Definition: But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Genesis 6:18. It’s a really important and somewhat unsettling verse in the Bible, and it speaks about God’s plan for humanity before the Great Flood. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is saying: “I want to make a special relationship with you, humans, and I want you to be part of my plan for the world.” Let’s unpack it further: “But with thee will I establish a covenant…” : This means that God is making a promise to you. It's a binding agreement – a deal between God and humanity. “…and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.” : This describes a large ship, the Ark of the Covenant, that God is building. It’s a vessel designed to save a select group of people – specifically, humanity. The key parts are: “Thou” : This is a plural pronoun – it means “you” in the plural form (like when you're speaking to a group). “And thy sons, and thy wife…” : These are the people God intends to include on this journey. It’s about a family, specifically chosen for a special purpose. “Thy sons’ wives with thee” : This is the most significant part – it means that the sons of these chosen individuals will be included in the Ark’s voyage. It suggests they'll be part of God’s plan to save humanity. What does this mean practically? The verse paints a picture of a desperate situation for humanity. God is worried about the future and wants to ensure that some humans are included in his plan – specifically, those who will be saved through the Flood. It's a bit unsettling because it suggests that the world might face destruction. Important Note: This verse is often interpreted as a warning about the dangers of humanity and the need for God’s intervention to prevent a catastrophic event. It’s a moment of intense focus from God on his plan for the future. In short, this verse speaks of a covenant – a promise – made between God and humans, with the intention of including a select group of people in a divine plan. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of the verse in more detail? Discuss its symbolic meaning? Connect it to other parts of the Bible?