Genesis 6:21 kjv

And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

Genesis 6:21 nkjv

And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them."

Genesis 6:21 niv

You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them."

Genesis 6:21 esv

Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them."

Genesis 6:21 nlt

And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals."

Genesis 6 verses

Genesis 6 21 Meaning

Genesis 6:21 instructs Noah to gather every kind of edible food for himself, his family, and all the animals within the ark. This command highlights God's comprehensive provision for survival during the upcoming global flood, emphasizing foresight, meticulous planning, and universal care for all life He intended to preserve. It outlines Noah's specific responsibility to collect and store the necessary sustenance for the entire period of inundation.

Genesis 6 21 Context

Genesis chapter 6 introduces the widespread corruption and violence on Earth, which grieved the Lord. God decides to destroy humanity and all living creatures through a global flood, yet finds grace in Noah (Gen 6:5-8). Following this, God instructs Noah on the construction of the ark (Gen 6:14-16) and the command to bring two of every kind of animal, male and female, into the ark to keep them alive (Gen 6:19-20). Verse 6:21 logically follows these commands, providing specific instructions regarding the provision of food necessary to sustain all occupants—human and animal—during the long period of the flood.

Historically and culturally, in the ancient Near East, survival during natural disasters (like famine or flood, though not of this scale) depended heavily on preparation and storage of provisions. Large-scale food preservation was a vital skill for communities, especially agricultural ones. God's instruction to Noah for such an immense collection of food underscores the practical, tangible nature of His commands and Noah's responsibility. This meticulous planning also implicitly challenges pagan deities, often depicted as demanding sacrifices but not necessarily providing detailed sustenance or exhibiting such comprehensive care for all life as YHWH does for those on the ark.

Genesis 6 21 Word analysis

• And: Hebrew "וְ" (ve). A conjunction connecting this command with the preceding instructions, showing it's part of a continuous, comprehensive plan.
• take: Hebrew "לָקַח" (laqach). To take, receive, or acquire. Implies an active collection by Noah, a directive for appropriation and retention for a specific purpose. This isn't passive receiving, but an active task.
• for yourself: Hebrew "לְךָ" (lekha). "For you." Specifies that Noah is personally responsible for this action and for the ultimate benefit of himself and those under his charge. It's a personal charge to him.
• all food: Hebrew "כָּל־מַאֲכָל" (kol-ma'akhal). "All food." Kol means "all" or "every." Ma'akhal is general for "food," "eating," "meal." This implies a comprehensive collection, covering everything that can be consumed. It highlights the universality of the provision needed.
• that is eaten: Hebrew "אֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל" (asher ye'akhel). "Which is eaten" or "which is eatable." This clarifies the type of ma'akhal—only food suitable for consumption. In the context of the pre-Flood world (Gen 1:29-30), this overwhelmingly refers to plants, seeds, fruits, and vegetables, as humanity and animals were originally vegetarian. This aligns with the logistical impossibility of bringing and storing enough meat for carnivorous animals (if they existed then) on the ark without massive practical difficulties and additional ethical questions at this stage of the biblical narrative.
• and gather it: Hebrew "וְאָסַפְתָּ אֵלֶיךָ" (ve'asafta eilekha). "And you shall gather to yourself." Asaf means "to gather," "collect," "store up." This emphasizes the practical task of accumulating these provisions. "To yourself" reiterates that Noah is to bring it into his possession and storage. This command implies active collection, potentially cultivation, harvesting, and meticulous storage.
• and it shall be food: Hebrew "וְהָיָה לְךָ לְאָכְלָה" (vehaya lekha le'okhla). "And it shall be to you for food." The "it" refers to the gathered provisions. "Food" (okhla) here is very similar to ma'akhal, reinforcing its purpose. It stresses the singular purpose of the collected items: sustenance.
• for you: Hebrew "וְלָהֶם" (velahem). "And for them." Referring to Noah's family, explicitly included as part of "you."
• and for them: Hebrew "וְלָהֶם" (velahem). "And for them." This refers specifically to all the animals that Noah was commanded to bring into the ark (Gen 6:20). This is a crucial detail emphasizing God's concern for all life forms on the ark and highlights the shared provision for both humans and animals. This collective sustenance underscores the radical equality of life needing divine preservation.

Genesis 6 21 Bonus section

The scale of food needed for the ark's inhabitants is almost unimaginable, presenting an engineering and logistical marvel. This verse implies that Noah and his family spent a significant amount of time and effort gathering, preparing, and storing these provisions. Scholars have estimated the volume of food necessary would have been substantial, likely filling many of the ark's compartments. The long-term preservation of diverse foodstuffs for different species for over a year (given that the flood itself lasted a year and ten days, Gen 7:11, 8:14) would have required sophisticated methods likely taught by God or inherently understood by Noah given the direct divine instruction. This highlights the practical and detailed nature of God's commands to Noah, encompassing every facet of the survival operation.

Genesis 6 21 Commentary

Genesis 6:21 encapsulates a critical aspect of God's redemptive plan through Noah: meticulous divine foresight and comprehensive provision. Far from a vague command, it details Noah's responsibility for securing sustenance for potentially hundreds of species and his own family for over a year. The instruction to collect "all food that is eaten" reflects the pre-Flood, primarily plant-based diet, underscoring the remarkable logistical feat Noah would undertake by gathering and preserving a diverse array of vegetarian provisions for an enormous population within the ark.

This verse showcases God as the ultimate provider, not just for humanity but for all creation. His attention to such practical details like food storage reveals His care extends to the physical well-being of every creature. Noah's subsequent obedience in Genesis 6:22 and 7:5 highlights his faith and trust in God's commands, however daunting they seemed. This specific instruction transforms the ark from a mere refuge into a carefully provisioned, self-sufficient ecosystem, sustained by God's plan and Noah's labor.