Genesis 6:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will bring a flood to destroy all breathing creatures.
The Context of Genesis 6:17
God announces the flood as divine judgment.
What Does Genesis 6:17 Mean?
God emphasizes personal agency: 'I, even I, do bring'—the flood is God's action, not accident or natural process. The flood of waters will destroy all flesh (basar) possessing the breath of life (ruach). This is comprehensive: 'from under heaven' indicates the entire habitable world; 'every thing that is in the earth shall die' leaves no exception among the animate creation. The destruction is final and total.
The mention of 'breath of life' echoes Genesis 2, where God breathed into humanity the breath of life. Here, that same breath becomes the measure of what must be destroyed. Nothing that lives and breathes will survive outside the ark. This is judgment presented as divine reversal of the gift of life.
Genesis 6:17 in the Original Language
ruach (רוּחַ), 'breath/spirit' — the breath of life, the animating principle; the same term for divine spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 6:17
What does Genesis 6:17 mean?
God will bring a flood to destroy all breathing creatures.
What is the context of Genesis 6:17?
God announces the flood as divine judgment.