphic statement of divine wrath, providing the emotional ground for the action. The verse functions as the rhetorical peak of the judgment section (vv.5–7) before the pivot of v.8.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ὁtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceθεός: again θεός alone without κύριος; in the J-source underlying Gen 6, the divine name is יהוה, but the LXX here reads θεός — a possible scribal variation or the LXX translator's harmonization.
ἈπαλείψωI will blot out / wipe outFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀπαλείφωmain verb of divine decree (first person predictive future)→ predictive future (sovereign divine decision)ἀπαλείφω: 'wipe away, blot out, erase'; renders אֶמְחֶה (Qal impf. of מחה, 'erase, wipe out'); a vivid image — humanity will be erased from the earth as one would wipe a writing tablet clean. The same verb is used for erasing sin in Ps 50:3 LXX (ἀπάλειψον τὴν ἀνομίαν μου). NT: Rev 3:5 ('I will not blot out his name') and 21:4 ('he will wipe away every tear') use ἐξαλείφω, a synonym.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle with direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωπονhumanityAccusativedirect object of Ἀπαλείψω→ object specificationἄνθρωπος: the specific article — 'the human' = humanity as a class, the created being of vv.5–6.
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (accusative direct object of ἐποίησα)→ participant referenceὃν: meaning 'whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (accusative direct object of ἐποίησα).
ἐποίησαI madeAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of relative clause (referring to the creation act)→ constative aorist (referring back to the original creative act)ποιέω: the same word as in vv.6 and 7b; the repetition of 'whom I made … because I made them' creates an agonizing self-implication: God must destroy what God made.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (ablative: from the face of)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (ablative: from the face of).
προσώπουface / surfaceGenitivegenitive after ἀπό (ἀπὸ προσώπου = from the face of)→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς γῆς = 'from the face of the earth'; renders מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה; the idiom is standard biblical Hebrew for 'from the earth.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive of location (face of the earth)→ relational specificationγῆς: meaning 'earth'; it serves as genitive of location (face of the earth).
ἀπὸfrompreposition (first of merism: from ... to ...)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (first of merism: from ... to ...).
ἀνθρώπουhuman beingGenitivegenitive after ἀπό (first term of merism: human)→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: the merism 'from human to beast, from creeping things to birds' reverses the creation order — an anti-creation decree. Cf. Jer 4:25 LXX (identical language for the desolation of the land).
ἕωςto / untilpreposition (to, marking the extent of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until, up to'; in ἀπὸ ... ἕως constructions renders the Hebrew מִן ... עַד, indicating the full range.
κτήνουςcattle / livestockGenitivegenitive after ἕως (second term of merism: livestock)→ relational specificationκτῆνος: 'cattle, beast, livestock'; renders בְּהֵמָה; the merism extends the destruction to the animal kingdom — all land-dwelling creatures.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (extending the merism)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition (second merism: creeping things to birds)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (second merism: creeping things to birds).
ἑρπετῶνcreeping things / reptilesGenitivegenitive after ἀπό (first term of second merism)→ relational specificationἑρπετόν: 'creeping thing, reptile'; renders רֶמֶשׂ; appears in the creation account at Gen 1:24–26.
ἕωςtopreposition (extent of second merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (extent of second merism).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πετεινῶνbirdsGenitivegenitive after ἕως (second term of second merism: birds)→ relational specificationπετεινόν: 'bird, winged creature'; renders עוֹף; the four-category merism (humans, livestock, reptiles, birds) matches the creation categories of Gen 1.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανοῦsky / heavenGenitivegenitive of location (birds of the sky)→ relational specificationοὐρανός: 'sky, heaven'; renders הַשָּׁמַיִם.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (ground for the decree)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'because'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθυμώθηνI was angered / wrathfulAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · θυμόωmain verb of causal clause (divine emotion as warrant)→ ingressive aorist (onset of divine wrath)θυμόω: passive 'be angered, be wrathful'; renders the Hebrew כִּי נִחַמְתִּי (lit. 'for I repented / was grieved'), but the LXX renders with a wrath-term (θυμόομαι) rather than a grief or repentance term at this point — a significant divergence from the MT that shifts the emotional register from sorrow to anger.
ὅτιthatcomplementary conjunction (content of the wrath/grief: 'that I made them')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησαI madeAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of ὅτι-clause (third use of ποιέω in this context)→ constative aoristποιέω: the third occurrence in vv.6–7 — the word 'made' reverberates: God made humans (v.6), made them (v.7a), now regrets making them (v.7b). The repetition builds rhetorical pathos.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησα→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐποίησα.
8
Νωε δὲ εὗρεν χάριν ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ.
But Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord God.
The narrative pivot: after the totalizing indictment of vv.5–7, δέ marks a sharp contrast (adversative: 'but'). The verse is brief — only six Greek words — and its brevity is emphatic. The first occurrence of the name Νωε in the chapter. The phrase εὗρεν χάριν ἐναντίον ('found grace before') introduces the key term χάρις ('grace') into the biblical narrative for the first time in this context; it renders מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי ('found favor in the eyes of'). This is also the first use of χάρις in the sense of divine favor in the LXX Pentateuch.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
ΝωεNoahindeclinable proper noun, subject of εὗρεν→ participant identificationΝωε: LXX transliteration of נֹחַ (Noach); indeclinable in Greek (no case ending). The name is connected in Gen 5:29 with the root נחם ('comfort/rest'); the LXX does not translate the name. NT: Matt 24:37–38; Luke 17:26–27; Heb 11:7; 1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 2:5 all mention Νωε.
δὲbutpost-positive particle (adversative contrast: 'but Noah')→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: adversative here — the single exception to the universal condemnation of vv.5–7.
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb→ constative aorist (single fact of divine favor)εὑρίσκω: 'find, discover'; renders מָצָא; the idiom 'find grace/favor' is idiomatic Hebrew (מָצָא חֵן) rendered literally by the LXX; not 'obtain' (as if Noah earned it) but 'find' — grace is given, received, encountered.
χάρινgrace / favorAccusativedirect object of εὗρεν→ object specificationχάρις: 'grace, favor, goodwill'; renders חֵן ('favor, grace'); one of the great theological words of the NT (John 1:14–17; Rom 3:24; Eph 2:8–9) appears here in the OT in its simplest form: Noah found favor with God. The LXX χάρις and the Hebrew חֵן both derive from roots meaning 'to be gracious, to bend toward.' Heb 11:7: 'By faith Noah ... became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith.'
ἐναντίονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (spatial-relational: in the presence/sight of)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before, in front of, in the sight of'; renders בְּעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of') — the Hebrew idiom for 'in the estimation of'; the LXX substitutes the spatial-relational ἐναντίον for a more literal 'in the eyes of.'
κυρίουof the LordGenitivegenitive after ἐναντίον (the Lord's sight/presence)→ relational specificationκύριος: renders יהוה; the Tetragrammaton reappears here after θεός in vv.6–7, consistent with the underlying source material.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle with appositive divine title→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive appositive to κυρίου (compound divine title)→ relational specificationθεός: κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ = 'of the Lord God' — the compound title יהוה אֱלֹהִים.
9
Αὗται δὲ αἱ γενέσεις Νωε. Νωε ἄνθρωπος δίκαιος, τέλειος ὢν ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ αὐτοῦ· τῷ θεῷ εὐηρέστησεν Νωε.
Now these are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, being blameless in his generation; Noah pleased God.
The toledoth formula (αἱ γενέσεις = תּוֹלְדֹת, 'generations/offspring') marks a new section in the Genesis narrative structure. It is followed immediately by Noah's character description — righteous (δίκαιος) and blameless (τέλειος) — establishing his fitness as the survivor. The climactic verb εὐηρέστησεν τῷ θεῷ Νωε ('Noah pleased God') uses εὐαρεστέω, the same verb used of Enoch at Gen 5:22, 24, where it renders the Hebrew הִתְהַלֶּךְ אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים ('walked with God'); Heb 11:5–7 explicitly links Enoch's and Noah's εὐαρέστησις.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ΑὗταιtheseNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of the toledoth formula)→ participant referenceοὗτος: demonstrative 'these'; the toledoth formula αὗται αἱ γενέσεις is a structural marker in Genesis (cf. 2:4; 5:1; 10:1; 11:10 etc.).
δὲnowpost-positive particle (transitional: introducing new section)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle with subject noun→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενέσειςgenerations / offspringNominativesubject of implied copula (toledoth formula)→ participant prominenceγένεσις: plural 'generations, offspring, account of origins'; renders תּוֹלְדֹת; the word gives the book of Genesis its Greek title (Γένεσις). This is the structural heading for the Noah narrative.
ΝωεNoahindeclinable proper noun, genitive of relationship (generations of Noah)→ participant identificationΝωε: picking up v.8; now formally introduced with his toledoth.
ΝωεNoahindeclinable proper noun, subject of character description→ participant identificationΝωε: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject of character description.
ἄνθρωποςa man / personNominativepredicate nominative (Noah was a man — anarthrous, characterizing)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: anarthrous — characterizing predicate, not identifying; renders אִישׁ ('man').
δίκαιοςrighteousNominativepredicate adjective (characterizing Noah)→ participant prominenceδίκαιος: 'righteous, just'; renders צַדִּיק; one of the central ethical terms in the LXX and NT (cf. Rom 1:17 'the righteous shall live by faith'; 3:10 'there is none righteous'). Noah's righteousness is the explicit basis for his being spared — contra the Reformation debate over whether this is earned or given.
τέλειοςperfect / blamelessNominativepredicate adjective (second characterization)→ participant prominenceτέλειος: 'perfect, complete, blameless'; renders תָּמִים ('blameless, complete'); the same word is used of the unblemished sacrificial animal. The dual characterization δίκαιος + τέλειος is unique to the LXX here; MT has only צַדִּיק תָּמִים. NT: Matt 5:48 'be τέλειοι as your heavenly Father is τέλειος.'
ὢνbeingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · εἰμίcircumstantial participle (concurrent: while being in his generation)→ progressive/stative participle (ongoing condition of blamelessness)εἰμί: the participle ὢν emphasizes the ongoing quality of Noah's character — not a momentary achievement but his settled state of being.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: within his generation)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: within his generation).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενεᾷgenerationDativedative of reference (blameless within his generation — contrast with all others)→ sphere or referenceγενεά: 'generation, contemporaries'; renders בְּדֹרֹתָיו ('in his generations/age'). The phrase 'in his generation' has been read either positively (even among such wicked people Noah was blameless) or faintly damning (only by the standards of his corrupt generation). Rabbinic exegesis split on this.
αὐτοῦhis / of himGenitivegenitive of possession (his generation)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (his generation).
τῷto / withDativearticle + dative object of εὐηρέστησεν (dative of advantage/relationship)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷGodDativedative object of εὐηρέστησεν ('pleased God')→ sphere or referenceθεός: the dative with εὐαρεστέω renders the Hebrew construction הִתְהַלֶּךְ אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים ('walked with God'); in the LXX translation this Hebrew idiom of intimate covenant walking is rendered by the Greek concept of 'pleasing' God.
εὐηρέστησενpleased / was well-pleasingAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐαρεστέωmain verb (climactic characterization: Noah pleased God)→ constative aorist (characterizing the whole of Noah's life as God-pleasing)εὐαρεστέω: 'please, be pleasing to'; the compound εὐ + ἀρεστέω. In the LXX this verb renders הִתְהַלֵּךְ אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים ('walked with God') — notably also for Enoch in Gen 5:22, 24. Heb 11:5 says 'Enoch was well-pleasing (εὐηρέστηκεν) to God,' and v.7 implies Noah's faith similarly pleased God. The NT inherits this exact vocabulary.
ΝωεNoahindeclinable proper noun, subject (emphatic final position)→ participant identificationΝωε: placed at the end for emphasis — the sentence ends on the name that has been characterized throughout the verse, producing a ring structure: Νωε ... Νωε.
10
ἐγέννησεν δὲ Νωε τρεῖς υἱούς, τὸν Σημ, τὸν Χαμ, τὸν Ιαφεθ.
And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The toledoth formula of v.9 is immediately followed by the genealogical data it implies: Noah's three sons. The names Σημ, Χαμ, Ιαφεθ set up the post-flood table of nations in Genesis 10. The verse is a brief but structurally necessary note before the divine commission of vv.13ff.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ἐγέννησενfathered / begotAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γεννάωmain verb (genealogical)→ constative aorist (summarizing fact of fatherhood)γεννάω: 'beget, father'; renders יוֹלֶד (Hiphil of יָלַד); the standard genealogical verb in Genesis.
δὲandpost-positive particle (narrative continuation)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΝωεNoahindeclinable proper noun, subject of ἐγέννησεν→ participant identificationΝωε: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject of ἐγέννησεν.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativeaccusative numeral (modifying υἱούς)→ measure or countτρεῖς: 'three'; renders שְׁלֹשָׁה; the number is significant — three sons will become the three branches of humanity in Gen 10.
υἱούςsonsAccusativedirect object of ἐγέννησεν→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the three sons named immediately set up the table of nations (Gen 10) and the Noahic covenant extension.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (specifying the first son by name)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣημShemindeclinable proper noun, first son named (in apposition to τρεῖς υἱούς)→ participant identificationΣημ: LXX transliteration of שֵׁם ('name' / Shem); first-born, ancestor of the Semitic peoples; his line leads to Abraham (Gen 11:10–26). NT: Luke 3:36.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (specifying second son)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαμHamindeclinable proper noun, second son named→ participant identificationΧαμ: LXX transliteration of חָם; ancestor of the Hamitic peoples (Egypt, Canaan, Cush, Put, Gen 10:6). The Curse of Ham in Gen 9:20–27 is an important subsequent narrative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (specifying third son)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙαφεθJaphethindeclinable proper noun, third son named→ participant identificationΙαφεθ: LXX transliteration of יֶפֶת (possibly 'may he extend/enlarge'); ancestor of the Indo-European peoples in Gen 10:2–5. The three brothers together structure the post-flood world.
11
ἐφθάρη δὲ ἡ γῆ ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπλήσθη ἡ γῆ ἀδικίας.
Now the earth was corrupted before God, and the earth was filled with lawlessness.
The two clauses of v.11 provide the narrator's perspective on the situation that God will pronounce upon in v.12. The key word φθείρω ('corrupt, destroy') is introduced here; it recurs in vv.12 and 13, creating a verbal chain that links the earth's corruption to God's announcement of its coming destruction (φθαρεῖσα, ἔφθειρεν, καταφθείρω). The parallel phrase 'before God / filled with lawlessness' is a chiastic intensification.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ἐφθάρηwas corrupted / destroyedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · φθείρωmain verb (divine-perspective description of the earth's state)→ ingressive aorist (the earth reached the state of corruption)φθείρω: 'corrupt, ruin, destroy'; passive 'was corrupted'; renders תִּשָּׁחֵת (Niphal of שָׁחַת, 'be destroyed/corrupted'). The same root (שׁחת/φθείρω) creates a verbal irony: the earth 'corrupted itself,' and God will 'destroy' it in return (v.13 καταφθερῶ). The word carries both moral and physical senses simultaneously.
δὲnow / andpost-positive particle (narrative continuation after character description)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearthNominativesubject of ἐφθάρη→ participant prominenceγῆ: the good earth of Gen 1 is now corrupted; the earth is the subject of the corruption, treated as a moral entity before God.
ἐναντίονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (relational: before God)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before, in the presence of'; as in v.8 (Noah found grace ἐναντίον κυρίου); now the earth's corruption is visible ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ — the same divine gaze that sees Noah's grace also sees the earth's corruption.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive after ἐναντίον (before God)→ relational specificationθεός: θεός alone again; the earth's moral state is measured before the divine standard.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adding second characterization)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπλήσθηwas filledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πίμπλημιmain verb of second clause (completion of filling)→ constative aorist (the filling is complete)πίμπλημι: 'fill'; passive 'was filled'; renders וַתִּמָּלֵא (Niphal of מָלֵא); the contrast with the good creation ('fill the earth,' Gen 1:28) is stark — the earth was to be filled with God-imaging humanity; it is now filled with lawlessness.
ἡtheNominativearticle (repeated subject: the earth)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearthNominativesubject repeated (chiastic emphasis)→ participant prominenceγῆ: repeated subject for emphasis — both halves of the verse focus on the earth as the locus of corruption.
ἀδικίαςof lawlessness / injusticeGenitivegenitive of content (filled with lawlessness)→ relational specificationἀδικία: 'injustice, unrighteousness, lawlessness'; renders חָמָס ('violence, wrong'); the LXX translates חָמָס as ἀδικία throughout, a slightly weakened rendering — חָמָס in Hebrew connotes brutal, oppressive violence; ἀδικία is more general injustice. The word picks up the indictment of v.5 and grounds the flood decision.
12
καὶ εἶδεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἦν κατεφθαρμένη· ὅτι κατέφθειρεν πᾶσα σὰρξ τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
And the Lord God looked upon the earth, and it was corrupted; for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth.
The divine perception formula (εἶδεν κύριος ὁ θεός) echoes Gen 1:4, 10, 12 etc. ('God saw that it was good'), now inverted: God sees that the earth is corrupted. The perfect passive κατεφθαρμένη ('had been thoroughly corrupted') intensifies φθείρω with the κατα- prefix. The motivation clause ('for all flesh had corrupted its way') universalizes the indictment — πᾶσα σάρξ, 'all flesh,' includes everything.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδενsaw / looked uponAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (divine visual inspection)→ constative aorist (single act of divine observation)ὁράω: the fourth instance of a form of 'seeing' in the chapter (vv.2 ἰδόντες, 5 Ἰδών, 12 εἶδεν); the pattern of seeing drives the narrative — human desire, then divine indictment, then divine inspection.
κύριοςLordNominativesubject of εἶδεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: renders יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle with appositive→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeappositive to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεὸς: meaning 'God'; it serves as appositive to κύριος.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνearthAccusativedirect object of εἶδεν→ object specificationγῆ: the earth that God made (v.6), now inspected and found corrupted.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the result of the divine inspection)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνit wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (linking the result: 'and it was corrupted')→ imperfect (ongoing state at the time of inspection)εἰμί: the imperfect ἦν + periphrastic perfect participle κατεφθαρμένη creates a pluperfect-like construction: 'it had been thoroughly corrupted (and the state persisted).'
κατεφθαρμένηcorrupted / thoroughly ruinedPf Pass Ptc Nom Sg Fem · καταφθείρωpredicate participle (periphrastic: 'it was corrupted')→ perfect participle (state resulting from completed action of corruption)καταφθείρω: 'utterly corrupt, destroy completely'; the κατα- prefix intensifies φθείρω; the perfect passive participle emphasizes the thoroughness and settled state of the corruption.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (explaining why the earth was corrupted)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'because'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέφθειρενhad corruptedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταφθείρωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aorist (the universal corruption as a completed fact)καταφθείρω: active now — 'all flesh had corrupted...'; the switch from passive (v.11–12a: earth was corrupted) to active (all flesh corrupted its way) identifies the moral agent.
πᾶσαall / everyNominativeattributive adjective with subject (every / all flesh)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: total universality of the moral failure; πᾶσα σάρξ echoes v.3 (σάρκας) and anticipates its NT development (Matt 24:22: 'no flesh would be saved'; 1 Pet 1:24 'all flesh is as grass').
σὰρξfleshNominativesubject of κατέφθειρεν→ participant prominenceσάρξ: 'flesh'; here a synecdoche for all living creatures — the entire created order of living beings. πᾶσα σάρξ ('all flesh') is a common LXX universalizing expression (cf. Isa 40:5–6).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδὸνway / pathAccusativedirect object of κατέφθειρεν ('corrupted its way')→ object specificationὁδός: 'way, road, path'; renders דַּרְכּוֹ ('his/its way'); the 'way' here is the ethical or creaturely path — the way in which flesh was meant to walk before God. Corrupting 'the way' = departing from the created moral order.
αὐτοῦits / hisGenitivegenitive of possession (its own way)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (its own way).
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (locative: on the earth)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (locative: on the earth).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive after ἐπί (locative)→ relational specificationγῆ: the fourth occurrence of γῆ in three verses (11–12); the word becomes an obsessive focus — the earth that was good is now wholly corrupted.
13
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῷ Νωε· Καιρὸς παντὸς ἀνθρώπου ἥκει ἐναντίον μου, ὅτι ἐπλήσθη ἡ γῆ ἀδικίας ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ καταφθείρω αὐτοὺς καὶ τὴν γῆν.
And the Lord God said to Noah: 'The time of every human has come before me, because the earth has been filled with lawlessness from them; and behold, I am about to destroy them and the earth.'
The direct speech to Noah begins in v.13 and runs through v.21. The address opens with a formal pronouncement of judgment: the 'time' (καιρός) of all humanity has arrived before God — a legal-forensic formula declaring that the sentence is now due. The ἰδοὺ ἐγώ with the futuristic present καταφθείρω ('I am about to destroy') is emphatic divine self-identification as the agent of destruction.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
κύριοςLordNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: renders יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle with appositive→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeappositive to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεὸς: meaning 'God'; it serves as appositive to κύριος.
τῷtoDativearticle with indirect object→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝωεNoahindeclinable proper noun, indirect object of εἶπεν (dative of recipient)→ participant identificationΝωε: the first divine speech directly addressed to Noah; God's saving purpose is enacted through this word.
Καιρὸςtime / moment / appointed timeNominativesubject of ἥκει (nominative)→ participant prominenceκαιρός: 'appointed time, critical moment'; renders קֵץ ('end'); the LXX renders קֵץ (which usually means 'end') as καιρός ('appointed time/moment') — a slightly different nuance; 'the time of all humanity has come' = the end-time for each person has arrived. NT: καιρός is the word for 'the appointed time' of eschatological fulfillment (Mark 1:15; Gal 4:4; Rev 1:3).
παντὸςof every / of allGenitiveattributive genitive (every human's time)→ relational specificationπᾶς: universal scope — no human is exempt.
ἀνθρώπουhuman / personGenitivegenitive of possession / source ('the time belonging to every human')→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: the human being facing the divine judgment; the same word that opened the chapter (v.1).
ἥκειhas come / has arrivedPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἥκωmain verb of divine pronouncement→ present with perfect force ('has come and is here')ἥκω: 'have come, be present'; this verb characteristically has a perfect sense in Greek ('I have arrived') even in the present tense; renders בָּא ('has come'); the time of reckoning has arrived and is present.
ἐναντίονbefore / in front ofpreposition + genitive (divine tribunal: 'before me')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before me' — the legal image of the case coming before the judge; renders לְפָנַי ('before me').
μουof me / before meGenitivegenitive after ἐναντίον (before me = in my presence as judge)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'of me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive after ἐναντίον (before me = in my presence as judge).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (ground for the pronouncement)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'because'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπλήσθηhas been filledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πίμπλημιmain verb of causal clause (repeating v.11b)→ constative aorist (the filling is complete)πίμπλημι: 'fill'; passive 'was filled'; repeats the verb of v.11 — the verbal echo confirms the connection between the narrator's report and the divine speech.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearthNominativesubject of ἐπλήσθη→ participant prominenceγῆ: the earth whose corruption was just observed (v.12) is now cited as the basis for the decree.
ἀδικίαςof lawlessness / injusticeGenitivegenitive of content (filled with lawlessness)→ relational specificationἀδικία: repeating v.11; the double indictment (narrated by the author in v.11, quoted by God in v.13) is a standard biblical legal pattern: the charge is presented twice for confirmation.
ἀπ᾿from / because ofpreposition + genitive (causal: because of them)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: causal 'because of / from'; renders מִפְּנֵיהֶם ('from before them / because of them'); the lawlessness originates from humanity.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive after ἀπό (source of the lawlessness: them = humans)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive after ἀπό (source of the lawlessness: them = humans).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the divine announcement)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbehold / lookattention particle (introducing decisive divine announcement)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold, look!'; renders הִנְנִי ('here I am / behold I'); the particle introduces a momentous announcement; typical of divine commissioning speeches.
ἐγὼINominativepersonal pronoun subject (emphatic: 'I myself')→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic first-person pronoun — God as the sole agent of the coming destruction.
καταφθείρωam destroying / will destroyPres Act Indic 1 Sg · καταφθείρωmain verb (futuristic present: imminent divine action)→ futuristic present (the decision is taken, the action is imminent)καταφθείρω: intensive form of φθείρω; 'utterly destroy'; renders מַשְׁחִיתָם (Hiphil ptc. of שחת, 'destroying them'); the verb picks up κατεφθαρμένη of v.12 — a pointed irony: the corrupted earth will be destroyed by the one before whom it was corrupted.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of καταφθείρω (humanity)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of καταφθείρω (humanity).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (extending destruction to the earth itself)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with second direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνearthAccusativesecond direct object of καταφθείρω (the earth itself)→ object specificationγῆ: the earth too will be destroyed — not just the humans. The solidarity of the earth with human sin (cf. Gen 3:17 'cursed is the ground because of you') reaches its climax here.
14
ποίησον οὖν σεαυτῷ κιβωτὸν ἐκ ξύλων τετραγώνων· νοσσιὰς ποιήσεις τὴν κιβωτόν, καὶ ἀσφαλτώσεις αὐτὴν ἔσωθεν καὶ ἔξωθεν τῇ ἀσφάλτῳ.
Make yourself, therefore, an ark of squared timbers; you shall make the ark with compartments, and you shall pitch it inside and outside with pitch.
The inferential οὖν ('therefore') connects the announcement of destruction (v.13) to the saving commission: because destruction is coming, make the ark. The imperative ποίησον signals the beginning of the specific divine commands that will run through v.21. The word κιβωτός ('ark, chest') is introduced here — the same word used for the ark of the covenant in Exodus 25:10 LXX and for Noah's ark in Heb 11:7 and 1 Pet 3:20.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ποίησονmakeAor Act Imper 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperative: the first divine command to build)→ constative aorist imperative (begin and complete the action)ποιέω: 'make, do'; renders עֲשֵׂה; the aorist imperative summons a decisive action; the same verb used throughout the creation account for God's own making — now the human is commanded to make.
οὖνtherefore / theninferential conjunction (therefore: connecting the commission to the announcement of v.13)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: 'therefore'; introduces the logical consequence; not in the Hebrew but added by the LXX translator to make the logical connection explicit.
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive: for your own sake)→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun 'for yourself'; renders לְךָ; the ark is for Noah's own preservation — the reflexive emphasizes his personal stake in the commission.
κιβωτὸνark / chestAccusativedirect object of ποίησον→ object specificationκιβωτός: 'chest, box, ark'; renders תֵּבָה, a term used only here and in Exod 2:3, 5 (Moses' basket). The LXX translation κιβωτός is also the word for the ark of the covenant (Exod 25:10 LXX), creating a theological resonance: the vessel of salvation in the flood shares its name with the vessel of covenant presence. NT: Heb 11:7; 1 Pet 3:20 both use κιβωτός for Noah's ark.
ἐκfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (material: made of/from)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (material: made of/from).
ξύλωνtimbers / woodGenitivegenitive of material (made of wood)→ relational specificationξύλον: 'wood, timber, tree'; renders עֲצֵי (pl. of עֵץ); the LXX specifies the material as 'squared timbers' (ξύλων τετραγώνων) rather than the Hebrew's gopher wood (עֲצֵי גֹפֶר), whose exact identification remains uncertain.
τετραγώνωνsquared / four-corneredGenitivegenitive adjective (attributive: squared timbers)→ relational specificationτετράγωνος: 'four-angled, square, rectangular'; renders גֹפֶר, whose meaning is unknown; the LXX translator apparently derived or guessed a meaning related to squared-off timber; the word appears nowhere else in the LXX with this sense. This is a notable interpretive translation of a hapax legomenon.
νοσσιὰςcompartments / nests / roomsAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις (second command: the internal structure)→ object specificationνοσσιά: 'nest, compartment, room'; renders קִנִּים ('cells, rooms, compartments', from קֵן 'nest'); the LXX renders literally from the Hebrew 'nest' word — a charming image: the ark's internal structure imagined as cells or nesting compartments for the animals.
ποιήσειςyou shall makeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future: command for the ark's internal structure)→ imperatival future (command given as future indicative)ποιέω: future used as command; renders תַּעֲשֶׂה; the shift from aorist imperative to future indicative is a common LXX rendering of the Hebrew imperfect with command force.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτόνarkAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις (the ark as the referent of the compartments)→ object specificationκιβωτός: second occurrence; the ark is fully in view as the thing being specified.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adding pitching command)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀσφαλτώσειςyou shall pitch / coat with asphaltFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀσφαλτόωmain verb (imperatival future: command to waterproof the ark)→ imperatival futureἀσφαλτόω: 'coat with asphalt'; a denominative verb from ἄσφαλτος ('bitumen, asphalt'); renders וְכָפַרְתָּ ('you shall cover/coat with pitch', from כֹּפֶר 'pitch/bitumen'). The use of 'asphalt' recalls Gen 11:3 (the tower of Babel also built with ἄσφαλτος), a thematic echo.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of ἀσφαλτώσεις (the ark)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀσφαλτώσεις (the ark).
ἔσωθενfrom within / insideadverb of location (inside the ark)→ clausal contributionἔσωθεν: 'from within, on the inside'; renders מִבַּיִת ('from inside').
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔξωθενfrom without / outsideadverb of location (outside the ark)→ clausal contributionἔξωθεν: 'from without, on the outside'; renders וּמִחוּץ; the inside-outside pair ensures total waterproofing.
τῇwith theDativearticle with dative of instrument→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσφάλτῳasphalt / bitumen / pitchDativedative of instrument (with pitch: the material used for waterproofing)→ sphere or referenceἄσφαλτος: 'bitumen, asphalt'; renders הַכֹּפֶר ('the pitch'); the same material used at Gen 11:3 (Babel) and Exod 2:3 (Moses' basket) — a thematic thread of vessels sealed against hostile waters.
15
καὶ οὕτως ποιήσεις τὴν κιβωτόν· τριακοσίων πηχῶν τὸ μῆκος τῆς κιβωτοῦ καὶ πεντήκοντα πηχῶν τὸ εὖρος καὶ τριάκοντα πηχῶν τὸ ὕψος αὐτῆς.
And thus you shall make the ark: three hundred cubits the length of the ark, and fifty cubits its width, and thirty cubits its height.
The conjunction οὕτως ('thus, in this manner') introduces the formal dimensional specification. The three dimensions — length 300, width 50, height 30 cubits — follow Hebrew rhetorical convention (length first, then transverse dimensions). An Egyptian royal cubit is approximately 52.5 cm; on this measure the ark would be approximately 157.5 m × 26.25 m × 15.75 m — comparable in scale to a large modern cargo vessel. The dimensions have attracted extensive ancient and modern calculation.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὕτωςthus / in this wayadverb of manner (introducing the formal specification)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus, in this manner'; renders זֶה ('this'); the LXX translates freely here to indicate the manner of construction rather than just 'this'; echoes the closure formula of v.22 (οὕτως ἐποίησεν).
ποιήσειςyou shall makeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future: dimensional specification follows)→ imperatival futureποιέω: the same imperatival future form as in v.14; the specification governs this command.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτόνarkAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις→ object specificationκιβωτός: third occurrence in two verses; the ark is the central focus.
τριακοσίωνof three hundredGenitivegenitive of measure (with πηχῶν: 300 cubits of length)→ relational specificationτριακόσιοι: 'three hundred'; renders שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת.
πηχῶνcubitsGenitivegenitive of measure (the unit of length)→ relational specificationπῆχυς: 'cubit'; renders אַמָּה; the standard ancient unit of length (forearm: approx. 44–52 cm).
τὸtheNominativearticle with subject (articular noun)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μῆκοςlengthNominativesubject of implied copula (length = 300 cubits)→ participant prominenceμῆκος: 'length'; renders אֹרֶךְ; a verbless clause typical of Hebrew specification lists.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτοῦof the arkGenitivegenitive of possession (the ark's length)→ relational specificationκιβωτός: the ark's length specified.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adding width)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πεντήκονταfiftynumeral (width: 50 cubits)→ measure or countπεντήκοντα: 'fifty'; indeclinable; renders חֲמִשִּׁים.
πηχῶνcubitsGenitivegenitive of measure→ relational specificationπηχῶν: meaning 'cubits'; it serves as genitive of measure.
τὸtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὖροςwidth / breadthNominativesubject of implied copula (width = 50 cubits)→ participant prominenceεὖρος: 'width, breadth'; renders רֹחַב.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adding height)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τριάκονταthirtynumeral (height: 30 cubits)→ measure or countτριάκοντα: 'thirty'; indeclinable; renders שְׁלֹשִׁים.
πηχῶνcubitsGenitivegenitive of measure→ relational specificationπηχῶν: meaning 'cubits'; it serves as genitive of measure.
τὸtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕψοςheightNominativesubject of implied copula (height = 30 cubits)→ participant prominenceὕψος: 'height'; renders קוֹמָה; the three dimensions (300 × 50 × 30) give a length-to-beam ratio of 6:1, a realistic naval proportion.
αὐτῆςof it / itsGenitivegenitive of possession (its height)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'of it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (its height).
16
ἐπισυνάγων ποιήσεις τὴν κιβωτόν, καὶ εἰς πῆχυν συντελέσεις αὐτὴν ἄνωθεν· τὴν δὲ θύραν τῆς κιβωτοῦ ποιήσεις ἐκ πλαγίων· κατάγαια διώροφα καὶ τριώροφα ποιήσεις αὐτήν.
You shall make the ark with a converging roof, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and the door of the ark you shall make on the side; you shall make it with a lower, second, and third story.
The verse specifies three further architectural features: the roof (converging to a cubit at the top — a sloping roof?), the door placement (on the side), and the three stories. The vocabulary is technical and partly unique in the LXX; ἐπισυνάγων as a participle describing the manner of making the roof is unusual. The three-story structure (κατάγαια διώροφα καὶ τριώροφα) mirrors ancient Near Eastern building conventions.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἐπισυνάγωνgathering together / convergingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἐπισυνάγωadverbial participle of manner ('making it converging')→ progressive participle (manner of construction)ἐπισυνάγω: 'gather together, converge'; renders צֹהַר, a word of uncertain meaning (perhaps 'window, roof, or light-source'); the LXX translator understood it as 'converging' — a sloping or pitched roof tapering to a cubit at the apex.
ποιήσειςyou shall makeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival futureποιέω (fut. ποιήσεις): 'make'; she shall prepare food for herself and her children afterward — the promise being that the supply will suffice.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτόνarkAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις→ object specificationκιβωτός: fourth occurrence.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςto / up topreposition + accusative (measure: to a cubit from above)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (measure: to a cubit from above).
πῆχυνa cubitAccusativeaccusative of measure (the dimension to which it converges)→ object specificationπῆχυς: 'cubit'; the roof converges to one cubit at the top.
συντελέσειςyou shall complete / finishFut Act Indic 2 Sg · συντελέωmain verb (imperatival future: specifying the finish of the roof)→ imperatival futureσυντελέω: 'complete, finish'; renders כָּלַה ('complete'); the roof is completed ('finished') to one cubit from above — indicating the peak of the sloping roof.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of συντελέσεις (the ark)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of συντελέσεις (the ark).
ἄνωθενfrom above / at the topadverb of place (at the top, from above)→ clausal contributionἄνωθεν: 'from above, from the top'; renders מִלְמַעְלָה ('from above'); in the NT ἄνωθεν also means 'from the beginning / again' (John 3:3, 7; Gal 4:9).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with fronted direct object (emphatic topicalization)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲandpost-positive particle (continuing specification)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θύρανdoorAccusativefronted direct object of ποιήσεις (emphatic position)→ object specificationθύρα: 'door, gate'; renders פֶּתַח ('opening, doorway'); the door placement 'on the side' is a practical specification — the door is in the hull, not at a gable end.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτοῦof the arkGenitivegenitive of possession (the ark's door)→ relational specificationκιβωτοῦ: meaning 'of the ark'; it serves as genitive of possession (the ark's door).
ποιήσειςyou shall makeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival futureποιέω (fut. ποιήσεις): 'make'; she shall prepare food for herself and her children afterward — the promise being that the supply will suffice.
ἐκfrom / onpreposition + genitive (locative: on the side)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (locative: on the side).
πλαγίωνthe sidesGenitivegenitive after ἐκ (locative: on/from the side of the ark)→ relational specificationπλάγιος: 'side, lateral'; renders צִדָּהּ ('its side'); ἐκ πλαγίων = 'on the side' — a lateral door, presumably near waterline level.
κατάγαιαlower story / ground floorAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις (first of three-story specification)→ object specificationκατάγαιος: 'below-ground level, lower story'; renders תַּחְתִּיִּם ('lower ones'); the three-story structure of the ark.
διώροφαtwo-storied / second storyAccusativedirect object (second story)→ object specificationδιώροφος: 'two-storied, on two levels'; renders שְׁנִיִּם ('second ones'); the second floor of the ark.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τριώροφαthree-storied / third storyAccusativedirect object (third story)→ object specificationτριώροφος: 'three-storied, on three levels'; renders שְׁלִשִׁים ('third ones'); the ark has three stories — lower, middle, upper.
ποιήσειςyou shall makeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future: third-story specification)→ imperatival futureποιέω (fut. ποιήσεις): 'make'; she shall prepare food for herself and her children afterward — the promise being that the supply will suffice.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις (the ark)→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ποιήσεις (the ark).
17
ἐγὼ δὲ ἰδοὺ ἄγω τὸν κατακλυσμὸν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν κατακλύσαι πᾶσαν σάρκα, ἐν ᾗ ἐστιν πνεῦμα ζωῆς, ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ· καὶ ὅσα ἐστίν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τελευτήσει.
And as for me, behold, I am bringing the flood — water upon the earth — to destroy all flesh in which there is the breath of life, under heaven; and everything that is on the earth shall die.
The emphatic ἐγὼ δὲ ἰδοὺ places God himself at center stage as the agent of the coming flood. The word κατακλυσμός ('flood, deluge') appears for the first time here — the term the NT uses for the flood in Matt 24:38–39 and Luke 17:27, and also in 2 Pet 2:5 (κατακλυσμὸν κόσμῳ). The verse announces the comprehensiveness of the destruction (πᾶσα σάρξ under heaven) while implying the exception that will follow in v.18 (the covenant with Noah).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic personal pronoun (subject: 'I myself')→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic first-person; the contrast ἐγὼ δέ marks God's action as the counterpoint to Noah's building task. Renders אֲנִי הִנְנִי.
δὲand / butpost-positive particle (adversative contrast: while you build, I am bringing...)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdattention particle (introducing the solemn announcement)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: renders הִנְנִי ('here I am / behold me'); the particle commands attention for what God is about to do personally.
ἄγωI am bringingPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἄγωmain verb (futuristic present: the flood is as good as coming)→ futuristic present (vivid immediacy of the coming event)ἄγω: 'lead, bring'; futuristic present renders מֵבִיא (Hiphil ptc. of בוא, 'bringing'); the present tense vividly narrates the imminent event as already in motion. The same construction in NT: John 14:3 ('I am coming again').
τὸνtheAccusativearticle with direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατακλυσμὸνflood / delugeAccusativedirect object of ἄγω→ object specificationκατακλυσμός: 'flood, inundation'; from κατακλύζω ('flood over'); renders מַבּוּל ('the flood', the specific Hebrew term for Noah's flood — not a general word for inundation); the LXX term becomes the standard Greek word for the Noahic flood and is used in Matt 24:38–39; Luke 17:27; 2 Pet 2:5. The κατα- prefix intensifies the idea of overwhelming flood.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativeaccusative in apposition to τὸν κατακλυσμόν (the flood — water — upon the earth)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; placed appositionally to specify what kind of flood — water (as opposed to fire or other forms of judgment). Renders מַיִם.
ἐπὶupon / overpreposition + accusative (directional: water coming upon the earth)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (directional: water coming upon the earth).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνearthAccusativeaccusative after ἐπί (the earth as target of the flood)→ object specificationγῆ: the earth — repeatedly named throughout the chapter — is now the target of divine judgment.
κατακλύσαιto flood / inundateAor Act Inf · κατακλύζωinfinitive of purpose (in order to destroy all flesh)→ purposive aorist infinitive (the goal of bringing the flood)κατακλύζω: 'flood over, inundate'; the verb from which κατακλυσμός is derived; renders לְשַׁחֵת (Hiphil of שחת, 'to destroy'); the LXX renders 'to destroy' with a flood-specific verb — 'to inundate/overwhelm.'
πᾶσανallAccusativeattributive adjective (all flesh)→ object specificationπᾶς: universal scope — the destruction will be total.
σάρκαfleshAccusativedirect object of κατακλύσαι (all flesh to be flooded/destroyed)→ object specificationσάρξ: 'flesh'; πᾶσα σάρξ is the comprehensive term for all living beings; in v.12 'all flesh had corrupted its way'; now all flesh will be destroyed — direct moral retribution.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: within which there is spirit)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: within which there is spirit).
ᾗwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative, referring to σάρκα: 'flesh in which')→ participant reference or interestᾗ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (dative, referring to σάρκα: 'flesh in which').
ἐστινis / there isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb in relative clause→ stative presentεἰμί: copula.
πνεῦμαbreath / spiritNominativesubject of ἐστιν (the breath of life within flesh)→ participant prominenceπνεῦμα: 'spirit, breath'; here πνεῦμα ζωῆς = 'breath of life'; renders רוּחַ חַיִּים; recalls Gen 2:7 (God breathed the breath of life into the human); v.3 above threatened to remove πνεῦμα from humanity; now all flesh bearing this breath will be destroyed.
ζωῆςof lifeGenitivegenitive of attribute (the life-giving breath)→ relational specificationζωή: 'life'; πνεῦμα ζωῆς = the animating principle of life given in creation (Gen 2:7); the flood will extinguish this in all creatures.
ὑποκάτωunder / beneathpreposition + genitive (locative: under heaven = everywhere on earth)→ spatial or relational framingὑποκάτω: 'under, beneath'; renders מִתַּחַת; ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ('under heaven') is a merism for 'on the whole earth' — wherever sky is above, the flood will cover.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανοῦheaven / skyGenitivegenitive after ὑποκάτω (under the sky = everywhere on earth)→ relational specificationοὐρανός: 'sky, heaven'; renders הַשָּׁמָיִם; the scope is cosmic — under the entire dome of the sky.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adding a second declaration)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅσαall that / everything thatNominativeindefinite relative pronoun (subject of τελευτήσει: 'everything that is on the earth')→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much as, all that, everything that'; renders כֹּל אֲשֶׁר; comprehensive universality.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula within relative clause→ stative presentεἰμί: copula.
ἐπὶupon / onpreposition + genitive (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (locative).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive after ἐπί (locative: on the earth)→ relational specificationγῆ: the earth — again.
τελευτήσειshall die / shall endFut Act Indic 3 Sg · τελευτάωmain verb (predictive future: the death of everything on earth)→ predictive future (divine decree of death)τελευτάω: 'die, come to an end'; renders יִגְוָע ('expire, perish'); the future is declarative — everything on the earth will die. This totalizing statement prepares for the exception of v.18 (the covenant) and vv.19–21 (the animals taken aboard).
18
καὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς σέ· εἰσελεύσῃ δὲ εἰς τὴν κιβωτόν, σὺ καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου καὶ ἡ γυνή σου καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες τῶν υἱῶν σου μετά σου.
But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.
The most theologically weighty sentence in the chapter: στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου introduces the word διαθήκη ('covenant') for the first time in the entire LXX. This is the founding moment of the biblical covenant vocabulary. The Hebrew בְּרִית had appeared before in the OT (e.g., Gen 2:16–17 is sometimes read as a covenant of works, but the word is absent), but as a technical term, 6:18 is its explicit debut — and the Greek διαθήκη here sets the entire NT covenant-theology vocabulary (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25; 2 Cor 3:6; Heb 8–9; 12:24). The command to enter the ark follows immediately, specifying Noah's family as the covenant community.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶand / butnarrative conjunction (with implicit adversative force: 'but — in contrast to the destruction')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the simple conjunction here carries the weight of the turn — against universal destruction, the covenant.
στήσωI will establish / I will make standFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (first-person future: divine self-commitment)→ predictive future (divine promise — the most solemn form of commitment)ἵστημι: 'set up, establish, make stand'; future ἀνα/στήσω; here στήσω renders אֲקִים (Hiphil of קוּם, 'confirm, establish'); the idiom 'establish my covenant' (στῆσαι διαθήκην) becomes the standard LXX phrase for covenant-inauguration. The Hiphil of קוּם connotes confirming or ratifying what is already implicitly intended; the divine commitment is personal and formal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with direct object→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of στήσω (the covenant as the object established)→ object specificationδιαθήκη: 'covenant; testament, disposition'; first occurrence in the entire LXX (and in the Bible) — rendering בְּרִית, the Hebrew covenant-word. The Greek word's primary sense is 'disposition, will, testament' (cf. its use for a legal will — Gal 3:15–17; Heb 9:16–17), but in the LXX it renders the Hebrew covenantal relationship. This single occurrence in Gen 6:18 launches one of the most consequential theological vocabularies in Western history: the two διαθῆκαι — the old and new covenants — of 2 Cor 3:6, 14 and Heb 8:6–13; the new covenant in Jesus' blood (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25); the covenant with Abraham (Gal 3:17; Rom 4); the covenant theology of the Reformation. All of this flows from the first use of the word here.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (my covenant)→ relational specificationThe possessive μου ('my') indicates that the covenant originates entirely from divine initiative — God's covenant, given freely to Noah, not a mutual treaty negotiated between equals.
πρὸςwith / towardpreposition + accusative (directional-relational: covenant with you)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + accusative: 'with, toward'; renders אִתְּךָ ('with you'); the covenant is directed to Noah personally — the specific individual who has found grace (v.8).
σέyouAccusativeaccusative after πρός (the covenant partner: Noah)→ participant referenceσύ: second-person singular — the covenant is with Noah individually before it is extended to his family or to all creation.
εἰσελεύσῃyou shall enterFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (imperatival future: command to enter the ark)→ imperatival future (command)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter, go in'; renders וּבָאתָ; the entering of the ark is the physical implementation of the covenant relationship — the promise of preservation enacted in obedient entry.
δὲandpost-positive particle (linking the covenant promise to its practical enactment)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (directional: into the ark)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (directional: into the ark).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with object of εἰς→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτόνarkAccusativeobject of εἰς (the ark as the place of covenant preservation)→ object specificationκιβωτός: the ark now becomes the physical space of the covenant community — those who enter are those with whom God has his διαθήκη.
σὺyouNominativesubject (Noah: emphatic personal subject with family listed)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic personal pronoun; Noah listed first, then his sons, his wife, his daughters-in-law — the nuclear covenant family.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (listing the family members)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle with subject noun→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοίsonsNominativesecond subject (your sons enter with you)→ participant prominenceυἱός: the sons named in v.10 (Σημ, Χαμ, Ιαφεθ).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your sons)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (your sons).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle with subject→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνήwifeNominativethird subject (your wife enters with you)→ participant prominenceγυνή: Noah's wife — unnamed throughout the chapter (and indeed throughout Genesis).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your wife)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (your wife).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκεςwivesNominativefourth subject (daughters-in-law enter with you)→ participant prominenceγυνή: the wives of the sons — unnamed; the covenant family is eight persons total (cf. 1 Pet 3:20: eight people were saved through water).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (wives of your sons = daughters-in-law)→ relational specificationυἱός: the sons of v.10; the entire household enters together as the covenant community.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your sons' wives)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (your sons' wives).
μετάwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment: with you)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: 'with, together with'; renders אִתָּךְ; the family is gathered with Noah — united by the covenant in the ark.
σουyouGenitivegenitive after μετά (with you: Noah as center of the covenant family)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive after μετά (with you: Noah as center of the covenant family).
19
καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἑρπετῶν καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν θηρίων καὶ ἀπὸ πάσης σαρκός, δύο δύο ἀπὸ πάντων εἰσάξεις εἰς τὴν κιβωτόν, ἵνα τρέφῃς μετὰ σεαυτοῦ· ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἔσονται.
And from all the livestock and from all the creeping things and from all the wild animals and from all flesh, two by two from all, you shall bring into the ark to keep them with you; they shall be male and female.
The command to bring the animals extends the scope of covenant preservation beyond Noah's family to the entire animal world. The fourfold enumeration (livestock, creeping things, wild animals, all flesh) mirrors the creation taxonomy of Gen 1, emphasizing that creation itself — not just humanity — will be preserved. The phrase δύο δύο ('two by two') is a Hebraism (שְׁנַיִם שְׁנַיִם), a distributive reduplication meaning 'two from each kind.'
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (extending the command to animals)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: from among all)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: used four times in quick succession — a Hebraizing enumeration style.
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive of totality (from all the livestock)→ relational specificationπᾶς: universal scope; each category is prefixed with 'all' — every species must be represented.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle with noun→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτηνῶνlivestock / cattleGenitivefirst category (livestock)→ relational specificationκτῆνος: 'cattle, livestock, domesticated animals'; renders הַבְּהֵמָה; picks up the same word from v.7.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition (second category)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (second category).
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive of totality→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'all'; it serves as genitive of totality.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑρπετῶνcreeping things / reptilesGenitivesecond category (creeping things)→ relational specificationἑρπετόν: picks up v.7.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition (third category)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (third category).
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive of totality→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'all'; it serves as genitive of totality.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θηρίωνwild animals / beastsGenitivethird category (wild animals)→ relational specificationθηρίον: 'wild animal, beast'; renders חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ ('the living creatures of the earth'); the wild animals are distinct from domesticated livestock.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition (fourth, summarizing category)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (fourth, summarizing category).
πάσηςallGenitivegenitive of totality (all flesh — summary category)→ relational specificationπάσης: meaning 'all'; it serves as genitive of totality (all flesh — summary category).
σαρκόςfleshGenitivefourth, summary category (all flesh)→ relational specificationσάρξ: 'all flesh' as the comprehensive term including everything previously mentioned; the same phrase used in the destruction decree (vv.12, 17) — everything that was to be destroyed must now be preserved.
δύοtwonumeral (first of distributive repetition: two by two)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; the reduplication δύο δύο renders שְׁנַיִם שְׁנַיִם, a Hebraism for distributive 'two at a time, two from each kind.'
δύοtwonumeral (second of distributive repetition: two by two)→ measure or countδύο: the reduplication is a Hebraism carried directly into Greek — an unusual but transparent syntactic feature.
ἀπὸfrompreposition (from all — summing up the range of species)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (from all — summing up the range of species).
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive of totality (final universal summary: from all)→ relational specificationπᾶς: the final πάντων closes the ring — from all categories, two from each.
εἰσάξειςyou shall bring in / lead inFut Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰσάγωmain verb (imperatival future: the command to Noah to gather the animals)→ imperatival futureεἰσάγω: 'lead in, bring in'; renders תָּבִיא (Hiphil of בוא); Noah is the agent who brings the animals — an extraordinary act of stewardship and obedience.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (directional: into the ark)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (directional: into the ark).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτόνarkAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationκιβωτός: the ark as the universal vessel of preservation.
ἵναin order that / so thatfinal conjunction (purpose: 'so that you may keep them')→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: purpose clause — the purpose of the gathering is nourishment and preservation.
τρέφῃςyou may keep / nourishPres Act Subj 2 Sg · τρέφωverb of purpose clause→ progressive subjunctive (ongoing care and nourishment)τρέφω: 'nourish, rear, feed, keep'; renders לְהַחֲיוֹת (Hiphil of חיה, 'to keep alive'); the LXX renders the purpose of preservation as 'feeding / nourishing' rather than simply 'keeping alive.'
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment: with yourself)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment: with yourself).
σεαυτοῦyourselfGenitivegenitive after μετά (reflexive: with you, as part of your community)→ relational specificationσεαυτοῦ: reflexive 'yourself'; the animals are kept with Noah — he is their shepherd within the ark.
ἄρσενmaleNominativepredicate adjective (male — first of the pair)→ participant prominenceἄρσεν: 'male'; renders זָכָר; the male-female pair ensures reproductive continuity after the flood.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (male and female)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θῆλυfemaleNominativepredicate adjective (female — second of the pair)→ participant prominenceθῆλυς: 'female'; renders נְקֵבָה; ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ('male and female') echoes Gen 1:27 (God created humanity male and female) — the same pair is preserved through the flood.
ἔσονταιthey shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (declarative: they shall be male and female)→ predictive future (the shape of what will be brought)εἰμί: the future asserts the requirement — every pair shall consist of male and female.
20
ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν πετεινῶν τῶν πτερωτῶν κατὰ γένος καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν κατὰ γένος καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἑρπετῶν τῶν ἑρπόντων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς κατὰ γένος αὐτῶν, δύο δύο ἀπὸ πάντων εἰσελεύσονται πρὸς σέ, ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ, τρέφεσθαι μετὰ σοῦ.
From all the winged birds according to their kind, and from all the livestock according to their kind, and from all the creeping things that creep on the earth according to their kind, two by two from all shall come in to you, male and female, to be kept with you.
This verse repeats the animal categories of v.19 but adds the crucial phrase κατὰ γένος ('according to kind') — the same phrase from the creation account (Gen 1:11–12, 21–25 LXX), linking the ark's cargo directly back to the created order. The passive εἰσελεύσονται ('shall come in to you') shifts the agency — the animals come to Noah; God will bring them.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: from all the birds)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive: from all the birds).
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive of totality→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'all'; it serves as genitive of totality.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πετεινῶνbirdsGenitivefirst category (birds)→ relational specificationπετεινόν: 'bird, flying creature'; picks up v.7; the birds are specified as 'winged' in the next word.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle with attributive participle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πτερωτῶνwingedGenitiveattributive adjective (winged birds)→ relational specificationπτερωτός: 'winged, having wings'; renders הָעוֹף ('the bird/flying thing'); an LXX specification making explicit what is already implied.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard of category: according to kind)→ spatial or relational framingκατά: distributive 'according to, by'; renders לְ/כְּ in the classification phrase.
γένοςkind / speciesAccusativeaccusative after κατά (the basis of classification: kind/species)→ object specificationγένος: 'kind, type, species'; renders מִין ('kind, species'); κατὰ γένος = 'according to kind' — the same phrase used in the creation account (Gen 1:11–12, 21–25 LXX), linking ark and creation.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (second category)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition (second category: livestock)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (second category: livestock).
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive of totality→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'all'; it serves as genitive of totality.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτηνῶνlivestockGenitivesecond category (livestock)→ relational specificationκτῆνος: 'livestock'.
κατὰaccording topreposition (classification formula)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (classification formula).
γένοςkindAccusativeaccusative after κατά (according to their kind)→ object specificationγένος: meaning 'kind'; it serves as accusative after κατά (according to their kind).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (third category)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition (third category: creeping things)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (third category: creeping things).
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive of totality→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'all'; it serves as genitive of totality.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑρπετῶνcreeping thingsGenitivethird category (creeping things)→ relational specificationἑρπετόν: 'creeping thing'; third occurrence in the chapter.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle with attributive participle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑρπόντωνthat creep / creepingPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Neut · ἕρπωattributive participle (the creeping things that creep — tautological but Hebraizing)→ progressive participle (ongoing creeping)ἕρπω: 'creep, crawl'; a figura etymologica — 'the creepers that creep' renders הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל הָאֲדָמָה ('the things that swarm on the ground'); the Hebraizing tautology is preserved in the LXX.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (locative: upon the earth)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (locative: upon the earth).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive after ἐπί (locative)→ relational specificationγῆς: meaning 'earth'; it serves as genitive after ἐπί (locative).
κατὰaccording topreposition (classification formula, third use)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (classification formula, third use).
γένοςkindAccusativeaccusative after κατά→ object specificationγένος: meaning 'kind'; it serves as accusative after κατά.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (their kind — clarifying that each species preserves its own type)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (their kind — clarifying that each species preserves its own type).
δύοtwonumeral (distributive repetition)→ measure or countδύο: meaning 'two'; numeral expression contributing count or measure in context.
δύοtwonumeral (second element: two by two)→ measure or countδύο δύο: repeating v.19's distributive Hebraism.
ἀπὸfrompreposition (summary: from all)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (summary: from all).
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive of totality (final summary)→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'all'; it serves as genitive of totality (final summary).
εἰσελεύσονταιshall enter / shall come inFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (predictive future: the animals will come to Noah)→ predictive future (God will providentially bring them)εἰσέρχομαι: in v.18 Noah enters (εἰσελεύσῃ); here the animals enter on their own (εἰσελεύσονται) — the shift from active (Noah brings) to middle/intransitive (they come in) implies divine providential guidance of the animals to the ark.
πρὸςto / towardpreposition + accusative (directional: to you)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (directional: to you).
σέyouAccusativeaccusative after πρός (the animals come to Noah)→ participant referenceσύ: Noah as the recipient; the animals come to him as Adam named them — a restoration of Adamic stewardship.
ἄρσενmaleNominativepredicate adjective (male)→ participant prominenceἄρσεν: meaning 'male'; it serves as predicate adjective (male).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θῆλυfemaleNominativepredicate adjective (female)→ participant prominenceθῆλυς: repeating v.19; male and female — creation's binary is preserved.
τρέφεσθαιto be nourished / to be keptPres Pass Inf · τρέφωinfinitive of purpose (passive: to be kept/nourished with you)→ progressive passive infinitive (ongoing nourishment)τρέφω passive: 'be nourished, be kept'; cf. v.19 ἵνα τρέφῃς — there Noah nourishes them (active); here they come τρέφεσθαι (to be nourished, passive) — Noah as nourisher is the link.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment: with you)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment: with you).
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive after μετά (with you — Noah)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive after μετά (with you — Noah).
21
σὺ δὲ λήμψῃ σεαυτῷ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν βρωμάτων ὧν ἔδεσθε, καὶ συνάξεις πρὸς σεαυτόν· καὶ ἔσται σοί τε καὶ ἐκείνοις φαγεῖν.
And you shall take for yourself from all the foods which you eat, and you shall gather them to yourself; and it shall be for you and for them to eat.
The practical provision command — take and gather food — completes the commissioning speech. The σὺ δέ ('and you') returns focus to Noah after the animal provisions of vv.19–20. The food is specified broadly: 'all foods which you eat' suggests the pre-flood human diet (cf. Gen 1:29–30 — plant-based; meat-eating comes after the flood in Gen 9:3). The phrase ἔσται ... φαγεῖν ('it shall be [for] eating') is an articular infinitive used as a virtual noun, a Hebraism.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
σὺyouNominativeemphatic personal pronoun, subject (returning to Noah as agent)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic subject — Noah personally responsible for gathering provisions.
δὲandpost-positive particle (resuming the address to Noah after the animal passage)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψῃyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperatival future: take provisions)→ imperatival futureλαμβάνω: 'take, receive'; future middle as command; renders תִּקַּח ('you shall take'); the taking of food echoes Noah's earlier taking of family and animals into the ark — everything needed for the preservation of life.
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive: for yourself and those with you)→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ: the reflexive dative — Noah takes on behalf of himself and the community he will shelter.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: from all the foods)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive: from all the foods).
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive of totality→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'all'; it serves as genitive of totality.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βρωμάτωνfoodsGenitivegenitive after ἀπό (from all the foods)→ relational specificationβρῶμα: 'food, victuals'; renders מַאֲכָל ('food'); the general term encompasses all plant-based provisions appropriate to the pre-flood diet (Gen 1:29–30 LXX).
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction; antecedent: βρωμάτων)→ relational specificationὧν: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (genitive by attraction; antecedent: βρωμάτων).
ἔδεσθεyou eatPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb of relative clause ('foods which you eat')→ habitual present (what you normally eat)ἐσθίω: 'eat'; the plural ἔδεσθε ('you [all] eat') includes Noah and all aboard the ark; the food gathered is what they normally eat — no special dietary instructions, simply their usual provisions stored up.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (second command: gather)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνάξειςyou shall gatherFut Act Indic 2 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (imperatival future: gather provisions)→ imperatival futureσυνάγω: 'gather, collect'; renders וְאָסַפְתָּ ('and you shall gather'); the gathering of provisions parallels the gathering of the animals — Noah is the faithful steward who assembles everything needed.
πρὸςto / towardpreposition + accusative (directional: to yourself)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (directional: to yourself).
σεαυτόνyourselfAccusativeaccusative after πρός (gather to yourself = gather into your store)→ object specificationσεαυτοῦ: reflexive; the gathering is centered on Noah's stewardship of the ark's community.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (result/purpose: it shall be for eating)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predictive future: the provisions will serve as food)→ predictive futureεἰμί future: the provisions will be available as food for the voyage.
σοίfor youDativedative of advantage (for you — Noah)→ participant reference or interestσοί: meaning 'for you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (for you — Noah).
τεboth ... andcorrelative particle (τε ... καί = 'both ... and')→ discourse linkage or contrastτε: the τε ... καί construction creates an inclusive pair: both for you and for them.
καὶandcorrelative conjunction (paired with τε: and for them)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκείνοιςfor those / for themDativedative of advantage (for them — the animals)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'those ones'; refers to all the animals loaded on the ark; the same provisions must feed humans and animals alike.
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωinfinitive as subject complement of ἔσται ('it shall be for eating')→ constative aorist infinitive (the eating in view as a complete provision)ἐσθίω: 'eat'; the infinitive of purpose/result; renders לֶאֱכֹל ('to eat'); the provisions gathered will function as food for the duration of the flood.
22
καὶ ἐποίησεν Νωε πάντα ὅσα ἐνετείλατο αὐτῷ κύριος ὁ θεός, οὕτως ἐποίησεν.
And Noah did all things that the Lord God commanded him; thus he did.
The chapter closes with the classic obedience formula that appears throughout the Pentateuch to mark complete, willing compliance with divine commands (cf. Exod 39:32, 43; 40:16). The repetition ἐποίησεν ... οὕτως ἐποίησεν ('did ... thus he did') is emphatic and formal — a double affirmation of total obedience. The word πάντα ('all things') is crucial: Noah did not merely do some of what was commanded, but all of it. This formula picks up the οὕτως ποιήσεις of v.15 and closes the commissioning speech of vv.13–21 with its corresponding act. Heb 11:7 cites this obedience: 'By faith Noah, warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith.'
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (closing the chapter)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησενdid / madeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the key obedience verb of the formula)→ constative aorist (summarizing the complete act of obedience)ποιέω: 'do, make, perform'; the culminating use of this verb in a chapter where ποιέω has been used for God's creation of humanity (vv.6–7), God's command to build (vv.14–16), and now Noah's execution of those commands. The circle is complete: God made (ἐποίησα) humanity; commanded Noah to make (ποίησον) the ark; Noah did (ἐποίησεν) all that was commanded.
ΝωεNoahindeclinable proper noun, subject of ἐποίησεν (emphatic fronted position)→ participant identificationΝωε: fronted before the verb for emphasis — Noah is the obedient servant around whom the entire chapter has pivoted.
πάνταall things / everythingAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν (totality of compliance)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all, everything'; the πάντα ὅσα construction ('everything that') is the comprehensive obedience formula — nothing was omitted, no command ignored. The same formula appears at Exod 39:32 LXX for the completion of the tabernacle: 'the children of Israel did everything the LORD commanded Moses, thus they did' — the exact parallel shows that Noah-as-obedient-builder is a type for Israel building the tabernacle.
ὅσαwhich / whateverAccusativeindefinite relative pronoun (accusative, referring to πάντα: 'all that')→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much as, all that, whatever'; renders כֹּל אֲשֶׁר; the relative specifies the comprehensive scope — all that was commanded.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλωmain verb of relative clause (what God commanded)→ constative aorist (the entire commissioning speech of vv.13–21 as a single command event)ἐντέλλω: 'command, give instructions'; middle 'charge someone'; renders צִוָּה (Piel of צוה, 'command'); this is the standard LXX verb for divine commands; it appears at the close of every major Pentateuchal commission (Exod 7:6, 10; Num 1:54 etc.).
αὐτῷhimDativedative indirect object of ἐνετείλατο (commanded to him = Noah)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object of ἐνετείλατο (commanded to him = Noah).
κύριοςLordNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: renders יהוה; the full compound divine title appears again at the chapter's close, forming an inclusion with v.13 (the opening of the divine speech to Noah).
ὁtheNominativearticle with appositive title→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativeappositive to κύριος (Lord God)→ participant prominenceθεός: renders אֱלֹהִים; the compound κύριος ὁ θεός closes the chapter as it opened it (v.13); the one who commanded is identified fully.
οὕτωςthus / in this wayadverb of manner (the confirmatory formula: thus/in this manner)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus, in this manner'; renders כֵּן ('so, thus'); the word echoes v.15 (οὕτως ποιήσεις) and forms a perfect closure — what God said 'thus you shall make,' Noah performed 'thus he did.' The closing formula οὕτως ἐποίησεν is the obedience-confirmation stamp on the entire chapter.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb repeated (closing double affirmation of obedience)→ constative aorist (emphatic repetition — the deed is done, completely and as commanded)ποιέω: the tenth use of ποιέω in the chapter (vv.6, 7, 14[×2], 15, 16[×3], 22[×2]) — the word that God used for his own creative act is now used for Noah's obedient act; human obedience mirrors divine creative purpose. The doubling of ἐποίησεν in a single sentence is the chapter's final emphasis: he did it, exactly as commanded.