Genesis 8:7

Genesis 8:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
• New International Version (NIV)and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth.

Context of Genesis 8:7

5Two and a half months later, as the waters continued to go down, other mountain peaks became visible. 6After another forty days, Noah opened the window he had made in the boat and released a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the floodwaters on the earth had dried up. 8He also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground. 9But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside.

Genesis 8:7 word by word

וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־הָֽעֹרֵ֑ב וַיֵּצֵ֤א יָצוֹא֙ וָשׁ֔וֹב עַד־יְבֹ֥שֶׁת הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he sent forthשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• a ravenעֹרֵב‛ôrêb ‛ôrêb · ravenH6158
• which went forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• and froשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• until the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• were dried upיָבֵשׁyâbêsh · to witherH3001
• from off the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776

Cross-references for Genesis 8:7

• Leviticus 11:15ravens of all kinds,
• 1 Kings 17:4Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”
• Job 38:41Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?
• Psalms 147:9He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry.

Commentaries on Genesis 8:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7He sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro - It is generally supposed that the raven flew off, and was seen no more, but this meaning the Hebrew text will not bear; ושוב יצוא ויצא vaiyetse yatso vashob, and it went forth, going forth and returning. From which it is evident that she did return, but was not taken into the ark. She made frequent excursions, and continued on the wing as long as she could, having picked up such aliment as she found…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-14Verses 1-14 - The Land Was Dried 1. שׁכך shākak “stoop, assuage.” 3. חסר chāsar “want, fail, be abated.” 4. אררט 'ărārāṭ “Ararat,” a land forming part of Armenia. It is mentioned in 2 Kings 19:37, and Isaiah 37:38, as the retreat of Adrammelek and Sharezer after the murder of their father; and in Jeremiah 51:27 as a kingdom. 8. קלל qālal “be light, lightened, lightly esteemed, swift.” 10. חוּל chûl “twist, turn, dance, writhe, tremble, be strong…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-12Verses 4-12 The ark rested upon a mountain, whither it was directed by the wise and gracious providence of God, that might rest the sooner. God has times and places of rest for his people after their tossing; and many times he provides for their seasonable and comfortable settlement, without their own contrivance, and quite beyond their own foresight. God had told Noah when the flood would come, yet he did not give him an account by revelation, at what…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7The raven is the biggest bird in the crow family and in Noah's time the raven was considered ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 11:15; Deuteronomy 14:14). As a scavenger that eats dead animals, it could survive without returning to the boat.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. And he sent forth a raven--The smell of carrion would allure it to remain if the earth were in a habitable state. But it kept hovering about the spot, and, being a solitary bird, probably perched on the covering.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 8:7

• Raven

In the dictionaries

• Clean
• Covering
• Deluge
• Earth
• Flood
• Noah
• Pull
• Raven
• Remember
• Sake

Commentaries on Genesis 8

• 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