And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
And the LORD said, 'I will wipe out humanity, which I created, from the face of the earth—both people and animals, creatures that crawl on the ground, and birds in the sky. I regret that I made them.'
God is expressing deep sorrow and regret over how corrupt humanity has become, deciding to start over by destroying all living things on earth.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes just before the story of Noah's flood, during a time when the Bible describes humanity as having become completely evil and violent. In ancient Hebrew culture, God's 'repenting' or 'regretting' doesn't mean God made a mistake, but rather expresses His deep emotional response to human wickedness—like a parent's heartbreak over a child's choices.
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