The Meaning of Genesis 6:12 Explained

Genesis 6:12

KJV: And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

YLT: And God seeth the earth, and lo, it hath been corrupted, for all flesh hath corrupted its way on the earth.

Darby: And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth.

ASV: And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And God  looked  upon the earth,  and, behold, it was corrupt;  for all flesh  had corrupted  his way  upon the earth. 

What does Genesis 6:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 6:9-22 - Noah Builds The Ark
Human sin had reached an awful climax. Sooner or later its results must have swept the human race from the earth, as smallpox will slay every native on some infected island. God only hastened by the Flood the inevitable result of wrong-doing. Amid the universal corruption and violence, one man stood out as precious in the sight of God. His name meant Rest; he was righteous toward man and "blameless" toward God; he walked in fellowship with God; His ear was quick to detect, and His hand deft to fulfill the divine will. "By faith Noah"¦." See Hebrews 11:7. Such is the character to which God reveals His secrets and with which He enters into covenant. If we live thus we shall cross the flood of death into the resurrection life, 2 Peter 2:5. Not only shall we be saved, but we shall save others. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 6:12 mean?

So looked God - upon the earth and indeed it was corrupt for had corrupted all flesh their way on the earth -
וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־ הָאָ֖רֶץ וְהִנֵּ֣ה נִשְׁחָ֑תָה כִּֽי־ הִשְׁחִ֧ית כָּל־ בָּשָׂ֛ר דַּרְכּ֖וֹ עַל־ הָאָֽרֶץ ס

וַיַּ֧רְא  So  looked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֱלֹהִ֛ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָ֖רֶץ  upon  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְהִנֵּ֣ה  and  indeed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
נִשְׁחָ֑תָה  it  was  corrupt 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
הִשְׁחִ֧ית  had  corrupted 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
בָּשָׂ֛ר  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
דַּרְכּ֖וֹ  their  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
הָאָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation