Genesis Chapter 8

The Ark Rests on Ararat

(Genesis 19:1-11)

1And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; 2The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; 3And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 4And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 5And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.

Noah Sends a Raven and a Dove

6And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: 7And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. 8Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; 9But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. 10And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 11And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 12And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

Exiting the Ark

13And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. 15And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. 17Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. 18And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: 19Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

Noah Builds an Altar

20And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

The Ark Rests on Ararat

1 God remembered Noah, all the animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ship; and God made a wind to pass over the earth. The waters subsided. 2 The deep’s fountains and the sky’s windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained. 3 The waters receded from the earth continually. After the end of one hundred fifty days the waters decreased. 4 The ship rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on Ararat’s mountains. 5 The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.

Noah Sends a Raven and a Dove

6 It happened at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made, 7 and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth, until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 He sent out a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from the surface of the ground, 9 but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him into the ship; for the waters were on the surface of the whole earth. He put out his hand, and took her, and brought her to him into the ship. 10 He stayed yet another seven days; and again he sent the dove out of the ship. 11 The dove came back to him at evening, and, behold, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth. 12 He stayed yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; and she didn’t return to him any more.

Exiting the Ark

13 It happened in the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth. Noah removed the covering of the ship, and looked. He saw that the surface of the ground was dried. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. 15 God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 “Go out of the ship, you, and your wife, and your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply on the earth.” 18 Noah went out, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives with him. 19 Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went out of the ship.

Noah Builds an Altar

20 Noah built an altar to Yahweh, and took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. Yahweh said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I ever again strike everything living, as I have done.

22 While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

The Ark Rests on Ararat

1 But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside. 2 The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained. 3 The waters receded steadily from the earth, and after 150 days the waters had gone down.

4 On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible.

Noah Sends a Raven and a Dove

6 After forty days Noah opened the window he had made in the ark 7 and sent out a raven. It kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth.

8 Then Noah sent out a a dove to see if the waters had receded from the surface of the ground. 9 But the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him in the ark, because the waters were still covering the surface of all the earth. So he reached out his hand and brought her back inside the ark.

10 Noah waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. 11 And behold, the dove returned to him in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in her beak. So Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.

12 And Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove again, but this time she did not return to him.

Exiting the Ark

13 In Noah’s six hundred and first year, on the first day of the first month, the waters had dried up from the earth. So Noah removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. 14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was fully dry.

15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife, along with your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, and everything that crawls upon the ground—so that they can spread out over the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon it.”

18 So Noah came out, along with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 Every living creature, every creeping thing, and every bird—everything that moves upon the earth—came out of the ark, kind by kind.

Noah Builds an Altar

20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.

22 As long as the earth endures,

seedtime and harvest,

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night

shall never cease.”

Footnotes:

8 a Literally sent out from him  or sent out from it

The Ark Rests on Ararat

(Genesis 19:1-11)

1And God remembereth Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle which are with him in the ark, and God causeth a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subside, 2and closed are the fountains of the deep and the net-work of the heavens, and restrained is the shower from the heavens. 3And turn back do the waters from off the earth, going on and returning; and the waters are lacking at the end of a hundred and fifty days. 4And the ark resteth, in the seventh month, in the seventeenth day of the month, on mountains of Ararat; 5and the waters have been going and becoming lacking till the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first of the month, appeared the heads of the mountains.

Noah Sends a Raven and a Dove

6And it cometh to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah openeth the window of the ark which he made, 7and he sendeth forth the raven, and it goeth out, going out and turning back till the drying of the waters from off the earth. 8And he sendeth forth the dove from him to see whether the waters have been lightened from off the face of the ground, 9and the dove hath not found rest for the sole of her foot, and she turneth back unto him, unto the ark, for waters are on the face of all the earth, and he putteth out his hand, and taketh her, and bringeth her in unto him, unto the ark. 10And he stayeth yet other seven days, and addeth to send forth the dove from the ark; 11and the dove cometh in unto him at even-time, and lo, an olive leaf torn off in her mouth; and Noah knoweth that the waters have been lightened from off the earth. 12And he stayeth yet other seven days, and sendeth forth the dove, and it added not to turn back unto him any more.

Exiting the Ark

13And it cometh to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, in the first of the month, the waters have been dried from off the earth; and Noah turneth aside the covering of the ark, and looketh, and lo, the face of the ground hath been dried. 14And in the second month, in the seven and twentieth day of the month, the earth hath become dry. 15And God speaketh unto Noah, saying, 'Go out from the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee; 16every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, among fowl, and among cattle, and among every creeping thing which is creeping on the earth, bring out with thee; 17and they have teemed in the earth, and been fruitful, and have multiplied on the earth.' 18And Noah goeth out, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him; 19every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl; every creeping thing on the earth, after their families, have gone out from the ark.

Noah Builds an Altar

20And Noah buildeth an altar to Jehovah, and taketh of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and causeth burnt-offerings to ascend on the altar; 21and Jehovah smelleth the sweet fragrance, and Jehovah saith unto His heart, 'I continue not to disesteem any more the ground because of man, though the imagination of the heart of man is evil from his youth; and I continue not to smite any more all living, as I have done;

22during all days of the earth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, do not cease.'

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Genesis 8?

1.1Introduction to Genesis 8

1.2Context of Genesis 8

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.5Genesis 8 Unique Insights

1.6Genesis 8 Connections to Yeshua

1.7Genesis 8 Scriptural Echoes

1.8Genesis 8 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of Genesis 8?

Introduction to Genesis 8

Genesis 8 marks a pivotal moment in human history as it chronicles the end of the global flood and God’s redemptive renewal of creation. This chapter serves as a powerful testament to both divine judgment and divine faithfulness, showing how God remembers His covenant even in the midst of judgment. The waters that once covered the earth begin to recede, and new life emerges from the catastrophic flood, presenting a profound picture of resurrection and renewal.

The narrative masterfully weaves together themes of patience, obedience, and worship, culminating in God’s covenant promise never to destroy the earth by flood again. Through Noah’s experience, we witness a microcosm of salvation history and God’s pattern of judgment followed by renewal, a pattern that would be repeated throughout Scripture.

Context of Genesis 8

Genesis 8 sits at the heart of the flood narrative (Genesis 6-9), serving as the turning point between destruction and renewal. The previous chapters detail God’s grief over human wickedness and His decision to cleanse the earth through the flood, while also preserving a righteous remnant through Noah. This chapter bridges the gap between judgment and new beginnings, demonstrating God’s faithfulness to His creation and His covenant people.

In the broader context of Genesis, this chapter falls within the primeval history (Genesis 1-11), which sets the stage for God’s redemptive plan through Abraham and his descendants. The flood narrative parallels the creation account in Genesis 1, with the waters receding to reveal dry land and new life emerging. This parallelism suggests a re-creation motif, emphasizing God’s power to bring order from chaos and life from death.

Within the larger biblical narrative, Genesis 8 establishes several key theological themes that resonate throughout Scripture: God’s remembrance of His people, the concept of divine rescue through judgment, and the importance of patience and obedience in waiting for God’s timing. These themes find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of the Messiah Yeshua.

Ancient Key Word Study

“Remember” (זָכַר, zakar) – When Genesis 8:1 states “God remembered Noah,” it employs a profound Hebrew term that goes far beyond mere mental recall. זָכַר implies active intervention on behalf of the one remembered. This same word is used when God remembers His covenant with Abraham (Exodus 2:24) and when He remembers Rachel’s barrenness (Genesis 30:22). In each case, divine remembrance leads to divine action.
“Rest” (נוּחַ, nuach) – The ark “resting” on Mount Ararat (Genesis 8:4) uses the same root from which Noah’s name derives. This linguistic connection emphasizes how Noah would bring rest/comfort to a world under curse. The word carries connotations of settling down, finding peace, and entering into a state of completeness.
“Waited” (יָחַל, yachal) – Noah’s repeated waiting periods (Genesis 8:10, 12) employ a term that implies hopeful expectation. Unlike mere passive waiting, יָחַל suggests active trust in God’s promises. This same word appears in Psalm 130:5, describing the psalmist’s confident waiting for the Lord.
“Decrease” (חָסֵר, chaser) – The gradual recession of the waters (Genesis 8:3) uses a term that implies both diminishing quantity and divine purpose. This word often appears in wisdom literature to describe lack or need, suggesting that even in decrease, God’s wisdom is at work.
“Send forth” (שָׁלַח, shalach) – The repeated sending of the birds (Genesis 8:7-12) uses a term that implies both authority and purpose. This same word is used for God’s sending of the prophets and, ultimately, for the sending of the Messiah, suggesting these birds served as divine messengers.
“Sacrifice” (עֹלָה, olah) – Noah’s burnt offering (Genesis 8:20) represents the first mention of this specific type of sacrifice in Scripture. The word literally means “that which goes up,” emphasizing the complete dedication of the offering to God through its ascension in smoke.
“Soothing aroma” (רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ, reyach nichoach) – This phrase in Genesis 8:21 becomes a technical term in Levitical law for acceptable sacrifices. The root נִיחֹחַ (nichoach) is related to Noah’s name, creating a wordplay that connects Noah’s sacrifice with divine satisfaction and rest.
“Heart” (לֵב, lev) – God’s internal dialogue about human nature (Genesis 8:21) uses this term which encompasses not just emotions but the entire inner person – will, thoughts, and intentions. This same word appears in the previous chapter describing humanity’s evil inclination.
“Seedtime and harvest” (זֶרַע וְקָצִיר, zera v’katzir) – These agricultural terms in God’s covenant (Genesis 8:22) represent more than mere seasons; they symbolize God’s ongoing provision and the restoration of creation’s order. The word זֶרַע (seed) becomes a key term in messianic prophecy.

Compare & Contrast

In Genesis 8:1, the phrase “God remembered Noah” could have used the Hebrew word פָּקַד (paqad, “to visit/attend to”) instead of זָכַר (zakar). The choice of זָכַר emphasizes not just divine attention but covenant faithfulness, as this term is consistently used in Scripture for God’s redemptive remembrance of His people.
The description of the ark “resting” (נוּחַ) on Ararat in verse 4 could have employed יָשַׁב (yashav, “to dwell/sit”). The use of נוּחַ creates an intentional wordplay with Noah’s name and connects to the Sabbath rest of creation, suggesting this moment as a new beginning for creation.
The sending forth of the raven (verse 7) uses שָׁלַח (shalach) rather than the more common נָתַן (nathan, “to give/send”). This choice emphasizes divine commission rather than mere release, paralleling later uses of שָׁלַח for prophetic sending.
Noah’s waiting periods (verses 10-12) employ יָחַל (yachal) rather than קָוָה (qavah, another word for waiting). This specific term implies active hope and expectation, suggesting Noah’s trust in God’s promises rather than mere passive waiting.
The burnt offering (עֹלָה, olah) in verse 20 is specifically chosen over other types of sacrifices like זֶבַח (zevach, peace offering). This choice emphasizes complete dedication and anticipates the Levitical system’s highest form of sacrifice.
God’s promise regarding the ground (verse 21) uses קָלַל (qalal, “curse”) rather than אָרַר (arar, another word for curse). This linguistic choice connects back to the original curse in Genesis 3, suggesting a limitation on that curse’s effects.
The phrase “all the days of the earth” (verse 22) uses כָּל־יְמֵי הָאָרֶץ rather than לְעוֹלָם (forever). This specific phrasing suggests a temporal limitation, hinting at the eventual renewal of creation described in Revelation.

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Genesis 8 Unique Insights

The rabbinic tradition finds profound significance in the timing of the ark’s rest on Mount Ararat. According to Rashi, the ark came to rest on the 17th day of Nisan, the same month in which Israel would later celebrate Passover. This connection suggests a divine pattern of redemption, where God’s salvation acts often align with specific calendar dates. The early church fathers, particularly Origen and Augustine, saw in the receding waters a type of baptism, where judgment waters give way to new life.

The number forty appears implicitly in this chapter through the forty days Noah waited before opening the window. This mirrors other biblical periods of testing and transformation: Moses’ forty days on Sinai, Israel’s forty years in the wilderness, and Yeshua’s forty days in the desert. The rabbis teach that forty represents a complete period of transformation, suggesting that the flood’s aftermath was not merely about physical cleanup but spiritual renewal.

The sequence of birds – raven and dove – has generated rich commentary in both Jewish and Christian traditions. The Midrash notes that the raven, an unclean bird, was sent first as a scout but proved unreliable, while the dove, later used as a sacrifice bird, faithfully carried out its mission. Early Christian writers saw in the dove a prefiguring of the Holy Spirit, noting that just as the dove brought an olive branch of peace, the Spirit brings God’s peace to believers.

The altar Noah builds (Genesis 8:20) is considered by Jewish tradition to be at the same location where Adam, Cain, and Abel offered sacrifices, and where Abraham would later bind Isaac. This location, identified with Mount Moriah, would eventually become the site of the Temple in Jerusalem, suggesting a continuous line of worship and sacrifice from creation to redemption.

Genesis 8 Connections to Yeshua

Genesis 8 presents powerful typological connections to the Messiah’s redemptive work. Just as Noah and his family passed through the waters of judgment to emerge into a new creation, so too would Yeshua pass through the waters of death to inaugurate the new creation. The apostle Peter explicitly connects the flood waters to baptism (1 Peter 3:20-21), showing how Noah’s salvation through water prefigured the salvation available in the Messiah.

The dove’s return with an olive branch symbolizes peace between God and creation, pointing forward to the ultimate peace achieved through Yeshua’s sacrifice. This imagery finds its fulfillment at Yeshua’s baptism, where the Spirit descends like a dove, marking Him as the one who would bring true peace between God and humanity. Furthermore, Noah’s sacrifice and God’s response (Genesis 8:20-21) anticipate the perfect sacrifice of Yeshua, which would permanently address the problem of human evil that God acknowledges in this passage.

Genesis 8 Scriptural Echoes

The theme of God remembering His covenant people echoes throughout Scripture, from His remembrance of Rachel (Genesis 30:22) to His remembrance of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:24). This divine remembrance finds its ultimate expression in God’s faithfulness to His messianic promises.

The waters receding and new life emerging parallels both the creation account (Genesis 1:9-13) and the Exodus crossing (Exodus 14:21-22). This pattern of salvation through water becomes a recurring biblical motif, culminating in the New Testament imagery of baptism (Romans 6:4).

The establishment of seasons and natural order (Genesis 8:22) is referenced in Jeremiah 33:20-21, where God compares His covenant with David to His covenant with day and night. This connection emphasizes the reliability of God’s promises, both in nature and in redemption.

Genesis 8 Devotional

Genesis 8 teaches us profound lessons about waiting on God’s timing. Noah waited months for the waters to recede, sending out birds and patiently watching for signs of God’s next direction. In our instant-gratification culture, this chapter challenges us to develop similar patience and trust in God’s perfect timing.

The chapter also demonstrates the importance of worship as our first response to God’s deliverance. Noah’s first act upon leaving the ark was to build an altar and offer sacrifices. This reminds us that gratitude and worship should be our primary response to God’s faithfulness in our lives.

Finally, God’s promise never to destroy the earth by flood again, despite humanity’s continued sinfulness, reveals His incredible grace and long-suffering nature. This should inspire both comfort in His mercy and commitment to holy living in response to His grace.

Did You Know

The Hebrew text indicates that the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat on the 17th day of the seventh month, which later became the 17th of Nisan, the same date on which Yeshua would rise from the dead.
The dimensions of the ark would have made it virtually impossible to capsize, with naval architects confirming its optimal design for stability rather than speed or maneuverability.
The olive branch brought back by the dove has become a universal symbol of peace, used across cultures and religions, tracing its origins to this biblical account.
The Babylonian flood account, the Epic of Gilgamesh, also includes a bird-sending episode, but with different birds and significance, highlighting the unique theological emphasis of the biblical account.
The word for “raven” in Hebrew (עֹרֵב) shares the same root as “evening” (עֶרֶב), connecting to themes of darkness and light in Scripture.
Mount Ararat, where the ark rested, stands at approximately 17,000 feet, making it a significant geographical marker in the ancient world.
The phrase “God remembered Noah” uses a Hebrew verb (זָכַר) that appears at other crucial covenant moments in Scripture, establishing a pattern of divine faithfulness.
The sacrifice Noah offered was specifically a “burnt offering” (עֹלָה), the first mention of this type of sacrifice in Scripture, which would later become central to the Levitical system.
The rainbow covenant established after the flood is referenced in Rabbinic literature as the “Noahic Covenant,” one of several universal covenants applicable to all humanity.
Jewish tradition maintains that Noah’s altar was built on the future site of the Temple in Jerusalem, creating a continuous line of worship from creation to redemption.

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Bible Themes

Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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