Devine Scripture

Genesis 7:13

What does Genesis 7:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 7:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 7:13 means

On the very day the flood began, Noah, his three sons (Shem, Ham, Japheth), Noah's wife, and his sons' three wives entered the ark. This specific mention of each family member underscores the complete obedience of Noah's household and the precise timing of their entry. It reiterates that only this small, chosen group of eight individuals was preserved, highlighting God's selective judgment and His faithfulness to His covenant with Noah amidst a world consumed by wickedness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

On the same day Noah, with Shem, Ham, and Japheth, his sons, and his wife and his sons' wives, went into the ark;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

In this self-same day went in Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, sons of Noah, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, unto the ark;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

In the selfsame day Noe, and Sem, and Cham, and Japheth, his sons: his wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, went into the ark.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

On the same day went Noah, and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

Context

This verse precisely reiterates the entry of Noah's entire family into the ark, coinciding with the beginning of the flood described in verse 11. It immediately precedes the detailed account of the vast array of animals entering with them. This repetition emphasizes the critical co-occurrence of their entry with the flood's start, marking their secure refuge before the full force of the judgment.

v.12And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

v.13This passage

v.14they, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Peter 3:20

    that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

  • Genesis 5:32

    And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

  • Genesis 7:7

    And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

  • Genesis 9:18

    And the sons of Noah, that went forth from the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

  • Hebrews 11:7

    By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

  • 1 Chronicles 1:4

    Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

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