Genesis 7:3 kjv
Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
Genesis 7:3 nkjv
also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.
Genesis 7:3 niv
and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.
Genesis 7:3 esv
and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth.
Genesis 7:3 nlt
Also take seven pairs of every kind of bird. There must be a male and a female in each pair to ensure that all life will survive on the earth after the flood.
Genesis 7 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:20-22 | And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth... And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful... | God's creation of birds and command to multiply |
| Gen 6:7 | And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created... both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air... | Judgment extending to all living things |
| Gen 6:19-20 | And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee... of fowls after their kind... | Initial command: two of every kind (general) |
| Gen 7:2 | 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... | Clean animals also by sevens for breeding/sacrifice |
| Gen 7:8-9 | Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean... There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. | Animals entering the ark as commanded |
| Gen 8:1 | And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark... | God's faithfulness in remembering life |
| Gen 8:17 | Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle... that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful... | Command to multiply post-flood |
| Gen 8:20 | And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. | Use of "clean" animals/fowls for sacrifice |
| Gen 9:1 | And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. | Blessing to re-populate the earth (for humans and animals) |
| Gen 9:10 | And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth... | Covenant with all living creatures |
| Gen 12:7 | And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land... | God's preservation of "seed" (descendants) |
| Isa 54:9 | For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee... | God's enduring covenant, paralleling Noahic preservation |
| Eze 39:17 | And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field... | Fowls as part of the broader creation |
| Psa 104:29-30 | Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created... | God as the sustainer and renewer of life |
| Psa 147:9 | He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. | God's providence even for birds |
| Mat 6:26 | Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them... | God's care extends to birds |
| 1 Pet 3:20 | Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved... | Noah's ark as a symbol of salvation and divine patience |
| 2 Pet 2:5 | And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; | Noah and the flood as divine judgment and salvation |
| Heb 11:7 | By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world... | Noah's obedience in preparing the ark |
Genesis 7 verses
Genesis 7 3 Meaning
Genesis 7:3 describes God's specific command to Noah regarding the preservation of bird species on the ark. For fowls of the air, Noah was instructed to bring them in groups of seven (often interpreted as seven pairs of clean birds) to ensure the continuity of their species, providing for both procreation and future sacrificial worship, so that their "seed" or lineage would be preserved across the entire earth after the great flood.
Genesis 7 3 Context
Genesis chapter 7 describes the final instructions given to Noah before the flood, the entry of Noah, his family, and all the specified animals into the ark, and the commencement of the deluge itself. Verse 3 elaborates on God's specific commands from Genesis 7:2 concerning the animals to be taken into the ark. After establishing that "clean beasts" were to enter by sevens (pairs for procreation, additional for sacrifice), this verse applies a similar numerical instruction to "fowls of the air," indicating a detailed, divine plan for comprehensive preservation amidst global judgment. Historically and culturally, this biblical flood account stands apart from other Ancient Near Eastern flood narratives, which often depict arbitrary or chaotic divine actions. Here, God's judgment is righteous and his preservation plan is meticulous, demonstrating His sovereign control over creation and His long-term purpose for life on earth.
Genesis 7 3 Word analysis
- Also (וְגַם - vəḡam): A connective particle, indicating an additional point or continuation from the preceding instructions. It signals that what follows is part of the same directive concerning the inhabitants of the ark, specifically an elaboration on Genesis 7:2.
- of fowls of the air (מֵעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם - mē‘ôp hašāmāyim): Literally "from the fowl of the heavens." This designates all flying creatures. This phrase emphasizes God's comprehensive plan for preservation, extending beyond land animals to those of the sky, ensuring biodiversity. It echoes the creation account where God created winged fowl (Gen 1:20-21).
- by sevens (שִׁבְעָה שִׁבְעָה - šiḇ‘āh šiḇ‘āh): The repetition of "seven" intensifies the quantity, implying "seven each" or "seven by seven." This specific number for fowls (and clean animals in Gen 7:2) is distinct from the "two by two" for unclean animals. The number seven in Hebrew culture often denotes completeness or perfection, and in the context of the ark, it allowed not only for the procreation and survival of the species but also for post-flood sacrificial offerings, as seen in Gen 8:20, without endangering the species.
- the male and the female (זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה - zāḵār wûnəqêḇāh): This phrase, explicitly stating both genders, underscores the foundational biological necessity for reproduction and the continuation of the species. It ties back to God's initial creation command for living things to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen 1:22, 28), ensuring the potential for all these preserved species to repopulate the earth.
- to keep seed alive (לְהַחֲיוֹת זֶרַע - ləhaḥăyôt zera‘):
- to keep alive (לְהַחֲיוֹת - ləhaḥăyôt): Derived from the root ḥāyāh (to live), this Hiphil infinitive indicates a causative action – "to cause to live" or "to preserve life." This reveals God's active intent and agency in sustaining life.
- seed (זֶרַע - zera‘): This term primarily means "seed" in a literal botanical sense or "offspring/progeny" for humans and animals. Here, it refers to the entire lineage or continuous existence of the bird species. God’s ultimate goal is the complete and long-term preservation of their kind, not just temporary survival.
- upon the face of all the earth (עַל פְּנֵי כָל־הָאָרֶץ - ‘al pəné ḵol-hā’āreṣ): This phrase emphasizes the global scale of both the judgment (the flood covering all the earth) and the subsequent repopulation. It signifies that the ark was intended to be the singular vessel for universal preservation, ensuring that every type of animal specified by God would eventually spread and multiply over the entire regenerated earth.
Genesis 7 3 Bonus section
- The detail of taking animals by specific numbers (sevens for clean, twos for unclean) highlights the uniqueness of the biblical narrative compared to other flood myths. This precision indicates a divinely orchestrated event rather than a haphazard escape.
- The concept of "clean" animals/fowls in Noah's time anticipates later Mosaic Law distinctions (Lev 11). This demonstrates a continuity in God's revelation and a foundational understanding of purity for worship and diet even before Sinai.
- God’s command to "keep seed alive" (לְהַחֲיוֹת זֶרַע) is not just about physical survival but speaks to the perpetuation of life according to its kind. This is foundational to biblical biological understanding—species reproduce after their kind, maintaining their identity throughout generations, fulfilling the original creation mandate.
Genesis 7 3 Commentary
Genesis 7:3 is a pivotal detail in the flood narrative, illustrating the meticulous nature of God's redemptive plan amidst severe judgment. It reinforces God's divine sovereignty not just over judgment, but also over preservation. The distinction in numbers for the "clean" birds (sevens) versus other animals (twos) implies a practical purpose: the extra clean animals allowed Noah to offer sacrifices post-flood without jeopardizing the species' continuity (Gen 8:20). This highlights God's forward-thinking providence, preparing for future acts of worship and acknowledging human need for fellowship with Him even after such cataclysmic events. The ultimate purpose, "to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth," underscores God's unwavering commitment to His created order and His covenant with all living things (Gen 9:8-17), ensuring that life would not be utterly extinguished. This verse serves as a testament to God's precise instruction and comprehensive care, demonstrating His ability to bring life out of destruction.