Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 8:21

21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour , and the Lord said in his Heart , I will not again curse the ground any more for mans sake, for the imagination of mans Heart is evil from his youth: Neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done.

(i. e.) Graciously accepted the Person and Faith and Praiseoffering of Noah, and was as well pleased therewith, as men use to be with a sweet smell.

(i. e.) Determined within himself, and expressed so much to Noah. The Hebrew preposition, el, sometimes signifies in, as Gen. 6. 6. 1▪ Sam. 27. 1. Others, said to his Heart, i. e. spake to the Heart of Noah, who is mentioned ver. 20. To speak to the Heart, in Scripture use signifies to comfort.

(i. e.) The whole Earth with this kind of curse, with another deluge. Otherwise God doth not hereby tye his hands, that he may not either destroy a particular Land by a deluge, which hath been done since, or destroy the World by Fire when he sees fit, as he hath declared he will do.

The reason is this, since all mens Hearts are naturally corrupt, and from that filthy spring wicked actions will be continually flowing forth into the World, and consequently, if I should be severe to punish men according to their sins, I should do nothing but send one deluge after another. Or these words may be joyned with the former, and the sense may be this, I will not again destroy the Earth with a deluge for mans sake, or for mans sin, or because the imagination, &c. (i. e.) because his heart is corrupt and his actions are agreeable to it, which was the cause of the last deluge. Or the particle, chi, may be rendred, although, as it is frequently taken, as Exod. 5. 11. and 13. 17. and 34. 9. Ios. 17. 13. Psal. 25. 11. and 41. 5. and so the sense is plain, I will not again destroy the Earth, although the imagination, &c. i. e▪ Although I have just cause to do so.

i. e. Kill or destroy, as the word smiting is taken, Exod. 21. 18. Numb. 14. 12. and 35. 16. Deut. 28. 22, 27. Amos 4. 9.

‖ Or, From his very childhood and infancy, as the Chaldee and Greek interpreters Translate it.

Marginal references: Heb. a savour of rest.; Chap. 6. 5. Matth. 15. 19.