There are a few different ways that this verse has been interpreted by scholars and theologians. One interpretation is that the phrase “was sorry” or “regretted” can be understood to mean that God was disappointed or displeased with the actions of humanity. This interpretation suggests that God regretted creating humanity because of their disobedience and wrongdoing. Another interpretation is that the phrase “was sorry” or “regretted” should not be taken literally but rather should be understood as a way of expressing the depth of God's emotional response to the situation. In this interpretation, the verse could be seen as expressing the sadness and grief that God felt at the prospect of having to punish humanity through the flood.