Genesis 6:3

[Dr. Shane]

And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:3)

Is this in regard to the human lifespan?

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalms 90:10)

[Nan]

I always understood this to refer to the time Noah was building the ark and warning about the flood to come....but that could be mistaken.

It would not seem to refer to man's life expectancy at that time, which was measured in hundreds of years. Even Abraham years after the flood lived to be 175.

[Yong T Tay]

Shane,

In to-day world, there is hardly any one that lives beyond 120 years. The majority of people in the developed world live over 70. President Jerry Ford died at 93.

Genesis 6:3 and Psalms 90:10 seem to indicate the human lifespan.

Yongttay

[Planey]

My belief matches that of Nan. I always felt the 120 years referred to the period of time up until the door was closed on the Ark. But I am willing to listen to other more educated person's ideas. Where are you, David, Gregory, John, Olger, LHC,...?

Graeme

[John317]

Some Bible commentators believe that Genesis 6:3 refers to the length of people's lives following the flood, but apparently, in view of the testimony of Genesis 11, that is not what it has reference to. God gave them another 120 years of probationary time to turn back to Him in obedience and faith. The idea is that God could, and otherwise would, have destroyed them all without giving them another chance. But God is full of grace and kindness and therefore his judgments are delayed, giving people-- you and me-- time to change. Please see 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5; 3:8,9, 14,15.

In any case, had the world turned back to God in response to the preaching of Enoch, Noah, and Methuselah, God would not have destroyed them with a flood. There simply would have been no flood, just like there was no destruction of Ninevah after Jonah preached, at least at that time.

Finally, Ellen White agrees that Genesis 6:3 is talking about the probationary period between the judgment of God that the antediluvian world deserved death and the execution of that judgment the year of the flood.

[David Koot]

Seems to me this question could be resolved without reference to the Hebrew. (Although, if reference to the Hebrew is needed, then we should solicit the input of the rabbi.) The verse simply says, 'his days,' rather than 'the days of his life.' That would seem consistent with the rest of verse, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man . . ."

Dave

[cricket]

Psalm 90:10 was not a direct quote of our Lord. It was inspired writing, alluding to the typical life span at the time. Genesis 6:3 is an inspired quote, "and the Lord said..."

As Nan stated, this is commonly accepted among Adventists to be a reference to the time God alloted the antediluvians to repent and change their lives to serve Him. Other denominations, though not all, believe that this refers to our life-span.

At any rate, I doubt any of us expect to live to 120 years of age. Most probably hope to live past 70. That's not a whole lot of time either way. Assuredly, it's enough to make that decision (if it weren't, He would have told us).

As an aside thought...I'm kind of surprised to not see a reference to the end times being 43,800 years from the time God said this. A day for a year...

[John317]

Actually, cricket, it has little if anything to do with denominations. It's more a question of what scholars think based on the Biblical text. I have oodles of study Bibles representing virtually every major, and even some minor, denominations, and while I see some that mention the idea of Genesis 6:3 being a reference to life-span, they all conclude that it has to do with how long God is giving people to repent. That is because the Biblical text does not show people at any point living 120 years.

The verse in 2 Peter 3:8 says "that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." The context has to do with what seems to people as God's "slowness" (v. 9) in executing His judgments. It has nothing to do with real time. Besides, people often don't seem to notice the key word, "LIKE," or "AS." It means that God does not consider time the same way we do. For instance, after so much time has passed following our sinful behavior, we might think God has forgotten it because of all the time that's passed, but this verse says that with the Lord a thousand years is like one day.

[cricket]

Okay, I'll take your word for it. As I was raised Lutheran, I was taught to believe that it meant a 120 year life-span. I know that's what's being taught in my daughter's Lutheran school. I just assumed that other denominations (like the one's I checked on the web) thought the same way. Like I said, I'll take your word for it. No worries.

[Aliensanctuary]

Coming from a non-SDA background also, I've always understood the verse to mean a reduced lifespan, but am glad to encounter an alternative viewpoint that is probably more correct.

[John317]

The Concordia Self-Study Bible (NIV), a product of Lutheran scholarship, notes at Genesis 6:3: "The verse seems to announce that man's life span would henceforth be limitd to 120 years (but see 11:10-26)."

I have others that say something similar-- indicating that the verse "appears" to refer to man's life span, but then they point you to a chapter contradicts that viewpoint. Chapter 11 does not give anyone life's span as 120 years. Instead they live anywhere between 600 years (Shem) and 205 years (Terah). Therefore it does not make sense to say that Gen. 6:3 refers to people's life span.

[John317]

The following comments taken from a variety of popular study Bibles produced by some of the largest denominations, including Roman Catholic, show that the view SDAs have of Genesis 6:3 is shared by a surprisingly large spectrum of Bible scholars:

1) The Zondervan Study Bible (Evangelical)-- says the verse seems to teach that there would be 120 years between God's judgment and the flood, giving them 120 years to repent. But then it says it may also point to the life span of people after the flood. It adds, "But see 11:10-26," showing doubt that the Bible supports such reasoning.

2) The Douay Version (Catholic): "The meaning is, that God would allow men this term of 120 years, for their repentence and conversion, before he would send the deluge."

3) The Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible (58 Bible scholars of the Christian Reformed Church-- Presbyterian/Baptist): "Probably the span of time between this proclamation and the ensuing flood. Some have taken this as a reference to an individual's life span, but that premise seems to be contradicted by the age of the people living after the flood (Ch. 11). God's judgment was seasoned by grace (cf. 1 Pe 3:20). The delay allowed time for people to repent and provided testimony of the coming judgment through Noah and his building of the huge ark."

4) The Life Application Bible (Largely Baptist but also includes scholars from many different churches): "His days will be a hundred and twenty years" means that God was allowing the people of Noah's day 120 years to change their sinful ways. God shows his great patience with us as well. He is giving us time to quit living our way and begin living his way, the way he shows us in his Word. While 120 years seems like a long time, eventually the time ran out and the floodwaers swept across the earth. Your time also may be running out. Turn to God to forgive your sins. You can't see the stopwatch of God's patience, and there is no bargaining for additional time."

[cricket]

Like I said, I'll take your word for it.

[Gregory Matthews]

Where is Gregory: Well, I do not necesarily say that I am "learned," and some would likely agree with that :-). I will suggest that Nan and John are on the right track. It references the probationary time to get read for the flood.