Genesis 6:20 kjv

Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

Genesis 6:20 nkjv

Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.

Genesis 6:20 niv

Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.

Genesis 6:20 esv

Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive.

Genesis 6:20 nlt

Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive.

Genesis 6 verses

Genesis 6 20 Meaning

Genesis 6:20 describes the divine instruction to Noah regarding the animals that would be preserved in the ark during the impending global flood. It specifies that pairs of every land animal kind—fowls, cattle, and creeping things—would voluntarily come to Noah to be kept alive, ensuring their continued existence on the earth. This verse emphasizes God's sovereign plan for preservation amidst judgment.

Genesis 6 20 Context

Genesis chapter 6 opens with humanity's increasing wickedness, grievous in God's sight, leading Him to determine the wiping out of all living creatures from the face of the earth. Amidst this backdrop of divine sorrow and impending judgment, Noah is highlighted as someone who "found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen 6:8) and was "a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God" (Gen 6:9). God reveals His intention to destroy the world by a flood and instructs Noah to build an ark, specifying its dimensions and materials. Verse 20 provides crucial details for stocking the ark with land-dwelling animals, setting the stage for the narrative of the Flood and God's comprehensive plan for preserving a remnant of all life. Historically, this account is foundational to the Biblical understanding of God's universal sovereignty, His righteous judgment, and His faithfulness to preserve life according to His purposes. It serves as a stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern polytheistic myths that often depicted flood events as chaotic or arbitrary acts of squabbling deities, emphasizing instead the singular, moral, and purposeful action of the one true God.

Genesis 6 20 Word analysis

• Of fowls (מֵהָעוֹף - mēhāʿōp̄):

  • מֵ (mē): "From" or "of," indicating the source or category.
  • הָעוֹף (hāʿōp̄): The definite article "the" + ʿōp̄, meaning "flying creatures" or "birds/fowls." This term broadly refers to anything with wings that flies.
  • Significance: Includes all flying creatures, emphasizing comprehensive representation. It highlights the vast diversity God intended to preserve from the airborne category.

• after their kind (לְמִינֵהוּ - ləmînēhû):

  • לְ (lə): "According to."
  • מִינֵהוּ (mînēhû): From mîn (מין), meaning "kind," "species," or "category." The suffix -ehû means "their."
  • Significance: Reaffirms the foundational principle established in Gen 1 regarding distinct biological categories. This term is crucial for understanding the scope of what was preserved; not every variant, but every created "kind" which represents a broader genetic pool than our modern "species." It suggests a Divine boundary on biological interbreeding and transformation.

• and of cattle (וּמִן־הַבְּהֵמָה - ûmin-habbehemah):

  • וּמִן־ (ûmin): "And from."
  • הַבְּהֵמָה (habbehemah): "The cattle" or "beasts," referring to domesticated or semi-domesticated large land animals.
  • Significance: Covers a primary category of large terrestrial animals often associated with human interaction or pasture.

• after their kind (לְמִינָהּ - ləmînāh):

  • As above, confirming the "kind" principle for this animal group. The suffix -ah refers to the feminine singular, agreeing with behemah.

• of every creeping thing (וּמִכֹּל־רֶמֶשׂ - ûmikol-remeś):

  • וּמִכֹּל־ (ûmikol): "And from every." Kol (כֹּל) means "all" or "every."
  • רֶמֶשׂ (remeś): "Creeping thing," referring to smaller land animals that crawl, scurry, or swarm. This category is often distinct from larger cattle/beasts in biblical taxonomy, encompassing reptiles, amphibians, and possibly some small mammals.
  • Significance: Shows the comprehensive nature of God's preservation plan, extending to creatures often considered less significant.

• of the earth (הָאֲדָמָה - hāʾădāmāh):

  • הָאֲדָמָה (hāʾădāmāh): "Of the ground/earth."
  • Significance: Specifies that the "creeping things" are land-based, not aquatic (which are implicitly judged or can survive independently in the Flood waters).

• after his kind (לְמִינֵהוּ - ləmînēhû):

  • As above, again emphasizing the "kind" principle. The suffix -ehû is masculine singular here.

• two (שְׁנַיִם - šnayim):

  • שְׁנַיִם (šnayim): "Two."
  • Significance: The precise number of individuals from each kind. This is critical for procreation and subsequent repopulation, ensuring genetic diversity (one male and one female implicitly). While Gen 7:2-3 later specifies sevens for clean animals and birds for sacrifice, verse 20 refers to the base requirement for every "kind" to continue its existence.

• of every sort (מִכֹּל - mikol):

  • מִכֹּל (mikol): "Of every," encompassing all the distinct "kinds" previously mentioned.

• shall come unto thee (יָבֹאוּ אֵלֶיךָ - yāvōʾû ʾēleyḵā):

  • יָבֹאוּ (yāvōʾû): Third person plural imperfect verb from bōʾ (בוא), "to come." This indicates a divinely orchestrated movement.
  • אֵלֶיךָ (ʾēleyḵā): "To you," referring to Noah.
  • Significance: This passive action ("shall come") highlights God's supernatural provision and active role in bringing the animals to Noah. Noah did not need to gather them; God superintended their arrival, emphasizing Noah's obedience and God's miraculous intervention.

• to keep them alive (לְהַחֲיֹת - lahaḥyōt̄):

  • לְ (lə): "For the purpose of" or "in order to."
  • הַחֲיֹת (haḥyōt̄): Piel infinitive construct of ḥāyâ (חָיָה), "to live," causative form "to cause to live" or "to preserve life."
  • Significance: States the clear purpose of the animal entry: preservation for the future of creation, underscoring God's ultimate plan of restoration beyond judgment.

Words-Group analysis:

• "Of fowls... and of cattle... of every creeping thing... after their kind": This repeated phrase emphasizes a key taxonomic principle established at creation. God preserves life within the boundaries of its created "kind" (mîn). This prefigures the continuity of distinct biological groups. The three broad categories cover terrestrial animals comprehensively.
• "two of every sort shall come unto thee": The phrase conveys the precise count required for biological propagation, while simultaneously highlighting the divine enabling for the animals' peaceful and orderly arrival at the ark. Noah is a passive recipient in this miraculous assembly, a testament to God's direct involvement.
• "to keep them alive": This final clause establishes the salvific purpose for both the ark and the animals entering it. It is an act of divine preservation, not simply destruction, ensuring the continuity of life on the renovated earth and setting the stage for a new beginning.

Genesis 6 20 Bonus section

The Hebrew word mîn (kind), used three times in this single verse, is found frequently throughout Gen 1 and in Mosaic Law (Lev 11, Deut 14), signifying distinct categories established by God, which do not interbreed or morph. This concept strongly emphasizes the fixity of created "kinds" and God's designed order. This "kind" is often understood in theological scholarship as a broader category than a modern scientific "species," allowing for micro-evolutionary variations within the "kind" but strictly limiting macro-evolutionary change across kinds. The number "two" mentioned in Gen 6:20 likely refers to the fundamental male-female pair for basic survival and reproduction. This general instruction is then refined in Gen 7:2-3 for "clean" animals and birds, which were taken in "sevens"—presumably four pairs for repopulation and one for post-Flood sacrifice, or seven pairs. This distinction between "two of every kind" and "seven of clean kinds" points to God's immediate plan for post-Flood worship and continued differentiation in categories important for human dietary and sacrificial practice under the Mosaic Law. The very fact that these diverse animals, often predator and prey, "shall come" peacefully to Noah illustrates God's supernatural power over creation, reminiscent of peaceable kingdom prophecies (Isa 11:6).

Genesis 6 20 Commentary

Genesis 6:20 serves as a pivotal moment, outlining God's intricate and miraculous plan for life preservation amidst a sweeping global judgment. The repeated phrase "after their kind" (לְמִינֵהוּ, ləmînēhû) reinforces a foundational creation principle: God designed and sustains life in distinct biological categories, preventing arbitrary fusion and maintaining ordered diversity. This phrase is a subtle polemic against evolutionary concepts that would blur these divisions and reinforces the stability of God's created order even through cataclysm. The categories mentioned—fowls, cattle, and creeping things—represent a comprehensive taxonomy of terrestrial animals, signifying that God's intention was a universal preservation, excluding aquatic life already suited to a flooded environment and winged insects which may be excluded from the "two by two" directive in favor of seven pairs (Gen 7:2-3).

The detail "two of every sort" (שְׁנַיִם מִכֹּל, šnayim mikol) underscores the practical necessity for procreation post-flood, ensuring the re-population of the earth. It is an act of grace and foresight. Most profoundly, the phrase "shall come unto thee" (יָבֹאוּ אֵלֶיךָ, yāvōʾû ʾēleyḵā) speaks volumes about divine sovereignty. Noah does not embark on an impossible task of gathering; instead, God supernaturally orchestrates the animals' willing and orderly procession to the ark. This miraculous act confirms Noah's passive role as an obedient builder and God's active role as the orchestrator of salvation. It contrasts starkly with human attempts to control or manipulate nature, presenting God as the ultimate director of creation. The purpose, "to keep them alive" (לְהַחֲיֹת, lahaḥyōt̄), highlights God's unwavering commitment to His created order, even in the face of judgment. This is not mere destruction, but a purposeful purging followed by a redemptive restart, illustrating God's patience and enduring covenant faithfulness (Gen 9:11). The animals become living testimony to God's remembrance (Gen 8:1) and His desire for life to continue on a purified earth. This divine act of bringing animals to the ark finds an echo in the bringing of people to Christ for salvation in a spiritually "unclean" world, though it does not explicitly outline how this is achieved, it confirms that it's from God, the one true living God, not of any efforts made by Noah.