Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.

◄ Genesis 6:5 ►

New International Version
The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

New Living Translation
The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.

English Standard Version
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.

King James Bible
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

New King James Version
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.

NASB 1995
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

NASB 1977
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh saw that the evil of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Amplified Bible
The LORD saw that the wickedness (depravity) of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination or intent of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.

Christian Standard Bible
When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the LORD saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time,

American Standard Version
And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD saw how bad the people on earth were and that everything they thought and planned was evil.

English Revised Version
And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD saw how evil humans had become on the earth. All day long their deepest thoughts were nothing but evil.

Good News Translation
When the LORD saw how wicked everyone on earth was and how evil their thoughts were all the time,

International Standard Version
The LORD saw that human evil was growing more and more throughout the earth, with every inclination of people's thoughts becoming only evil on a continuous basis.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.

NET Bible
But the LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time.

New Heart English Bible
And God saw that the wickedness of humankind was great on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Webster's Bible Translation
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

World English Bible
Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And YHWH sees that the wickedness of man [is] abundant in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [is] only evil every day;

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah seeth that abundant is the wickedness of man in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil all the day;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will see that great the evil of man in the earth, and every formation of the thoughts of his heart only evil all the days.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And God seeing that the wickedness of men was great on the earth, and that all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all times,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then God, seeing that the wickedness of men was great upon the earth and that every thought of their heart was intent upon evil at all times,

New American Bible
When the LORD saw how great the wickedness of human beings was on earth, and how every desire that their heart conceived was always nothing but evil,

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH saw that the evil of man increased in the earth and every inclination of the reasonings of his heart was evil every day.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord God, having seen that the wicked actions of men were multiplied upon the earth, and that every one in his heart was intently brooding over evil continually,

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Corruption on the Earth
…4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown. 5Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. 6And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Romans 3:10-12
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. / There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. / All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Romans 1:21-22
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,

Psalm 14:1-3
For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good. / The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. / All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Mark 7:21-23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

Romans 8:7
because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Ephesians 2:1-3
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, / in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. / All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

Ecclesiastes 9:3
This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Proverbs 6:18
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Psalm 53:1-3
For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their ways are vile. There is no one who does good. / God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. / All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

2 Timothy 3:2-4
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, / traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Treasury of Scripture

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

God.

Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Genesis 18:20,21
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; …

Psalm 14:1-4
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good…

every imagination.

Genesis 8:21
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Deuteronomy 29:19
And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

Job 15:16
How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

thoughts.

Jeremiah 4:14
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

continually.

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Genesis 6

1. The wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath.
8. Noah finds grace.
9. His family line
14. The order, form, dimensions, and building of the ark.

Berean Study Bible

Then the LORD saw
The phrase begins with the divine observation, emphasizing God's omniscience. The Hebrew word for "saw" is "ra'ah," which implies not just seeing but perceiving and understanding fully. This indicates that God is not distant or unaware; He is intimately involved with His creation. His seeing is active and discerning, highlighting His role as a just judge who is aware of human actions and intentions.

the wickedness of man
"Wickedness" in Hebrew is "ra'ah," which conveys a sense of moral evil and corruption. This term underscores the depth of human depravity at this point in history. The "wickedness of man" suggests a collective moral failure, not just isolated acts of sin. It reflects a society that has turned away from God's righteousness, echoing the consequences of the Fall in Genesis 3.

was great upon the earth
The word "great" (Hebrew: "rab") signifies abundance and magnitude. The wickedness was not only present but pervasive, affecting the entire earth. This phrase suggests that sin had reached a critical mass, influencing all aspects of human life and society. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked sin and the need for divine intervention.

and that every inclination
The Hebrew word for "inclination" is "yetzer," which refers to the formation or framing of thoughts and intentions. This indicates that the very foundation of human thinking was corrupt. The use of "every" emphasizes the totality of this corruption, leaving no room for righteousness or goodness in human intentions.

of the thoughts of his heart
"Thoughts" (Hebrew: "machashavah") refers to the plans, purposes, and imaginations of the heart. The "heart" (Hebrew: "lev") in biblical terms is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. This phrase highlights that the core of human identity and decision-making was tainted by sin, affecting all actions and desires.

was altogether evil
The phrase "altogether evil" underscores the complete moral bankruptcy of humanity. "Evil" (Hebrew: "ra") here is not just the absence of good but an active presence of moral corruption. This total depravity necessitates divine judgment and foreshadows the coming flood as a means of purging the earth.

all the time
This phrase indicates the constancy and persistence of human sinfulness. It suggests that there was no reprieve or moment of righteousness, but a continuous state of rebellion against God. This relentless sinfulness highlights the need for a savior and points forward to the redemptive work of Christ, who offers a new heart and spirit to those who believe.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) And God saw.--Really, And Jehovah saw.

Imagination.--More exactly, form, shape. Thus every idea or embodied thought, which presented itself to the mind through the working of the heart--that is, the whole inner nature of man--"was only evil continually"--Heb., all the day, from morning to night, without reproof of conscience or fear of the Divine justice. A more forcible picture of complete depravity could scarcely be drawn; and this corruption of man's inner nature is ascribed to the overthrow of moral and social restraints.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - And God (Jehovah, which should have been rendered 'the Lord') saw - indicative of the long-continued patience (Calvin) of the Deity, under whose immediate cognizance the great experiment of the primeval age of the world was wrought out - that the wickedness (ra'ath; from the root raa, to make a loud noise, to rage, hence to be wicked) of man (literally, of the Adam: this was the first aggravation of the wickedness which God beheld; it was the tumultuous rebellion of the being whom he had created in his own image) was great (it was no slight iniquity, but a wide-spread, firmly-rooted, and deeply-staining corruption, the second aggravation) in the earth. This was the third aggravation; it was in the world which he had made, and not only in it, but pervading it so "that integrity possessed no longer a single corner" (Calvin). And that every imagination - yetzer, a device, like pottery ware, from yatza, to fashion as a potter (Genesis 2:7; Genesis 8:19). Cf. yotzer, a potter, used of God (Psalm 94:9, 20). Hence the fashioned purpose (ἐνθύμησις) as distinguished from the thought out of which it springs - "a distinction not generally or constantly recognized by the mental philosopher, though of essential importance in the theory of the mind" (Murphy) - of the thoughts - mahshevoth; from hashal, to think, to meditate = ἔννοια; cf. Hebrews 9:12 (T. Lewis) - of his heart - or, the heart, the seat of the affections and emotions of the mind. Cf. Judges 16:15 (love); Proverbs 31:11 (confidence); Proverbs 5:12 (contempt); Psalm 104:15 (joy). Here "the feeling, or deep mother heart, the state of soul, lying below all, and giving moral character to all (Lewis). Cf. the psychological division of Hebrews 4:12 was only evil continually. Literally, every day. "If this is not total depravity, how can language express it?" Though the phrase does not mean "from infancy," yet "the general doctrine" (of man's total and universal depravity) "is properly and consistently elicited hence" (Calvin).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

saw
וַיַּ֣רְא (way·yar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the wickedness
רָעַ֥ת (rā·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

of man
הָאָדָ֖ם (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

[was] great
רַבָּ֛ה (rab·bāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

upon the earth,
בָּאָ֑רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and [that] every
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

inclination
יֵ֙צֶר֙ (yê·ṣer)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3336: A form, framing, purpose

of the thoughts
מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת (maḥ·šə·ḇōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4284: A contrivance, a texture, machine, intention, plan

of his heart
לִבּ֔וֹ (lib·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

[was] altogether
רַ֥ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

evil
רַ֖ע (ra‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the time.
הַיּֽוֹם׃ (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

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OT Law: Genesis 6:5 Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man (Gen. Ge Gn)