The conclusion of this subdivision draws attention to the faithful obedience of Noah, and this refrain is repeated in 7.5, 9.

The Hebrew form of this verse is in two clauses. In some cases it may be best to avoid the repetition Noah did this and say, as in Good News Translation, “Noah did everything that God commanded him.” But in some languages the repetition makes a very natural episode-closing statement. If the more complete form is desired, we may say, for example, “This is what Noah did: he obeyed every command God gave him” or “Noah did it just like that: he did everything that God told him.”

Translators should note that the statement in this verse is related to the content of the previous verses, that is, everything from verse 13 to verse 21. In particular it means that everything expressed as a command in those verses has now been accomplished. And this has a bearing on the story line as it runs through chapters 6 and 7. For instance, if the verb in verse 18b has been translated as a command, as in Good News Translation, that means that Noah and his family are inside the boat at the end of chapter 6; but if that verb has been translated as a simple future, then Noah and his family are perhaps not in the boat at this point of the story. If the verbs in verses 19-20 have been translated as commands, as they are in almost all translations, that means that all the animals are inside the boat at the end of chapter 6.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .