וַיַּ֖עַשׂ נֹ֑חַ כְּ֠כֹל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֥ה אֹתֹ֛ו אֱלֹהִ֖ים כֵּ֥ן עָשָֽׂה׃
(Genesis 6:22)
And Noaḥ did according to all that Elohim commanded him—so he did.
Introduction: Doing What Was Commanded
This verse closes God’s detailed instructions to Noaḥ regarding the construction of the ark. At first glance, it appears simple and repetitive. But beneath the surface lies a sophisticated use of waw-consecutive forms and emphasis via syntactic duplication. These features work together to highlight not only obedience but precise and total compliance with divine command.
The Waw-Consecutive Verb: וַיַּ֖עַשׂ
The opening verb וַיַּ֖עַשׂ (“and he did”) is a Qal wayyiqtol, the classic Hebrew form for sequential narrative actions. It pushes the narrative forward and emphasizes that this deed directly follows from the prior divine command.
Parsing Table: וַיַּ֖עַשׂ
| Form | Root | Stem | Tense | Person / Gender | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּעַשׂ | ע־שׂ־ה | Qal | Wayyiqtol | 3rd Person Masculine Singular | Sequential narrative: “And he did” |
Double Syntax: כְּכֹל… כֵּן
The structure כְּכֹל… כֵּן forms a balanced syntactic frame that reinforces exactitude.
- כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּ֥ה אֹתֹ֛ו אֱלֹהִ֖ים – “according to all that God had commanded him”
- כֵּן עָשָֽׂה – “so he did”
This is a mirrored clause construction, a rhetorical device that both affirms and intensifies. It asserts that Noaḥ’s action was not just general obedience—it was detailed, complete, exact.
Theological Implication in Syntactic Echo
The repetition of the verb עָשָׂה (“to do”) in two forms—first in waw-consecutive and then in simple perfect—cements the idea of obedience manifested in action:
- וַיַּעַשׂ נֹחַ = he began and did the command
- כֵּן עָשָׂה = he fulfilled it completely as instructed
This forms a theological pattern seen often in Torah narratives: when a human follows divine command precisely, the text affirms it syntactically.
Stylistic Emphasis in Masoretic Marking
The Masoretes mark כֵּן with a prominent mercha tipḥa accent combination, slowing the cadence and setting apart the final clause. This structure:
- Begins with a verb of action
- Follows with a relative clause of command
- Closes with an emphatic confirmation of obedience
It’s not just narrative flow—it’s a theological stamp of approval.
The Grammar of Righteousness
Noaḥ’s righteousness isn’t described in abstract terms here—it’s shown through grammar. The repeated עָשָׂה, the exact parallelism, and the sequential wayyiqtol form demonstrate that obedience in Hebrew thought is tangible action done in precise conformity. Grammar doesn’t just support the theology; in this verse, it is the theology.