Devine Scripture

Genesis 8:21

What does Genesis 8:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 8:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 8:21 means

God accepted Noah's offering, symbolized by the "sweet savor." In response, God made an internal resolution, a divine promise never again to curse the ground or destroy all living things by flood, even though humanity's inherent sinfulness ("the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth") persists. This profound declaration showcases God's mercy and patience, establishing a new framework for His interaction with a fallen world, not through repeated destructive judgments, but through enduring grace. This points to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, which would truly remove the curse.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when the sweet smell came up to the Lord, he said in his heart, I will not again put a curse on the earth because of man, for the thoughts of man's heart are evil from his earliest days; never again will I send destruction on all living things as I have done.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and Jehovah smelleth the sweet fragrance, and Jehovah saith unto His heart, `I continue not to disesteem any more the ground because of man, though the imagination of the heart of man <FI>is<Fi> evil from his youth; and I continue not to smite any more all living, as I have done;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of man's heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more destroy every living soul as I have done.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jehovah smelled the sweet odour. And Jehovah said in his heart, I will no more henceforth curse the ground on account of Man, for the thought of Man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will no more smite every living thing, as I have done.

Context

This verse immediately follows Noah's offering of burnt sacrifices in verse 20 and describes God's gracious response. It is a pivotal theological statement, as God makes a solemn, internal vow regarding His future interaction with humanity and the earth. This divine declaration sets the stage for the covenant and the promise of stability in the natural world, moving beyond judgment to enduring grace.

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.

v.21This passage

v.22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 6:5

    And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

  • Romans 8:7

    because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be:

  • Jeremiah 8:6

    I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repenteth him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turneth to his course, as a horse that rusheth headlong in the battle.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:20

    Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

  • Exodus 29:25

    And thou shalt take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar upon the burnt-offering, for a sweet savor before Jehovah: it is an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

  • Romans 3:23

    for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

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