Genesis 8:13 kjv

And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.

Genesis 8:13 nkjv

And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry.

Genesis 8:13 niv

By the first day of the first month of Noah's six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry.

Genesis 8:13 esv

In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry.

Genesis 8:13 nlt

Noah was now 601 years old. On the first day of the new year, ten and a half months after the flood began, the floodwaters had almost dried up from the earth. Noah lifted back the covering of the boat and saw that the surface of the ground was drying.

Genesis 8 verses

Genesis 8 13 Meaning

Genesis 8:13 marks a pivotal moment in the Noahic narrative, indicating the definite end of the flood's devastation and the verifiable start of a new era. It precisely dates when the surface of the earth began to dry and highlights Noah's diligent actions in observing the fulfilled promise of restoration. This verse signifies the transition from the chaotic waters of judgment to the emerging land of new life and God's faithfulness.

Genesis 8 13 Context

Genesis chapter 8 describes the progressive abatement of the floodwaters after the judgment described in chapter 7. Following 40 days of rain (Gen 7:12) and 150 days of waters prevailing (Gen 7:24), God "remembered Noah" (Gen 8:1) and began to recede the waters through wind and by closing the fountains of the deep. The ark grounded on Ararat (Gen 8:4), and mountaintops became visible (Gen 8:5). Noah's initial tests with the raven and doves provided preliminary signs of the earth drying. This verse (Gen 8:13) marks a crucial confirmation, detailing Noah's direct observation and God's precise timing for the full drying of the ground's surface. The chapter concludes with the full exit from the ark and Noah's worship, leading to God's covenant. The meticulous dating signifies a new, carefully recorded beginning after the global cataclysm.

Genesis 8 13 Word analysis

• And it came to pass: (וַיְהִי, vayhi) A common narrative transition in Hebrew, often signifying divine ordination or an event unfolding according to God's plan. It indicates the progression of God's work of drying the earth.
• in the six hundred and first year: (בְּשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וְאֶחַת שָׁנָה, bəshesh mē’ôt wə’eḥat shanah) This specific chronological marker refers to Noah's age. It signifies a new phase of his life, beyond the cataclysm. This meticulous dating, found throughout Genesis, underscores the historical and literal nature of the events, pointing to God's precise timing in all His dealings.
• in the first month, the first day of the month: (בָּרִאשׁוֹן בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ, barishon bə’eḥad laḥodesh) This exact calendrical detail is significant. While ancient Israel's civil calendar began in Tishri (autumn) and its sacred calendar in Nisan (spring), the exact dating system for Noah's time is uncertain. However, "the first day of the first month" universally marks a new beginning, symbolizing purification and the inauguration of a new creation. It is akin to a new year or a foundational starting point, contrasting sharply with the 17th day of the second month when the flood began (Gen 7:11).
• the waters were dried up: (חָרְבוּ הַמַּיִם, ḥārĕvû hammayim) ḥārēḇ (חרב) means "to be dry," "to wither," "to become desolate." This is stronger than merely receding; it indicates a state of complete desiccation. It highlights God's thorough work in removing the destructive waters.
• from off the earth: (מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ, me’al ha’arets) Emphasizes the comprehensive extent of the drying. The earth was clear of standing water everywhere visible.
• and Noah removed the covering: (וַיָּסַר נֹחַ אֶת מִכְסֵה הַתֵּבָה, vayyāsar Nōaḥ et mikseh hattēvâ) mikseh (מִכְסֶה) means "covering" or "roof." In Gen 6:16, a tsohar (צֹהַר), possibly a window or an opening for light/ventilation, was mentioned. This action implies Noah's cautious and active inspection. He took a decisive step, acting on his own initiative but within God's timing.
• of the ark: (הַתֵּבָה, hattēvâ) The vessel that protected life through the judgment.
• and looked: (וַיַּרְא, vayyar') ra’ah (רָאָה) means "to see," "to perceive," "to discern." Noah's act of seeing is one of direct observation and confirmation. This is not another test like sending a dove, but a direct physical inspection.
• and, behold: (וְהִנֵּה, vəhinnēh) An interjection drawing attention to a new and significant discovery, often used to introduce a moment of revelation or confirmation. It expresses the striking nature of what Noah observed.
• the face of the ground was dry: (חָרְבוּ פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, ḥārĕvû pənê hā’adāmâ) pənê (פְּנֵי) refers to the "surface" or "face," and hā’adāmâ (הָאֲדָמָה) is "the ground" or "the earth." The repetition of ḥārĕvû reinforces the completeness of the dryness, emphasizing that the surface of the ground was fully parched, no longer muddy or wet.

Words-group analysis:

• "And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month": This precise dating highlights God's providential timing and the order He brings out of chaos. It frames the drying of the earth as a monumental, divinely scheduled event marking a "new year" for the post-flood world. This chronological precision serves as a foundation for all subsequent historical reckonings in the biblical narrative.
• "the waters were dried up from off the earth": This phrase attributes the cessation of the flood not to natural processes alone, but to God's sovereign intervention. The strong verb "dried up" (חרבו) points to a thorough, comprehensive desiccation, demonstrating God's complete reversal of the previous watery judgment.
• "and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry": This sequence emphasizes Noah's proactive, yet prudent, role in verifying God's promise. Having previously used a raven and doves, he now takes direct action. His "looking" confirms what the "dried up" phrase suggests, showing that faith is affirmed by visible evidence, and confirming God's Word through observation. The exclamation "behold" conveys his sense of discovery and the significance of this physical confirmation of God's work.

Genesis 8 13 Bonus section

The entire duration of the flood, from the moment it began until Noah was able to observe the truly dry ground, was over a year. The flood commenced on the 17th day of the 2nd month of Noah's 600th year (Gen 7:11), and here, it is the 1st day of the 1st month of Noah's 601st year when the ground is visible and dry. The meticulous tracking of time demonstrates God's commitment to His plan for judgment and restoration, showing His active involvement in every step. It also underscores Noah's patient and observant character. This verse shows Noah's personal verification as opposed to earlier "remote sensing" via animals (Gen 8:7-12). This foreshadows a time when believers will "see" the fulfillment of God's promises directly, moving from faith to sight, without fully seeing yet (Heb 11:1). The emphasis on the "face of the ground" becoming dry is key, indicating a complete desiccation, ready for new life to emerge and sustain it, rather than just patches of land or muddy terrain.

Genesis 8 13 Commentary

Genesis 8:13 is a testament to God's faithfulness and meticulous timing in reversing His judgment and ushering in a new era. After the cataclysmic flood, marked by immense chaos and destruction, this verse introduces order through precise dating. The specific reference to Noah's 601st year, and the "first month, first day," functions as a divinely appointed "New Year's Day" for the new world. It's a stark contrast to the original flood initiation (Gen 7:11) which happened on the 17th day of the second month, symbolizing a completely fresh start.

This verse emphasizes God's sovereign control: He actively "dried up" the waters, bringing a complete end to the inundation. Noah, no longer relying on birds to test the waters, takes direct action, "removing the covering" of the ark and "looking" for himself. This portrays Noah's cautious obedience and prudent verification of God's work. His act of observation isn't a lack of faith, but rather a responsible engagement with the unfolding reality, affirming what God had already set in motion (Gen 8:1). The visible "dryness of the ground" serves as tangible proof that God's work of restoration was complete, preparing the way for new life and a new covenant.

Practical Usage Examples:

• Waiting patiently for God's timing, even when circumstances seem static (like Noah for over a year).
• Taking active, yet careful, steps to confirm God's direction in one's life.
• Recognizing moments of "new beginnings" as divine appointments after periods of hardship or testing.