“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. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart” (Genesis 6:5-6). The ESV chooses regret here for the translation of the Hebrew verb naham, which is one of the standard terms for repenting. I imagine it felt awkward to the translators, to think of God repenting: isn’t that something for sinners to do, rather than the Almighty? And yet to regret is so mild. When I regret I won’t be able to come to your birthday party, or when I express my regret that the order which you expected today won’t arrive till tomorrow, I’m expressing a sentiment that I hope will smooth things over, but I’m not acknowledging that I’ve made a mistake.

But the text clearly shows us God acknowledging a mistake. The creation of humanity grieved the Lord to his heart (6:6), prompting God to say, “I am sorry that I have made them” (6:7). It apparently caught God by surprise that people can think bad thoughts and do evil deeds: “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” (6:5). So it makes sense for the Hebrew text to say “God repented” (6:6). Smoothing the translation to say “God regretted” does not help the situation.

God’s chosen solution was severe: “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens” (6:7). All of them? Not only the wickedest of the wicked, but children laughing at their games, and babes in their mother’s arms? Not only the jackals, crocodiles, and snakes, but the sheep, rabbits, and turtles, too?

If I take this story seriously, it makes me uncomfortable. The narrator deliberately put together the story to make us feel that way. It is a setup: it points us toward the upcoming Noah story, and its lesson. Tune in tomorrow.

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And in contrast, consider this declaration from Jesus: “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (John 12:47).

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This Noah story feels awkward and troubling, Lord: we find it hard to credit the notion that you would choose to wipe out the whole earth for the wickedness of the wicked. We know that we are all of us just poor sinners in need of your grace.

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