Devine Scripture

Genesis 8:4

What does Genesis 8:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 8:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 8:4 means

After months of being adrift, the ark finally came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. This significant detail provides a precise location and date for the ark’s grounding, emphasizing the historical accuracy of the narrative. The phrase "mountains of Ararat" suggests a region rather than a single peak, indicating the ark settled in a mountainous area. This resting place marks the conclusion of the ark's journey over the floodwaters and represents the first tangible sign of the flood's abatement for Noah and its occupants.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the ark resteth, in the seventh month, in the seventeenth day of the month, on mountains of Ararat;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the ark rested in the seventh month, the seven and twentieth day of the month, upon the mountains of Armenia.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.

Context

This verse offers the next crucial timestamp and geographical detail in the flood's receding narrative. After the waters decreased for 150 days (verse 3), the ark's grounding marks a key milestone for Noah, even though the earth is not yet dry. It provides the first concrete evidence that the flood is subsiding and sets the stage for the long waiting period before the land becomes habitable once more.

v.3and the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters decreased.

v.4This passage

v.5And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.

Cross references

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

  • 2 Kings 19:37

    And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

  • Jeremiah 51:27

    Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz: appoint a marshal against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough canker-worm.

  • Isaiah 37:38

    And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

  • Genesis 7:17

    And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth.

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