The Meaning of Genesis 6:16 Explained

Genesis 6:16

KJV: A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

YLT: a window dost thou make for the ark, and unto a cubit thou dost restrain it from above; and the opening of the ark thou dost put in its side, -- lower, second, and third stories dost thou make it.

Darby: A light shalt thou make to the ark; and to a cubit high shalt thou finish it above. And the door of the ark shalt thou set in its side: with a lower, second, and third story shalt thou make it.

ASV: A light shalt thou make to the ark, and to a cubit shalt thou finish it upward; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A window  shalt thou make  to the ark,  and in a cubit  shalt thou finish  it above;  and the door  of the ark  shalt thou set  in the side thereof;  [with] lower,  second,  and third  [stories] shalt thou make  it. 

What does Genesis 6:16 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 6:16 mean?

A window shall you make for the ark and to a cubit shall you finish it from above and the door of the ark in its side set [with] lower second and third [decks] you shall make it
צֹ֣הַר ׀ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה לַתֵּבָ֗ה וְאֶל־ אַמָּה֙ תְּכַלֶ֣נָּה‪‬ מִלְמַ֔עְלָה וּפֶ֥תַח הַתֵּבָ֖ה בְּצִדָּ֣הּ תָּשִׂ֑ים תַּחְתִּיִּ֛ם שְׁנִיִּ֥ם וּשְׁלִשִׁ֖ים תַּֽעֲשֶֽׂהָ

צֹ֣הַר ׀  A  window 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צֹהַר 
Sense: noon, midday.
תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה  shall  you  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לַתֵּבָ֗ה  for  the  ark 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֵּבָה  
Sense: ark.
וְאֶל־  and  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אַמָּה֙  a  cubit 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַמָּה 
Sense: cubit—a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 8 in (.
תְּכַלֶ֣נָּה‪‬  shall  you  finish  it 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.
מִלְמַ֔עְלָה  from  above 
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
וּפֶ֥תַח  and  the  door 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּתַח  
Sense: opening, doorway, entrance.
הַתֵּבָ֖ה  of  the  ark 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֵּבָה  
Sense: ark.
בְּצִדָּ֣הּ  in  its  side 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: צַד 
Sense: side.
תָּשִׂ֑ים  set 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
תַּחְתִּיִּ֛ם  [with]  lower 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: תַּחְתִּי  
Sense: low, lower, lowest.
שְׁנִיִּ֥ם  second 
Parse: Number, ordinal masculine plural
Root: שֵׁנִי  
Sense: second.
וּשְׁלִשִׁ֖ים  and  third  [decks] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, ordinal masculine plural
Root: שְׁלִישִׁי 
Sense: third, one third, third part, third time.
תַּֽעֲשֶֽׂהָ  you  shall  make  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.