The generations of Noah; either,
1. Properly the posterity of Noah, as the word is commonly used, and as it is explained Genesis 6:10. So the rest of this verse comes in by way of parenthesis, which is frequent. Or,
2. The events or occurrences which befell Noah and his family, as the word is taken, Genesis 37:2 Proverbs 27:1. A just man, and perfect. These words are to be taken either,
1. Jointly, q.d. he was righteous, not only in appearance, or in part, but perfectly, in all respects, towards God and men; or sincerely and truly. Or,
2. Distinctly, q.d. he was for his state and condition just before God, which was by faith, Hebrews 11:7, by which every just man lives, Romans 1:17, and perfect, i.e. upright and unblamable in the course of his life among the men of his age, as it follows; in his generations. This is spoken either,
1. Diminutively; he was so comparatively to the men that then lived, who were very bad; though otherwise even Noah had many infirmities, so that he also had not been saved but for God's grace and mercy, Genesis 6:8. Or,
2. By way of amplification and commendation; he was good in bad times, in spite of all evil counsels or examples. He saith generations, in the plural number, to show that as he lived in two generations, one before the flood, and another after it, so he continued uncorrupted in both of them. Noah walked with God. See Poole on "Genesis 5:22".