Genesis 8:12 kjv

And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

Genesis 8:12 nkjv

So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore.

Genesis 8:12 niv

He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.

Genesis 8:12 esv

Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.

Genesis 8:12 nlt

He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back.

Genesis 8 verses

Genesis 8 12 Meaning

Genesis 8:12 describes Noah's final test to confirm the habitability of the earth after the flood. He patiently waited another week, then released the dove for the third and final time. Its non-return signified that the earth had sufficiently dried, stable land was available, and a suitable environment existed for the dove to reside outside the ark. This marked the conclusive sign that the time had come to leave the ark, ending a period of intense waiting and signaling the beginning of a new era.

Genesis 8 12 Context

Genesis 8:12 is a pivotal moment in the flood narrative, marking the culmination of a protracted period of waiting inside the ark. Following God's promise to remember Noah (Gen 8:1) and the receding waters, Noah had progressively released birds to gauge the earth's dryness. He first sent a raven (Gen 8:7), which returned but roamed, providing no clear sign. Next, he sent a dove (Gen 8:8-9), which found no resting place and returned, indicating the waters were still widespread. After another seven-day wait, he sent the dove again (Gen 8:10-11), and it returned with an olive leaf, signaling that trees were emerging and the water was significantly receding. This verse, therefore, describes the third and final sending of the dove, confirming that the earth was now habitable enough for life outside the ark, leading directly to the family's exodus from the ark.

Genesis 8 12 Word analysis

• So he waited (וַיִּיָּחֶל - wayyîyāḥel): From the root יָחַל (yāḥal), meaning to wait, hope, tarry, or look patiently. It emphasizes Noah's continuous act of patience and reliance on God's timing, not acting presumptuously. This word choice underscores Noah's steadfast faith and discernment, a recurring biblical theme of waiting for God's clear sign rather than human impatience. His patient waiting contrasts sharply with the pre-flood world's rushing towards judgment.

• yet another seven days (עוֹד שֶׁבַע יָמִים - ‘ôḏ sheva‘ yāmîm): The numerical repetition of "seven days" (Gen 7:4, 8:10) is highly significant. In biblical numerology, "seven" denotes completion, perfection, divine fullness, or covenant. Noah’s repeated use of seven-day intervals highlights a divinely ordered pattern or perhaps Noah’s adherence to a calendrical cycle established by God in creation (Gen 2:2-3). This structured waiting signifies methodical, deliberate observation rather than frantic searching for signs.

• and sent forth (וַיְשַׁלַּח - wayšallaḥ): From the root שָׁלַח (shālaḥ), to send, send away, release. This is the same verb used for releasing the raven and the previous doves, signifying a purposeful dispatch with an objective.

• the dove (אֶת־הַיּוֹנָה - ’et-hayyônâ): From יוֹנָה (yônâ), a dove or pigeon. The choice of the dove is important. Unlike the raven (a carrion-eater), the dove is a cleaner bird, often associated with purity and, later, peace. Its association with the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Mat 3:16) imbues its presence with divine significance. The dove is also sensitive to its environment and would not settle unless stable, dry ground was widely available.

• which returned not again (וְלֹא יָסְפָה שׁוּב אֵלָיו - wəlō’ yāsəfâ shûḇ ’ēlâw): This phrase emphasizes the finality of the dove's mission and outcome. The Hebrew uses the verb יָסַף (yāsaf), "to add, continue, do again," negated with "lō’," meaning it did not add or not continue to return. This communicates that the dove found a suitable habitat and did not need the ark any longer, confirming permanent dry ground and renewed life.

• unto him any more (אֵלָיו עוֹד - ’ēlâw ‘ôḏ): Reinforces the absolute finality. The dove's departure signals a permanent change in circumstances and its natural dwelling place.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "So he waited yet another seven days": This phrase highlights Noah's unwavering patience and his pattern of waiting exactly seven-day intervals. It reveals a profound trust in divine timing and a deliberate, unhurried approach, contrasting human impetuousness. It implies a sense of completion in this final interval, aligning with the biblical significance of the number seven.
  • "and sent forth the dove, which returned not again": This pivotal action and observation mark the conclusive sign. The dove, a creature symbolic of peace and gentleness, finding permanent rest outside the ark signifies a world ready for renewed habitation, the end of God's immediate judgment, and the return of stability. Its non-return implies the successful establishment of new, stable environments.

Genesis 8 12 Bonus section

• The non-return of the dove carries immense symbolic weight beyond merely indicating dry land. In a deeper theological sense, it suggests that the world had reached a state where it could sustain spiritual peace and the presence of God's creation in a renewed way. The dove, as a cleaner bird often used for sacrifices and later a symbol of the Holy Spirit, finding its natural "rest" indicates a restoration to order, where "home" is no longer restricted to the ark but the entire earth.
• Noah’s testing sequence with the raven and then the dove demonstrates a principle of progressive revelation. God did not instantly give the full answer; rather, Noah had to discern through observation over time, with God providing the natural cues. This teaches perseverance and discernment in seeking God's will.
• This act highlights God’s meticulous plan for the re-establishment of life. The Lord did not abandon humanity but prepared the way for their return to a restored earth, demonstrating His continuous providential care and the fulfillment of His promises, even through judgment.

Genesis 8 12 Commentary

Genesis 8:12 serves as a testament to God's faithfulness and Noah's profound trust. After months of being confined, Noah does not rashly exit the ark but exercises diligent patience, relying on successive signs. The seven-day waiting period, consistently applied, points to divine order and perhaps Noah's attunement to God’s timing. The non-return of the dove provides the definitive confirmation: the earth is not just marginally drier but truly restored, with vegetation and ample space for the dove to thrive naturally outside the ark. This signals the end of a catastrophic judgment and the onset of a new, life-filled chapter. It encapsulates themes of hope, the completion of a long trial, and God's perfect, sovereign control over creation and redemption. Noah’s actions model a blend of faithful waiting and practical observation guided by a higher purpose, echoing the patience believers are called to have while waiting for God's unfolding plans.