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   Divine retribution is a supernatural punishment usually directed towards all or some portions of humanity by a deity.

   This theological concept exists in virtually all major religions.[citation needed] Many cultures also have at least one story about how a deity exacted punishment on previous inhabitants of their land, causing their doom.

   An example of Divine retribution is the story found in many cultures about a great flood destroying part or nearly all of mankind. As described in the Book of Genesis (6:9-8:22), one man (Noah), together with his wife, sons and daughters-in-law and a representative selection of all the animals in the world at that time, were saved while the rest of humanity perished. References in the Qur'an to a man named Nuh who was commanded by God to build an ark also suggest that one man and his followers were saved in a great flood.

   Other examples of divine retribution include the dispersion of the builders of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20-21, 19:23-28), and the Ten Plagues visited upon the ancient Egyptians for persecuting God's chosen people, the Children of Israel (Exodus, Chapters 7-12).

   The concept of divine retribution is controversial because stories of divine retribution often depict God as acting in an irrational way, punishing the innocent, and killing even children and babies in his fury.

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