Genesis 7
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Commentaries
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Thee have I seen righteous - See the note on Gen 6:8
Open source ↗ENTRANCE INTO THE ARK. (Gen. 7:1-24) And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark--The ark was finished; and Noah now, in the spirit of implicit faith, which had influenced his whole conduct, waited for directions from God.
Open source ↗And the Lord said unto Noah,.... After Noah had built the ark, and got all things ready as were commanded him; and when it was but seven days ere the flood would begin: Come thou and all thy house into the ark; that is, he and his wife, his three sons and their wives: for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation: this was a great character of Noah; that he was a "righteous" person, not by his own righteousness, but by the righteousness of faith he was both heir and preacher of; and this he was "before" God, in his sight, seen, known, and acknowledged by him as righteous; and therefore must be really so: and this shows that he was not so by the works of the law, but by the righteousness of Christ; because by them no flesh living is justified in the sight of God: and Noah was a rare instance of this character; there was none besides him in that wicked generation, so that he was very conspicuous and remarkable; and it was wonderful grace to him, that he should have this blessing to be righteous in an age so sadly corrupt, which was the cause of his being saved; for whoever are justified shall be saved eternally, Rom 8:30 as well as they are often saved from temporal calamities, see Isa 3:10.
Open source ↗Gen 7:1-12 When the ark was built, and the period of grace (Gen 6:3) had passed, Noah received instructions from Jehovah to enter the ark with his family, and with the animals, viz., seven of every kind of clean animals, and two of the unclean; and was informed that within seven days God would cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights. The date of the flood is then given (Gen 7:6): "Noah was six hundred years old, and the flood was (namely) water upon the earth;" and the execution of the divine command is recorded in Gen 7:7-9. There follows next the account of the bursting forth of the flood, the date being given with still greater minuteness; and the entrance of the men and animals into the ark is again described as being fully accomplished (Gen 7:10-16). - The fact that in the command to enter the ark a distinction is now made between clean and unclean animals, seven of the former being ordered to be taken, - i.e., three pair and a single one, probably a male for sacrifice-is no more a proof of different authorship, or of the fusion of two accounts, than the interchange of the names Jehovah and Elohim. For the distinction between clean and unclean animals did not originate with Moses, but was confirmed by him as a long established custom, in harmony with the law. It reached back to the very earliest times, and arose from a certain innate feeling of the human mind, when undisturbed by unnatural and ungodly influences, which detects types of sin and corruption in many animals, and instinctively recoils from them (see my biblische Archeologie ii. p. 20). That the variations in the names of God furnish no criterion by which to detect different documents, is evident enough from the fact, that in Gen 7:1 it is Jehovah who commands Noah to enter the ark, a…
Open source ↗Here is, I. A gracious invitation of Noah and his family into a place of safety, now that the flood of waters was coming, Gen 7:1. 1. The call itself is very kind, like that of a tender father to his children, to come in doors, when he sees night or a storm coming: Come thou, and all thy house, that small family that thou hast, into the ark. Observe, (1.) Noah did not go into the ark till God bade him; though he knew it was designed for his place of refuge, yet he waited for a renewed command, and had it. It is very comfortable to follow the calls of Providence, and to see God going before us in every step we take. (2.) God does not bid him go into the ark, but come into it, implying that God would go with him, would lead him into it, accompany him in it, and in due time bring him safely out of it. Note, Wherever we are, it is very desirable to have the presence of God with us, for this is all in all to the comfort of every condition. It was this that made Noah's ark, which was a prison, to be to him not only a refuge, but a palace. (3.) Noah had taken a great deal of pains to build the ark, and now he was himself preserved alive in it. Note, What we do in obedience to the command of God, and in faith, we ourselves shall certainly have the comfort of, first or last. (4.) Not he only, but his house also, his wife and children, are called with him into the ark. Note, It is good to belong to the family of a godly man; it is safe and comfortable to dwell under such a shadow. One of Noah's sons was Ham, who proved afterwards a bad man, yet he was saved in the ark, which intimates, [1.] That wicked children often fare the better for the sake of their godly parents. [2.] That there is a mixture of bad with good in the best societies in earth, and we are not to think it strange…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) נֹחַ (Nôach, H5146) — Noach, the patriarch of the flood בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) תֵּבָה (têbâh, H8392) — a box רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq, H6662) — just פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… זֶה (zeh, H2088) — the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that דּוֹר (dôwr, H1755) — properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling
Open source ↗טָהוֹר (ṭâhôwr, H2889) — pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense) בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman הוּא (hûwʼ, H1931) — he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self,… שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold
Open source ↗עוֹף (ʻôwph, H5775) — a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… זָכָר (zâkâr, H2145) — properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex) נְקֵבָה (nᵉqêbâh, H5347) — female (from the sexual form) חָיָה (châyâh, H2421) — to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗עוֹד (ʻôwd, H5750) — properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition),… שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מָטַר (mâṭar, H4305) — to rain אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) אַרְבָּעִים (ʼarbâʻîym, H705) — forty לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity כֹּל (kôl, H3605) — properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a… יְקוּם (yᵉqûwm, H3351) — properly, standing (extant), i.e. by implication, a living thing עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מָחָה (mâchâh, H4229) — properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil),… עַל (ʻal, H5921) — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect)… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֲדָמָה (ʼădâmâh, H127) — soil (from its general redness)
Open source ↗נֹחַ (Nôach, H5146) — Noach, the patriarch of the flood עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
Open source ↗נֹחַ (Nôach, H5146) — Noach, the patriarch of the flood שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8337) — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… מַבּוּל (mabbûwl, H3999) — a deluge מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗נֹחַ (Nôach, H5146) — Noach, the patriarch of the flood בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman תֵּבָה (têbâh, H8392) — a box פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen מַבּוּל (mabbûwl, H3999) — a deluge
Open source ↗טָהוֹר (ṭâhôwr, H2889) — pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense) בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) עוֹף (ʻôwph, H5775) — a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively רָמַשׂ (râmas, H7430) — properly, to glide swiftly, i.e. to crawl or move with short steps; by analogy to swarm אֲדָמָה (ʼădâmâh, H127) — soil (from its general redness)
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold נֹחַ (Nôach, H5146) — Noach, the patriarch of the flood תֵּבָה (têbâh, H8392) — a box זָכָר (zâkâr, H2145) — properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex) נְקֵבָה (nᵉqêbâh, H5347) — female (from the sexual form) אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) — who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because,… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
Open source ↗שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen מַבּוּל (mabbûwl, H3999) — a deluge אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8337) — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction נֹחַ (Nôach, H5146) — Noach, the patriarch of the flood חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… שֵׁנִי (shênîy, H8145) — properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… זֶה (zeh, H2088) — the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that מַעְיָן (maʻyân, H4599) — a fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a source (of satisfaction) רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) תְּהוֹם (tᵉhôwm, H8415) — an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the…
Open source ↗גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, H1653) — a shower אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) אַרְבָּעִים (ʼarbâʻîym, H705) — forty יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
Open source ↗עֶצֶם (ʻetsem, H6106) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.)… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) נֹחַ (Nôach, H5146) — Noach, the patriarch of the flood שֵׁם (Shêm, H8035) — Shem, a son of Noah (often includ. his posterity) חָם (Châm, H2526) — Cham, a son of Noah; also (as a patronymic) his descendants or their country יֶפֶת (Yepheth, H3315) — Jepheth, a son of Noah; also his posterity בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice תֵּבָה (têbâh, H8392) — a box
Open source ↗הֵם (hêm, H1992) — they (only used when emphatic) חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… מִין (mîyn, H4327) — a sort, i.e. species בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) רֶמֶשׂ (remes, H7431) — a reptile or any other rapidly moving animal רָמַשׂ (râmas, H7430) — properly, to glide swiftly, i.e. to crawl or move with short steps; by analogy to swarm אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) עוֹף (ʻôwph, H5775) — a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively צִפּוֹר (tsippôwr, H6833) — a little bird (as hopping) כָּנָף (kânâph, H3671) — an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
On that very day Noah entered the ark, along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and his wife, and the three wives of his sons—
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man:
He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
And Noah and his wife, with his sons and their wives, entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.
He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.