Devine Scripture

Genesis 6:20

What does Genesis 6:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 6:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 6:20 means

This verse clarifies that representatives of all categories of animals—birds, cattle, and creeping things—will \"come unto thee\" in pairs, according to their distinct \"kind.\" The emphasis on animals *coming* to Noah suggests God's providential hand in bringing them to the ark, rather than Noah having to hunt or capture them. This reinforces God's active involvement in the salvation plan, ensuring that a representative sample of all land-dwelling creatures is preserved.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Of the birds after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Of the birds after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Two of every sort of bird and cattle and of every sort of living thing which goes on the earth will you take with you to keep them from destruction.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Of the fowl after its kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every <FI>sort<Fi> they come in unto thee, to keep alive.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Of fowls according to their kind, and of beasts in their kind, and of every thing that creepeth on the earth according to its kind: two of every sort shall go in with thee, that they may live.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Of fowl after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of each shall go in to thee, to keep [them] alive.

Context

This verse specifies the categories of animals mentioned in the previous verse, giving more detail about which creatures will be brought into the ark and how. It emphasizes that these animals will come \"unto thee,\" implying divine direction in the gathering process. This further clarifies the scope of the living cargo and God's sovereign command over creation.

v.19And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

v.20This passage

v.21And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 5:40

    and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life.

  • Genesis 7:8

    Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creepeth upon the ground,

  • Acts 10:11

    and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:

  • Genesis 1:28

    And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

  • Genesis 1:20

    And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

  • Genesis 2:19

    And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them: and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

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