## Sforno on Genesis Chapter 6

###### Sforno on Genesis 6:3:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:3:1)

**לֹא יָדוֹן רוּחִי בָאָדָם לְעוֹלָם בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָשָׂר.** אֵינוֹ רָאוּי שֶׁלְּעוֹלָם יִהְיֶה מָדוֹן לְפָנַי וּפִתְחוֹן פֶּה לַחֲלוֹק וְלוֹמַר, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָאָדָם רָאוּי לְעוֹנֶשׁ רַב בְּמִרְיוֹ בִּשְׁבִיל הֱיוֹתוֹ בְּצֶלֶם וּבִדְמוּת, מִכָּל מָקוֹם רָאוּי גַּם כֵּן לְרַחֵם עָלָיו בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁגַּם כֵּן הוּא בָּשָׂר מַשִּׂיא לַחֲטוֹא, לֹא צֶלֶם וּדְמוּת בִּלְבָד:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לא ידון רוחי באדם לעולם בשגם הוא בשר, it is intolerable that there will continue the argument, strife before Me allowing (the angels?) to claim that although seeing that man has been endowed with divine qualities he must be punished, whereas his close ties to physical earth must be considered as excuses for his conduct, entitling him to continued mercy, and indulgence by Me.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:3:2
[Sforno on Genesis 6:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:3:2)

**וְהָיוּ יָמָיו.** יִהְיֶה לוֹ זְמַן לִתְשׁוּבָה:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והיו ימיו, he will be given a certain length of time within which to repent his sins;


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:3:3
[Sforno on Genesis 6:3:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:3:3)

**מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה.** שֶׁבֵּין כָּךְ הָיָה נֹחַ עוֹשֶׂה הַתֵּבָה וּמוֹכִיחַ אוֹתָם וּמַתְרֶה בָּם, כְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין קח:).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
מאה ועשרים שנה, during which time Noach would have time to construct the ark, and by doing so rebuking and warning people of what is in store for them. (compare Sanhedrin 108)


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:4:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:4:1)

**הַנְּפִילִים הָיוּ בָאָרֶץ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם.** שֶׁקָּבַע לָהֶם הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ הַזְּמַן לִתְשׁוּבָה, וְגַם אַחֲרֵי כֵן שֶׁלֹּא שָׁבוּ כְּלָל.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
הנפילים היו בארץ בימים ההם, these giants were not about until the last 120 years which G’d had assigned man as a grace period within which to do teshuvah וגם אחר כן, as well as thereafter, i.e. they did not repent and mend their ways at all.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:5:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:5:1)

**כִּי רַבָּה רָעַת הָאָדָם.** לְשֶׁעָבַר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי רבה רעת האדם, a reference to the past,


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:5:2
[Sforno on Genesis 6:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:5:2)

**וְכָל יֵצֶר מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבּוֹ.** לֶעָתִיד שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ שׁוֹמְעִים לַמּוֹכִיחַ וְאֵין לִקְווֹת שֶׁיָּשׁוּבוּ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וכל יצר לב האדם, a reference to the future (when it would not improve)


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:6:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:6:1)

**וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ.** כִּי לֹא יַחְפֹּץ בְּמוֹת הַמֵּת, וְהַהֵפֶךְ "יִשְׂמַח ה' בְּמַעֲשָׂיו" (תהלים קד:לא).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויתעצב אל לבו, seeing that G’d does not want even the guilty to die instead of finding their way back. The opposite “emotion” of G’d to the one expressed here is found in Psalms 104,31 ישמח ה' במעשיו, “the Lord ‘enjoys’ the deeds of His creatures.”


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:8:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:8:1)

**וְנֹחַ מָצָא חֵן.** לְהַצִּיל גַּם בָּנָיו וּבְנוֹתָיו לֹא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה רָאוּי לְכָךְ, אֲבָל עַל צַד חֲנִינָה זִכָּהוּ הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ לָזֶה, כְּאָמְרוֹ: "וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה בְּתוֹכָהּ נֹחַ דָּנִיֵּאל וְאִיּוֹב חַי ה' אִם בָּנִים וְאִם בָּנוֹת יַצִּילוּ הֵמָּה לְבַדָּם יִנָּצֵלוּ" (יחזקאל יד:יד). וְזֶה כִּי לֹא לִמְּדוּ אֶת דּוֹרָם לָדַעַת אֶת ה' כְּאַבְרָהָם מֹשֶׁה וּשְׁמוּאֵל וְזוּלָתָם, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: "עֵילָם וְהֵם דָּנִיֵּאל וַחֲבֵרָיו זָכְתָה לִלְמוֹד וְלֹא זָכְתָה לְלַמֵּד" (פסחים פז:). וְכֵן נֹחַ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוֹכִיחַ עַל הַמַּעֲשִׂים הַמְקֻלְקָלִים עִנְיַן הַמְּדִינוֹת, לֹא הוֹרָה אוֹתָם לָדַעַת הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ וְלָלֶכֶת בִּדְרָכָיו, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא הָיָה צַדִּיק תָּמִים בָּעִיּוּן וּבַמַּעֲשֶׂה. כִּי אָמְנָם צַדִּיק הַמַּשְׁלִים עַצְמוֹ בִּלְבַד הוּא רָאוּי שֶׁיִּמָּלֵט עַצְמוֹ בִּלְבַד, אֲבָל הַמַּשְׁלִים גַּם אֶת זוּלָתוֹ הוּא רָאוּי שֶׁיִּמָּלֵט גַּם אֶת זוּלָתוֹ, כִּי בָּזֶה יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה שֶׁיַּחֲזִירֵם בִּתְשׁוּבָה, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות יט.): "אִם רָאִיתָ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם שֶׁסָּרַח בַּיּוֹם אַל תְּהַרְהֵר אַחֲרָיו בַּלַּיְלָה, שֶׁוַּדַּאי עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה". חסלת פרשת בראשית.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**But Noach found favor (*chen*).** *Chen* implies groundless favor. Because Noach did not actively spread knowledge of Hashem he was not worthy that others should be saved on his account. Thus it was an act of groundless favor to him that his sons and daughters-in-law were spared.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:9:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:9:1)

**אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת נֹחַ.** עִנְיָנָיו וְיַלְדֵי יָמָיו.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
תולדות נח, a reference to his history, commencing with his own life and continuing with that of his offspring.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:9:2
[Sforno on Genesis 6:9:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:9:2)

**צַדִּיק.** בְּמַעֲשֶׂה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
צדיק, in his deeds,


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:9:3
[Sforno on Genesis 6:9:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:9:3)

**תָּמִים.** בַּמֻשְׂכָּלוֹת.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
תמים, in his attitudes,


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:9:4
[Sforno on Genesis 6:9:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:9:4)

**בְּדוֹרוֹתָיו.** כְּפִי דּוֹרוֹתָיו, וְהֵם הָיוּ קְצָת דּוֹרוֹ שֶׁל מְתוּשֶׁלַח וְשֶׁל לֶמֶךְ וְשֶׁלּוֹ, וְהַדּוֹרוֹת שֶׁהוֹלִידוּ בְּנֵי דּוֹרוֹ בְּאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בדורותיו, according to the generations during which he lived. They included part of the generation of Metushelach, of Lemech, and those during the 600 years preceding the deluge.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:9:5
[Sforno on Genesis 6:9:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:9:5)

**אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים הִתְהַלֶּךְ נֹחַ.** הָלַךְ בִּדְרָכָיו לְהֵיטִיב לְזוּלָתוֹ, וְהוֹכִיחַ בְּנֵי דּוֹרוֹ כְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה. וְכֵן כָּתַב עָלָיו בְּרוּס הַכַּלְדִּיִּי:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
את האלוקים התהלך נח, he walked in G’d’s way trying to be helpful to others, and to instruct and if necessary to rebuke them, as our sages pointed out. This is also in accordance with what the historian Berussi Hacaldaii (3rd century B.C.) wrote about him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:10:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:10:1)

**וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ.** מֵאָז שֶׁהִתְחִיל לְהוֹכִיחַ בְּנֵי דּוֹרוֹ זָכָה לְבָנִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויולד נח, as soon as he began to rebuke his fellowmen he was granted children


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:12:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:12:1)

**וְהִנֵּה נִשְׁחָתָה.** מֵעַצְמָהּ, כִּי בְּזוּלַת עֹנֶשׁ הָיְתָה בְּדֶרֶךְ הַשְׁחָתָה בְּהַשְׁחָתַת דַּרְכָּם הַמְקַלְקֶלֶת הַתּוֹלָדָה וּבַגָּזֵל הַמְקַלְקֵל הַמְּדִינוֹת, כְּעִנְיַן "וְטַחֲנִי קָמַח" (ישעיהו מז:ב).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והנה נשחתה, without external influences, as a natural consequence, not due to man’s ecologically criminal behaviour. Although on the surface, there appeared to be no connection, man’s corruption resulted in the corruption of his habitat. The language used here by the Torah is comparable to Isaiah 47,2 וטחני קמח, “and grind meal.” One does not grind flour, but one grinds grain into flour. The prophet spoke about the end product. The Torah also spoke about the end product of man’s corruption bringing in its wake, though invisibly, the destruction of the earth’s crust.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:13:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:13:1)

**קֵץ כָּל בָּשָׂר.** שֶׁקָּצַבְתִּי לָהֶם זְמַן מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**The end of all flesh.** That is, the end of their 120 year reprieve.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:13:2
[Sforno on Genesis 6:13:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:13:2)

**בָּא לְפָנַי.** שֶׁקָּבַעְתִּי לָהֶם לִתְשׁוּבָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בא לפני, this period has now expired.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:13:3
[Sforno on Genesis 6:13:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:13:3)

**כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ חָמָס מִפְּנֵיהֶם.** שֶׁכֻּלָּם גּוֹזְלִים זֶה אֶת זֶה. הַבְּעָלִים גּוֹזְלִים אֶת הָאָרִיס בְּכֹחַ, וְהָאָרִיס גּוֹזֵל אֶת הַבְּעָלִים בְּמִרְמָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁהָאָרֶץ נוֹתֶנֶת כָּל פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ לַגַּזְלָנִים:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**The earth is filled with violent crime.** A landlord would steal openly from his tenant farmer while the tenant farmer stole surreptitiously from the landlord in return. Thus all the earth’s bounty went to thieves.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:13:4
[Sforno on Genesis 6:13:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:13:4)

**וְהִנְנִי מַשְׁחִיתָם אֶת הָאָרֶץ.** אַשְׁחִיתֵם יַחְדָּיו עִם הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁאַשְׁחִית מֶזֶג הָאָרֶץ וְהָאֲוִיר בִּנְטִיַּת גַּלְגַּל חַמָּה שֶׁהִטָּה מִמַּשְׁוֶה הַיּוֹם מִן הַמַּבּוּל וְאֵילָךְ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּמַעֲנֵהוּ לְאִיּוֹב (איוב לח:ד-טו), וְלָכֵן נִמְעֲטוּ שְׁנֵי חַיֵּי הַמִּין הָאֱנוֹשִׁי תֵּכֶף אַחַר הַמַּבּוּל, כִּי לֹא הָיוּ עוֹד הַמְּזָגִים וְהַפֵּרוֹת עַל שְׁלֵמוּתָם הָרִאשׁוֹן. וְלָזֶה הוּתַּר לַמִּין הָאֱנוֹשִׁי אֲכִילַת בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים אַחַר הַמַּבּוּל:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והנני משחיתם את הארץ, so that now I will destroy them together with the earth. I will destroy the climate which could support life on earth by interfering with the sun’s orbit and rearranging it from the beginning of the deluge for the entire future. We find that G’d explained this to Job In Job 38, 4-15. This accounts for the lifespan of man having been drastically reduced after the deluge. The climate of the earth changed, there were greater extremes of heat and cold, the produce of the earth was considerably less capable of supporting a long lifespan. As a by-product of this deterioration in the quality of the vegetable products, man was allowed to eat meat as a compensation.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:14:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:14:1)

**עֲשֵׂה לְךָ תֵּבַת.** בַּזְּמַן הַקָּצוּב לָהֶם לְמַעַן יִרְאוּ וְיָשׁוּבוּ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
עשה לך תבת וגו, during the period allocated to them, in order to remind them to do teshuvah.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:16:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:16:1)

**בְּצִדָּהּ תָּשִׂים.** בְּצַד רָחְבָּהּ, כִּי הוּא יִקָּרֵא צַד, וּפְאַת הָאֹרֶךְ יִקָּרֵא צֶלַע.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בצדה תשים, on the side which is wide, for that is the side called צד. The long side is referred to as צלע.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:16:2
[Sforno on Genesis 6:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:16:2)

**תַּחְתִּיִּם.** הַמּוּרְגָּלִים בָּאֳנִיּוֹת.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
תחתיים, the lower deck in ships; as in any other ship, the customary lower deck.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:16:3
[Sforno on Genesis 6:16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:16:3)

**שְׁנִיִּים וּשְׁלִישִׁים.** דּוֹמִים לַתַּחְתִּיִּים הַמֻּרְגָּלִים:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
שניים ושלשים, they are similar, parallel to the lower deck.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:17:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:17:1)

**וַאֲנִי הִנְנִי מֵבִיא אֶת הַמַּבּוּל.** אַתָּה תַּשְׁלִים הַתֵּיבָה וַאֲנִי תֵּכֶף אָבִיא אֶת הַמַּבּוּל, וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן מַפָּלָה וְהֶפְסֵד כְּעִנְיַן "כָל נְבֵלָה" (דברים יד:כא). אָמַר אֲנִי אָבִיא אֶת הַמַּפָּלָה וְהַהֶפְסֵד שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי בְּאָמְרִי **וְהִנְנִי מַשְׁחִיתָם אֶת הָאָרֶץ**:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואני הנני מביא את המבול, G’d is saying, that Noach’s task is to build the ark, whereas He, when the time expires, will bring on the deluge He had threatened as soon as the ark would be completed. The word מבול is a variant of מפלה, referring to something lost as in Deut. 14,21 כל נבלה, a carcass being a life lost. The definitive article ה in המבול refers to the destruction, the nature of which had not previously been spelled out. [my paraphrasing. Ed.]


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:18:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:18:1)

**וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת בְּרִיתִי.** אַחַר הַמַּבּוּל.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והקימותי את בריתי, a reference to the covenant G’d made with Noach after the deluge.


###### Sforno on Genesis 6:21:1
[Sforno on Genesis 6:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/6:21:1)

**וְאַתָּה.** עַתָּה קַח מִכָּל מַאֲכָל, מַאֲכָלִים שׁוֹנִים לְמִינִים שׁוֹנִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואתה קח לך מכל מאכל, different menus for different species of creatures.