Devine Scripture

Genesis 8:6

What does Genesis 8:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 8:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 8:6 means

After another forty days passed since the mountain tops became visible, Noah took the initiative to open a window in the ark. This action demonstrates Noah's measured and patient approach as he sought to discern the conditions outside. The forty-day period signifies a time of waiting and observation, indicating that Noah was not acting impulsively but rather thoughtfully assessing when it was appropriate to begin exploring the outside world. This move marks the beginning of Noah's direct interaction with the drying earth.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then, after forty days, through the open window of the ark which he had made,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And it cometh to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah openeth the window of the ark which he made,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And after that forty days were passed, Noe opening the window of the ark, which he had made, sent forth a raven:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And it came to pass at the end of forty days that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made.

Context

This verse moves the narrative from passively observing the receding waters to Noah's active engagement. After a long period of waiting since the mountain tops appeared (verse 5), Noah begins to take direct steps to assess the world outside the ark. This opening of the window sets up the subsequent experiments with birds, signaling a shift from internal observation to external investigation of the earth's condition.

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.

v.6This passage

v.7and he sent forth a raven, and it went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

Cross references

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

  • Daniel 6:10

    And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem); and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

  • Genesis 6:16

    A light shalt thou make to the ark, and to a cubit shalt thou finish it upward; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

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