Genesis 7:5 kjv

And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

Genesis 7:5 nkjv

And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him.

Genesis 7:5 niv

And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.

Genesis 7:5 esv

And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.

Genesis 7:5 nlt

So Noah did everything as the LORD commanded him.

Genesis 7 verses

Genesis 7 5 Meaning

Genesis 7:5 succinctly states Noah's complete and precise obedience to every command given to him by the LORD concerning the building of the ark and the gathering of its inhabitants. It highlights his active compliance, without reservation, hesitation, or deviation, embodying a life lived in accordance with divine will as revealed. This singular act of obedience demonstrates faith, righteousness, and commitment, marking him as God's chosen instrument for salvation during the impending global judgment.

Genesis 7 5 Context

Genesis chapter 7 verse 5 appears as a crucial pivot within the biblical account of the Flood. It immediately follows the detailed divine commands given to Noah in Genesis 6, outlining the construction specifications of the ark and the instructions for gathering creatures (Gen 6:13-21), and confirming God's covenant with Noah (Gen 6:18). Importantly, Genesis 6:22 states that Noah had already begun the initial work: "Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did." Genesis 7:5 functions as a summarizing confirmation and re-emphasis, stressing that by the time the actual flooding was imminent and it was time for entry into the ark, Noah's complete compliance with all instructions was fulfilled. This verse signifies the completion of Noah's monumental task of preparing for the global cataclysm and serves as the immediate prelude to the entry into the ark and the subsequent onset of the Flood. The historical context reflects a world ripe for divine judgment due to widespread human wickedness and corruption (Gen 6:5-7, 11-12), contrasted sharply with Noah's singular righteousness and walking with God (Gen 6:8-9), underscored by his unwavering obedience. This narrative directly confronts polytheistic views prevalent in Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) flood myths, where divine acts were often whimsical or self-serving; instead, the biblical account highlights a single, moral God (Yahweh) whose judgment is just and whose commands are precise, requiring deliberate and total human response.

Genesis 7 5 Word analysis

• And (וַיַּעַשׂ - vayya‘aś): This prefix, typically translated "and" or "so," acts as a waw-consecutive, indicating a sequence of events. Here, it functions to continue the narrative flow from the detailed commands of chapter 6, underscoring that Noah's actions directly followed and fulfilled those divine directives. It denotes continuity and immediate succession.
• Noah (נֹחַ - Nōaḥ): Derived from the Hebrew root meaning "rest" or "comfort." Noah is specifically named, drawing attention to the chosen individual, singled out from a world described as entirely wicked (Gen 6:5, 11-12). His name reflects the hope of cessation from toil, foreshadowing the rest provided through salvation and the new beginning after the Flood.
• did (וַיַּעַשׂ - vayya‘aś): This is the verb "to do" or "to make" (עָשָׂה - 'asah). In this context, it emphasizes the execution of action. The verb is in the Qal imperfect consecutive, highlighting a past completed action that directly resulted from the preceding commands. It signifies not just passive agreement but active, diligent implementation of what was required.
• according unto (כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר - kəḵōl 'ăšer): This phrase emphasizes precise correspondence and exactitude.
  • כְּ (kə-): A preposition meaning "as," "according to," or "like."
  • כֹּל (kōl): Meaning "all," "every," "entire." This crucial word denotes totality and comprehensiveness. Noah's obedience was not partial or selective but covered every single detail of God's instructions, however grand or minute. This highlights the painstaking and arduous nature of his task over many years.
  • אֲשֶׁר ('ăšer): A relative pronoun meaning "that," "which," or "who."
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the personal, covenantal name of God, frequently translated as "LORD" in English Bibles (the Tetragrammaton). Its use here signifies God's specific, personal engagement with Noah and His sovereign authority in the covenant relationship. It emphasizes the God who speaks, commands, and enters into relationship, rather than a generic deity (Elohim). This underscores the specific, redemptive nature of the divine command, rather than an arbitrary or mythical action.
• commanded him (צִוָּהוּ - ṣiwwāhû):
  • צִוָּה (ṣiwwāh): The verb "to command," "to charge," "to order." It denotes a direct, authoritative instruction from a superior to an inferior. It implies a requirement, not a suggestion or a request. God's word is law, and Noah understood it as such. This highlights God's sovereignty and His right to impose His will.
  • -וּ (-hû): The suffix "him," referring to Noah. This explicitly states Noah was the direct recipient of God's sovereign command.

Words-Group analysis:

• And Noah did: Emphasizes Noah's active, personal response. This was not a passive fate but a deliberate choice and extensive work on Noah's part. It sets Noah apart from the rest of humanity who ignored God (Gen 6:5-7).
• according unto all that the LORD commanded him: This phrase is the absolute core, revealing the nature of Noah's obedience. It was unqualified, comprehensive, and directly tied to the divine source. "All" means no detail was missed; "commanded" highlights the divine authority behind the instructions; "the LORD" identifies the specific covenant God who initiated this rescue plan. This phrase underscores God's meticulous planning and Noah's unwavering faithfulness. It acts as a powerful statement of integrity and unwavering devotion to the will of God, foundational for the salvation narrative that follows.

Genesis 7 5 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on Noah's precise obedience, seen in both Gen 6:22 and Gen 7:5, highlights a crucial theological theme: God's expectation for human fidelity to His explicit instructions. This emphasis serves as an internal polemic against any notion that God's commands are suggestions or that human ingenuity can improve upon divine design. It reinforces the concept of a sovereign God who acts justly and consistently with His revealed will, expecting His chosen vessels to act in like manner. Noah's obedience also serves as a prefigurement of the need for precise adherence to divine instruction in subsequent covenants and salvific acts, such as the detailed construction of the Tabernacle (Ex 39:32, 42-43) and later, obedience to the Mosaic Law (Lev 8:36; Num 1:54). This perfect execution foreshadows the perfect obedience of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled all righteousness and God's commands, ultimately bringing salvation (Rom 5:19).

Genesis 7 5 Commentary

Genesis 7:5 serves as a powerful declaration of Noah's completed obedience, not merely at the onset of God's commands (Gen 6:22), but fully carried out just before the Flood's commencement. It asserts the comprehensiveness of his compliance ("all that the LORD commanded him"), a fidelity that stands in stark contrast to the widespread human corruption of his era. Noah's "doing" implies not just mental assent but a life of laborious, long-term application of divine directives, a profound demonstration of faith (Heb 11:7). This obedience was the divinely appointed means of his family's salvation and the preservation of life on Earth. It is a fundamental biblical principle that God requires and rewards obedience; Noah's case is a vivid, foundational illustration of this, demonstrating that God's plan is advanced through those who align their actions perfectly with His revealed will. Noah's unswerving obedience underlines that true righteousness manifests in a concrete, actionable response to God's word, embodying love, trust, and submission to divine authority.