Devine Scripture

Genesis 8:7

What does Genesis 8:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 8:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 8:7 means

Noah's first attempt to gauge the earth's condition involved sending out a raven. The raven's behavior, flying "to and fro until the waters were dried up," is significant. Ravens are scavengers and can survive on carrion, suggesting it found sustenance in the flood-ravaged world. The fact that it did not return to the ark indicates that it found suitable places to land and food, even if the earth was not entirely dry. This provided Noah with an initial, albeit incomplete, assessment of the outside environment.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Noah sent out a raven, which went this way and that till the waters were gone from the earth.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he sendeth forth the raven, and it goeth out, going out and turning back till the drying of the waters from off the earth.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Which went forth and did not return, till the waters were dried up upon the earth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he sent out the raven, which went forth going to and fro, until the waters were dried from the earth.

Context

Following Noah's opening of the window in verse 6, this verse describes his first investigative action: dispatching a raven. This attempt to gather information about the external conditions introduces a new phase of interaction between Noah and the world outside the ark. The raven's action sets up a contrast with the dove's behavior, providing Noah with different kinds of data about the receding waters.

v.6And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:

v.7This passage

v.8And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 147:9

    He giveth to the beast his food, Andto the young ravens which cry.

  • 1 Kings 17:6

    And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

  • Leviticus 11:15

    every raven after its kind,

  • Job 38:41

    Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, Andwander for lack of food?

  • 1 Kings 17:4

    And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

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