Does God Regret Making Man?

Fr. Scott Haynes

"And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart..." (Genesis 6:6)

This passage of Scripture has been a subject of theological discussion since the early Church. The Church Fathers interpreted this passage in ways that emphasized God's unchanging nature, while explaining the anthropomorphic (human-like) language used to describe divine actions. Here are key insights from the Church Fathers:

1. St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Augustine addressed this verse in his work City of God (Book 15, Chapter 22), explaining that God’s "regret" is not like human regret, which implies a change of mind. Augustine taught that God's will and knowledge are perfect and unchanging. Therefore, the language of "regret" is used to accommodate human understanding. He wrote:

"The repentance of God is not a change of His will, but a change in His work, which is said to be repented of."

In other words, God's "regret" is a way to express His displeasure at human sin in terms that humans can comprehend.

2. St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom, in his Homilies on Genesis, explained that God’s regret is a figure of speech (anthropopathism) meant to convey God’s grief over human sin. He stated that God does not actually change His mind, as humans do, but Scripture uses this language to express the seriousness of mankind's wickedness:

"Since God is not subject to human emotions, the sacred writer attributes human feelings to God to make clearer to us how dreadful human wickedness is."

Chrysostom emphasized that this passage shows God's love and care for humanity, as He is deeply concerned about their actions.

3. St. Gregory the Great

In his Moral Teachings on Job (Book 20, Chapter 1), St. Gregory the Great explained that God’s regret in Genesis 6:6 shows His justice. When God "regrets" creating humanity, it reflects His righteous judgment against sin. Gregory taught that God's actions are always guided by His eternal wisdom and that this "regret" indicates a change in God’s dealings with humanity due to their sinfulness.

"God is said to 'repent' because He changes the manner of His dealings with men."

Thus, God's "regret" reflects His just response to human sin, not a change in His divine nature.

4. St. Irenaeus of Lyons

St. Irenaeus, in Against Heresies (Book 4, Chapter 40), viewed this passage as a lesson about God’s patience and mercy. He explained that God foreknew mankind’s sinfulness, but He still allowed humanity to exist out of love. When Scripture says God "regretted," it indicates His grief over human sin and the consequences of human free will.

5. Theodoret of Cyrus

Theodoret, in his Commentary on Genesis, argued that the language of "regret" is symbolic and meant to teach humans about God’s moral expectations. He explained that God's unchanging nature is a key doctrine, and this passage is meant to highlight the seriousness of human disobedience.

"God’s regret is not due to a lack of foresight, but rather shows His deep sorrow over the wickedness of human beings."

Summary of Patristic Teachings

• God does not change His mind like humans do.

• The language of "regret" is anthropomorphic, used to express God’s sorrow over human sin in a way we can understand.

• God's "regret" reflects His justice and righteous judgment.

• This passage highlights human free will and God’s grief over the misuse of that freedom.

In conclusion, the Church Fathers consistently taught that Genesis 6:6 does not imply a change in God’s nature but instead uses figurative language to express God’s displeasure at the moral decay of humanity.

The meditation on Genesis 6:6 — “And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart” — contains several important doctrinal lessons when interpreted through the lens of the Church Fathers and Catholic theology. Below are the key doctrines and spiritual truths that can be drawn from this passage:

Doctrinal Lessons

1. The Immutability of God

Doctrine: God is unchanging in His nature, will, and knowledge.

• Scriptural Support: “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6).

• Patristic Insight: St. Augustine emphasizes that God’s “regret” is not a change of mind but a change in His dealings with man.

• Lesson: This passage teaches that Scripture often uses human terms (anthropopathism) to describe God's actions to help us grasp His divine responses to sin.

2. The Use of Anthropomorphic Language in Scripture

Doctrine: Sacred Scripture speaks “after the manner of men” to express divine truths.

• Church Teaching: In Providentissimus Deus (1893), Leo XIII teaches that the biblical authors often used poetic, legal, or historical forms typical of their time, not always intending modern literal precision: “For the ancient peoples of the East … to express their ideas did not always employ those forms or kinds of speech which we use today; but rather those used by the men of their times and countries.” He goes on to affirm that the words of God “are like human speech in every respect, except error,” meaning Scripture is adapted to human literary and cultural contexts.

• Patristic Insight: St. John Chrysostom affirms that such language is used so that we, with human minds, can understand divine realities.

• Lesson: We are reminded that Scripture must be read with theological and spiritual maturity, interpreting such language properly rather than literally in all cases.

3. The Reality and Gravity of Sin

Doctrine: Sin is a grievous offense against God and disrupts His created order.

• Scriptural Echo: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

• Patristic Insight: The Fathers teach that this "grief" in God represents His deep displeasure and the moral disorder caused by sin.

• Lesson: Sin truly wounds our relationship with God. Genesis 6:6 reflects the deep sorrow of God over human rebellion and reminds us that sin is not merely a legal offense but a personal rupture with our loving Creator.

4. God’s Justice and Mercy

Doctrine: God responds to sin with both justice and mercy.

• Historical Context: The verse precedes the story of the Flood — God’s righteous judgment — yet Noah’s salvation shows His mercy.

• Patristic Insight: St. Gregory the Great teaches that God's "regret" reflects a change in how He deals with mankind, not a change in His eternal will.

• Lesson: We are reminded that God always opposes evil, but He also seeks to save the just, showing His enduring patience and mercy.

5. The Mystery of Divine Providence and Human Free Will

Doctrine: God created man with free will, knowing that man might sin, and His providence encompasses even human failure.

• Patristic Insight: St. Irenaeus reflects on how God, foreknowing man's sin, still created man out of love and permits sin to bring about a greater good (cf. Felix culpa – “O happy fault…”).

• Lesson: Even in His grief, God’s providential plan is at work. This reminds us of the deep mystery that God’s eternal plan includes both justice and redemption.

6. The Suffering of God’s Love

Doctrine: God’s love is personal, and our sins “grieve” His heart.

• Scriptural Echo: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30).

• Lesson: God is not distant or indifferent. Genesis 6:6 reveals that our sins wound the heart of God, not because He is weak, but because He is love (cf. 1 John 4:8). This foreshadows the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is pierced for our sins.

  
  

7. The Call to Repentance and Renewal

Doctrine: God gives warning and space for repentance before judgment.

• Spiritual Application: The delay before the Flood, and the selection of Noah, indicates a call to righteousness.

• Lesson: When we read that God was grieved by man's sin, we should respond by examining our own hearts, repenting, and living in fidelity.

Summary of Doctrinal Lessons

Doctrinal Theme	Description	Lesson
Immutability of God	God does not change His will or nature	Trust God’s eternal constancy
Anthropomorphic Language	Scripture uses human expressions for divine realities	Read Scripture with theological discernment
Grief over Sin	Sin grieves the heart of God	Avoid sin and seek holiness
Justice and Mercy	God punishes sin but offers salvation	Hope in God’s mercy while fearing His justice
Providence and Free Will	God permits sin to bring about greater goods	Trust in God’s ultimate plan
Divine Love	God’s love is personal and wounded by sin	Let love motivate repentance
Repentance	God calls humanity to return to Him	Change now, before judgment comes

Final Reflection

Genesis 6:6, though brief and mysterious, opens up rich theological depth. The passage is not a depiction of a fickle God, but rather of a holy, loving, and just Creator whose heart is moved by the sin and ruin of His creatures. The Fathers guide us to read this not as a statement of divine failure, but as an invitation to understand the seriousness of sin, the patience of God, and the urgent call to righteousness.