Genesis 8:19

What does Genesis 8:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 8:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 8:19 means

Following Noah's family, all the animals exited the ark "after their families," signifying an orderly and complete release. This detail emphasizes that every kind of creature that was preserved was now free to return to its natural habitat and fulfill God's command to multiply. The phrase "whatsoever moveth upon the earth" encompasses the comprehensive nature of this re-release, highlighting God's faithfulness in preserving and restoring all diverse forms of life, both large and small.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatsoever moveth upon the earth, after their families, went forth out of the ark.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatsoever moveth upon the earth, after their families, went forth out of the ark.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And every beast and bird and every living thing of every sort which goes on the earth, went out of the ark.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl; every creeping thing on the earth, after their families, have gone out from the ark.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And all living things, and cattle, and creeping things that creep upon the earth, according to their kinds went out of the ark.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

All the animals, all the creeping things, and all the fowl — everything that moves on the earth, after their kinds, went out of the ark.

Context

Building on the departure of Noah's family in verse 18, this verse details the release of all the animals from the ark. It completes the act of emptying the vessel, showing the full scope of God's restorative work. This mass exodus from the ark climaxes the physical narrative of coming forth onto the dry land and directly precedes Noah's immediate response of worship and sacrifice.

v.18And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:

v.19This passage

v.20And Noah builded an altar unto Jehovah, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar.

Related questions readers ask

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Genesis 8:19.