Genesis 7:2 kjv

Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

Genesis 7:2 nkjv

You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female;

Genesis 7:2 niv

Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate,

Genesis 7:2 esv

Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate,

Genesis 7:2 nlt

Take with you seven pairs ? male and female ? of each animal I have approved for eating and for sacrifice, and take one pair of each of the others.

Genesis 7 verses

Genesis 7 2 Meaning

Genesis 7:2 details God's specific instructions to Noah concerning the animals to be taken into the ark. For every clean animal, Noah was to take seven pairs (fourteen individuals) – male and female – while for animals not classified as clean, only two, a single male and his female, were to be brought aboard. This command highlighted a pre-Mosaic distinction between animal categories, signifying God's precise plan for the preservation of all life and foreshadowing future sacrificial requirements and the repopulation of the earth.

Genesis 7 2 Context

Genesis chapter 7 directly follows God's declaration of His intent to destroy life on earth by a flood due to widespread corruption and violence (Gen 6:11-13). Noah, uniquely found righteous, receives detailed instructions to build an ark (Gen 6:14-16) and gather animals and food (Gen 6:19-21). Verse 2 refines the general command given in Genesis 6:19, where Noah was told to bring "two of every kind." This current verse clarifies that "clean" animals require seven pairs (to facilitate both post-flood sacrifice and more rapid repopulation), while "unclean" animals only need a single pair for species preservation. This immediately precedes the flood's onset, underscoring the urgency and precision of God's final preparatory directives to Noah before judgment falls upon the earth. The passage thus serves as the execution phase of God's comprehensive plan for preservation and a new beginning.

Genesis 7 2 Word analysis

• Of every clean animal:

  • clean: Hebrew, tehorah (טְהֹרָה), indicating ritual purity. This is significant because the Mosaic Law, which explicitly defines clean and unclean animals, had not yet been given. This implies an innate or divinely revealed understanding of "clean" status even before a formal code. It suggests an early spiritual principle known to Noah, often associated with suitability for worship or consumption in a sacred context.
  • This pre-Mosaic distinction points to a universal standard set by God for purity, a divine taxonomy inherent from creation, not solely reliant on legislative decree.

• you shall take with you:

  • An imperative command from God, indicating His direct instruction and authority over creation and its preservation. It is not Noah's choice but divine mandate.

• seven pairs:

  • seven: Hebrew, shivah (שִׁבְעָה), a number consistently signifying completeness, perfection, divine fullness, or covenant in the Bible (e.g., seven days of creation, Sabbath, seventy times seven forgiveness).
  • pairs: Literally "seven, seven" or "seven by seven." This phrasing, particularly shiv'ah shiv'ah, emphasizes seven individuals of each sex, for a total of fourteen of each clean species (seven males, seven females). This greater number is explicitly tied to post-flood sacrifice (Gen 8:20) and likely facilitated more rapid repopulation for the newly cleansed earth, along with a supply of meat after God gives permission in Gen 9:3.

• male and female:

  • Hebrew, zachar u'neqevah (זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה). This essential binary distinction ensures reproductive viability and the continuation of species, echoing the original creation mandate (Gen 1:27-28; Gen 6:19). It highlights God's design for life to procreate "after their kind."

• and of the animals that are not clean:

  • This refers to what would later be designated tameh (טָמֵא) or "unclean" in Mosaic Law. The phrasing "not clean" instead of "unclean" directly maintains consistency with the implied understanding Noah had prior to any written law. These animals were typically unfit for sacrifice or regular consumption.

• two, a male and his female:

  • This number indicates minimal preservation for the purpose of ensuring species survival. Unlike the clean animals, these were not for sacrifice or extensive consumption by Noah, but solely to carry the genetic lineage forward. The difference in number underlines their differing roles in God's post-flood world.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "every clean animal ... seven pairs" vs. "animals that are not clean, two": This sharp numerical contrast immediately highlights God's selective judgment and meticulous provision. The excess of clean animals directly anticipates worship (burnt offerings) and sustenance for Noah's family, signaling that God’s redemptive plan includes humanity’s ability to approach Him through sacrifice and thrive on the earth.
  • "male and female": This phrase consistently emphasizes the generative purpose of the creation and preservation process, reinforcing God’s command for life to be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:28). The pairing ensures the full genetic complement needed for species continuance beyond the flood.

Genesis 7 2 Bonus section

The pre-Mosaic understanding of "clean" animals points to the possibility that some distinctions regarding acceptable animals for sacrifice or consumption were divinely communicated to Adam, Cain, or Abel (Abel offered a "fat portion" from his flock, implying an acceptable offering, Gen 4:4), and passed down through generations to Noah. This would explain Noah's implicit knowledge without explicit law being written down. This also stands as a subtle polemic against surrounding pagan myths where flood narratives are often arbitrary or solely destructive; here, God's actions are ordered, purposeful, and include specific provision for worship and the re-establishment of a functioning world, demonstrating His character as a God of order, life, and relationship. The command in Gen 7:2 specifically focuses on animal preservation for species survival and future religious practice, highlighting that salvation from judgment is also linked to a restoration of proper relationship with God through worship.

Genesis 7 2 Commentary

Genesis 7:2 unveils God's extraordinary precision and foresight in the preservation of life, laying down specific numerical instructions beyond the initial command for "two of every kind." The differentiation between "clean" and "unclean" animals, pre-dating the formal Mosaic Law, signifies an inherent or revealed moral-spiritual order from the very beginning. The emphasis on "seven pairs" for clean animals directly foreshadows Noah's burnt offering after the flood (Gen 8:20), indicating God's design not just for physical survival but for the continuation of worship. It also facilitated a more robust repopulation for these types of animals after the devastating flood. This divine command demonstrates God's sovereignty over all creation, His meticulous attention to detail in orchestrating salvation for all life on earth, and His anticipation of future covenantal and sacrificial practices, thereby underscoring the redemptive thread running through Genesis. It provides a blueprint of divine grace that includes provision for atonement.