Genesis 7:6

Gen 7:6 And Noah [was] six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

Ver. 6. And Noah was six hundred years old.] He was five hundred old when God first foretold the flood, and promised the old world one hundred and twenty years’ respite: but, wearied out with their obstinacy in sin, he "cut the work short in righteousness," {Rom 9:28} and brought the flood upon them twenty years sooner: as it is said of Christ’s second coming, that, "for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened"; {Mat 24:22} so, for the contumacy of these ungodly sinners, their judgment was hastened. For God is not asleep, or gone a journey, as the prophet said of Baal, &c. {1Ki 18:27}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7:6 covered the earth: See study note on 6:17.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

6. And Noah was six hundred years old. It is not without reason that he again mentions the age of Noah. For old age has this among other evils, that it renders men more indolent and morose; whence the faith of Noah was the more conspicuous, because it did not fail him in that advanced period of life. And as it was a great excellence, not to languish through successive centuries, so big promptitude deserves no little commendation; because, being commanded to enter the ark, he immediately obeyed. When Moses shortly afterwards subjoins, that he had entered on account of the waters of the deluge, the words ought not to be expounded, as if he were compelled, by the rushing of the waters, to flee into the ark; but that he, being moved with fear by the word, perceived by faith the approach of that deluge which all others ridiculed. Wherefore, his faith is again commended in this place, because, indeed, he raised his eyes above heaven and earth.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(6) Noah was six hundred years old.—It follows that Shem was about one hundred years of age (comp. Gen_5:32), and his two brothers younger; but all were married, though apparently without children. (Comp. Gen_11:10.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

6–9. A description of the entrance into the ark, with evident editorial adaptations to harmonize Gen_6:19 and Gen_7:2; Gen_7:15.

6 (P). six hundred years old] P gives Noah’s age at the time of the Flood. In Gen_7:22 he was said to be 500 years old before “he begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth”: see also Gen_7:11.

7 (partly J). Noah went in] This account, which anticipates Gen_7:13 (P), is probably from J, with editorial adaptations to avoid clashing with P.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark,.... Within the space of the seven days, between the command of God to go into it, and the coming of the flood; or rather on the seventh day, on which it began to rain; when he saw it was coming on, see Gen 7:11.

because of the waters of the flood; for fear of them, lest, before he entered into the ark with his family, he and they should be carried away with them; or "from the face of the waters" (r), which now began to appear and spread; or rather, "before the waters" (s), before they came to any height.

(r) "a facie aquarum", Pagninus, Montanus. (s) "Ante aquas diluvii", Schmidt.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And Noah was six hundred years old. Literally, a som of six hundred years, i.e. in his 600th year (cf. ver. 11). The number six "is generally a Scriptural symbol of suffering. Christ suffered on the sixth day. In the Apocalypse the sixth seal, the sixth trumpet, the sixth vial introduce critical periods of affliction" (Wordsworth). When the flood of waters was upon the earth.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

Verses 6-12 repeat for a second time and give more detail about how Noah went into the ark with his family and the animals in Genesis 7:1-5. This is not a new event.

came upon the earth

"happened" or "came on the earth"

because of the waters of the flood

"because of the flood that would come" or "to escape the flood water"

translationWords

flood

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

ונח, The Torah tells us how old Noach was when he entered the ark on account of the deluge that had begun. The letter ו in front of the word נח means the same as the word כאשר. We find parallel constructions of this use of the letter ו in Psalms 59,16 אם לא ישבעו וילינו, “when they are not satisfied they complain,” as well as in Psalms 63 7 ושפתי רננות יהלל פי, “I sing praises when my lips are joyful.” [clearly, one does not sing with one’s lips. Ed.]

והמבול היה מים, the word והמבול is used both as part of the previous part of the verse and as the end of the verse, i.e. “when the deluge which consisted of water took place, Noach was 600 years old.”

Radak on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash” (CC BY 4.0); “Rabbi Mike Feuer, Jerusalem Anthology” (CC BY 4.0); and “R. David Kimhi on the first book of Psalms, Translated by R.G. Finch, London, 1919” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.