English Standard Version
Genesis 7:3
3and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth.
Genesis 7:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
- New International Version (NIV)and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Also take seven pairs of every kind of bird. There must be a male and a female in each pair to ensure that all life will survive on the earth after the flood.
Context of Genesis 7:3
1Then the Lord said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 2Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground." 5And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.
Read all of Genesis 7Genesis 7:3 word by word
גַּ֣ם מֵע֧וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם שִׁבְעָ֥ה שִׁבְעָ֖ה זָכָ֣ר וּנְקֵבָ֑ה לְחַיּ֥וֹת זֶ֖רַע עַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Of fowlsעוֹף‛ôph · birdH5775
- also of the airשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- by sevensשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
- the maleזָכָרzâkâr · maleH2145
- and the femaleנְקֵבָהneqêbâh · femaleH5347
- to keepחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- seedזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: childrenH2233
- upon the faceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: surfaceH6440
- of all the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Commentaries on Genesis 7:3
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-9Verses 1-9 - The Ark Was Entered 2. טהור ṭâhôr “clean, fit for food or sacrifice.” 4. יקוּם yeqûm “standing thing; what grows up, whether animal or plant.” Compare קמה qāmâh “stalk, or standing corn.” Genesis 7:1-4 Here is found the command to enter the ark. The general direction in the preceding chapter was given many years ago, before the ark was commenced. Now, when it is completed, a more specific command is issued. “For thee have I seen…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-32-3. Of every clean beast ... fowls--Pairs of every species of animals, except the tenants of the deep, were to be taken for the preservation of their respective kinds. This was the general rule of admission, only with regard to those animals which are styled "clean," three pairs were to be taken, whether of beasts or birds; and the reason was that their rapid multiplication was a matter of the highest importance, when the earth should be renovated, for…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 7:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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