Understanding Divine Regret in Genesis 6:6
Genesis 6:6 states, "It repented him that he had made man on the earth. And being touched inwardly with sorrow of heart" (DRC) [1]. This verse describes God's reaction to the widespread wickedness of humanity before the Great Flood.
The surrounding context of Genesis 6 details the increasing corruption of mankind, noting that "every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5 ESV). This profound evil led to God's decision to destroy humanity and all land-dwelling creatures [6, 7].
The Hebrew word translated as "repented" is nacham (נָחַם), which can mean "to be sorry," "to regret," or "to comfort oneself" [3]. This term is also used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe human repentance or God's change in action, though not necessarily a change in his ultimate purpose [5]. The phrase "it broke his heart" (or "grieved him to his heart") emphasizes the depth of divine sorrow over human sin [4].
Interpreters have grappled with the concept of God "repenting" or experiencing sorrow, as divine immutability (God's unchangeableness) is a core theological doctrine [9]. John Calvin, a prominent Reformed theologian, argued that the repentance ascribed to God in this passage does not imply a change in God's nature or foreknowledge [8]. Instead, he suggested that such language is an accommodation to human understanding, allowing people to grasp God's reaction in human terms [8]. Calvin believed that nothing happens to God unexpectedly or unforeseen [8]. Similarly, John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, stated that "repentance, properly speaking, cannot fall upon God, for he never changes his mind or alters his purposes, though he sometimes changes the course and dispensations of his providence" [5].
Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist/Puritan commentator, viewed God's repentance as a father's grief over a rebellious child, expressing a wish that the child had never been born [2]. He saw God as "injured and affronted" by humanity's wickedness [2].
Rabbinic tradition offers a different perspective on God's "regret." In the Midrash Rabbah, Rabbi Yehuda suggests that God regretted creating man "on the earth," believing that if man had been created "on High," he would not have rebelled [3]. Rabbi Neḥemya, however, interprets the term as God taking "solace" in having created man below, arguing that if man had been created on High, he would have incited rebellion there as well [3].
Sources
- Genesis “Genesis 6:6 (DRC) — It repented him that he had made man on the earth. And being touched inwardly with sorrow of heart,”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 6:6: Here is, I. God's resentment of man's wickedness. He did not see it as an unconcerned spectator, but as one injured and affronted by it; he saw it as a tender father sees the folly and stubbornness of a rebellious and disobedient child, which not only angers him, but grieves him, and makes him wish he had been written childless. The expressions here used are very strange: It repented the Lord that he had made man upon the earth, that he had made a creature of such noble powers and faculties, and had put him on this earth, which he built and furnished on purpose to”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 27:4: “The Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was saddened in His heart” (Genesis 6:6). “The Lord regretted [ vayinaḥem ] that He had made man on the earth” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: [God said:] ‘There was regret before Me that I created him below [“on the earth”], for had I created him on High, he would never have rebelled against Me.’ Rabbi Neḥemya said: [God said:] ‘I take solace [ mitnaḥem ] in the fact that I created him below [“on the earth”], for had I created him on High, just as he incited the lower bein”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 6:6: 6:6 the Lord was sorry: The extent of human wickedness made the Lord regret having created them (see also 6:7; cp. 1 Sam 15:11, 35). • It broke his heart: The evil in humanity’s heart (Gen 6:5) pained God greatly. Sending the flood was a heart-wrenching act on God’s part.”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 6:6: And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth,.... Because of the wickedness of man, the wickedness of his heart, and the wickedness of his life and conversation, which was so general, and increased to such a degree, that it was intolerable; wherefore God could have wished, as it were, that he had never made him, since he proved so bad; not that repentance, properly speaking, can fall upon God, for he never changes his mind or alters his purposes, though he sometimes changes the course and dispensations of his providence. This is speaking by an anthropopa”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 28:1: “The Lord said: I will obliterate man whom I have created from the face of the earth; from man to animal, to crawling creatures, to bird of the heavens, as I regret that I made them” (Genesis 6:7). “The Lord said: I will obliterate man.” “Therefore, He knows [ yakir ] their activities, and He turns it into night, and they are crushed” (Job 34:25) – Rabbi Ḥanina asked of Rabbi Yoḥanan, saying to him: What is it that is written: “Therefore, He knows their activities…”? He said to him: The Holy One blessed be He does not exact retribution from the wicked unt”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 6 (introduction): The most remarkable thing we have upon record concerning the old world is the destruction of it by the universal deluge, the account of which commences in this chapter, wherein we have, I. The abounding iniquity of that wicked world (Gen 6:1-5, Gen 6:11, Gen 6:12). II. The righteous God's just resentment of that abounding iniquity, and his holy resolution to punish it (Gen 6:6, Gen 6:7). III. The special favour of God to his servant Noah. 1. In the character given of him (Gen 6:8-10) 2. In the communication of God's purpose to him (Gen 6:13, Gen 6:17)”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 10.15: grace of the Spirit, is clearly exhibited. 6. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth The repentance which is here ascribed to God does not properly belong to him, but has reference to our understanding of him. For since we cannot comprehend him as he is, it is necessary that, for our sakes he should, in a certain sense, transform himself. That repentance cannot take place in God, easily appears from this single considerations that nothing happens which is by him unexpected or unforeseen. The same reasoning, an”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 6:5: God saw it . . . repented . . . grieved--God cannot change (Mal 3:6; Jam 1:17); but, by language suited to our nature and experience, He is described as about to alter His visible procedure towards mankind--from being merciful and long-suffering, He was about to show Himself a God of judgment; and, as that impious race had filled up the measure of their iniquities, He was about to introduce a terrible display of His justice (Ecc 8:11).”