Genesis 8 18

Genesis 8:18 kjv

And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him:

Genesis 8:18 nkjv

So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him.

Genesis 8:18 niv

So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.

Genesis 8:18 esv

So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him.

Genesis 8:18 nlt

So Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives left the boat.

Genesis 8 18 Cross References

Verse Text Reference
Gen 6:18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. Covenant and Family in Ark
Gen 7:7 So Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. Entry into the Ark Parallel
Gen 8:17 Bring out with you every living thing... God's Command to Exit Ark
Gen 8:19 Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, came out of the ark by their families. Animals also exiting
Gen 9:1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth.” Mandate to be Fruitful
Gen 9:7 And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly on the earth and multiply in it.” Reinforced Multiplicatio
Gen 6:22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. Noah's Prior Obedience
Gen 7:5 And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. Noah's Obedience During Flood
Gen 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country... God's Command for Departure
Exo 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. Divine Initiative to 'Bring Out'
Ps 107:23-30 Those who go down to the sea in ships... He calms the storm... Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. God's Deliverance from Storms
Isa 43:18-19 “Do not remember the former things... Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth... God's New Work/Beginnings
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. New Creation in Christ
1 Pet 3:20-21 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism... Noah's Salvation as Typology
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household... Noah's Faith and Obedience
Act 7:4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran... Abraham's Departure by Command
Jer 35:7 ...neither build houses, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyards... but dwell in tents all your days... Familial Adherence/Unity
Gen 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it...” Original Creation Mandate Echoed
Rev 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Ultimate New Beginning
Gen 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Family Foundation
Mal 2:15 ...He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. Importance of Godly Seed
Luke 17:27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Contrast to World before Flood

Genesis 8 verses

Genesis 8 18 Meaning

Genesis 8:18 marks the pivotal moment when Noah and his family, after a prolonged period of confinement, emerged from the ark. This act of "going out" signifies the end of the deluge and the beginning of a new chapter for humanity and all living creatures on a cleansed earth. It represents immediate obedience to God's explicit command given in the preceding verse, highlighting a divine initiative for repopulation and the re-establishment of life. This verse underscores the preservation of the only human family chosen by God to survive, laying the foundation for all future generations.

Genesis 8 18 Context

Genesis chapter 8 describes the progressive drying of the earth after the flood. Verse 1 of chapter 8 declares God remembered Noah and all living things, signifying divine providence. Ravens and doves were sent out to determine the state of the land (vv. 7-12). By verse 13, Noah removed the covering of the ark, seeing the earth's surface was dry, though still not suitable for dwelling. God’s timing is sovereign. In verse 15, God specifically speaks to Noah, giving the explicit command in verse 17 to "go out" and "bring out" every living thing from the ark, so they could "multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase on the earth." Genesis 8:18 is Noah's immediate and comprehensive response to this divine instruction. This verse, therefore, represents the literal act of beginning life anew on earth, under the direct guidance of the Almighty. It serves as a bridge from the old, water-judged world to the new, post-flood world where God's covenant with all living things will be established.

Genesis 8 18 Word analysis

  • So (וַיֵּצֵא - *va·yye·tse*): This connective conjunction emphasizes direct causation and immediate response. It links Noah's action directly to God's command given in Gen 8:17, highlighting obedience. The "and he went out" indicates a fulfillment of divine instruction without hesitation.
  • Noah (נֹחַ - *Noach*): The patriarch, meaning "rest" or "comfort." He is divinely chosen, distinguished by his righteousness and faith in a wicked generation. His exit symbolizes a fresh start for humanity through a righteous remnant. His person carries the hope for the future.
  • went out (יֵצֵא - *yetse*): From the root יָצָא (yatsa), meaning "to go forth," "come out." It's an active and intentional departure, not merely a passive emergence. This verb highlights the completion of their containment and the active step into a new environment. It echoes God "bringing out" people from various situations in the future (e.g., Exod 3:10, Hos 11:1).
  • and his sons (וּבָנָיו - *u·va·nav*): Shem, Ham, and Japheth. These three represent the entirety of post-flood humanity and the future lines of nations. Their inclusion signifies the patriarchal lineage through which humanity will repopulate the earth, emphasizing the importance of family continuity.
  • and his wife (וְאִשְׁתּוֹ - *v'ish·to*): Noah's unnamed wife. Her presence underscores the foundational role of the marital union in the repopulation mandate. She is a co-heir of the grace of God that brought them through the flood.
  • and his sons' wives (וּנְשֵׁי בָנָיו - *u·neshe·va·nav*): The wives of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Along with Noah's wife, they are the mothers of all post-flood humanity. Their specific mention emphasizes the full completion of the family unit, totaling eight souls, as foretold and preserved by God (1 Pet 3:20). Their fertility will be key to fulfilling the divine command.
  • with him (אִתּוֹ - *it·to*): Reinforces Noah's central role as the family head and the one through whom God's command was mediated. It shows a united, collective movement, where the entire family followed Noah's leadership in obedience to God. This unity highlights the concept of a "household" saved through faith, a theme often seen in the New Testament (Acts 16:31).

Genesis 8 18 Bonus section

The immediate sequential nature of "God said to Noah, 'Go out from the ark...'" (Gen 8:17) and "So Noah went out..." (Gen 8:18) highlights perfect and immediate obedience, echoing Noah's faithful actions throughout the entire flood narrative (e.g., Gen 6:22). This departure from the ark also marks the practical implementation of the covenant of grace (Gen 6:8), which preserved humanity and prepared them for the post-flood world and the formal Noaic Covenant of Gen 9. The deliberate mention of the entire family unit as they exit underscores the communal nature of God's salvation and blessing, laying the groundwork for family structures and divine blessings through generations. It stands in stark contrast to the destruction of all other living things outside the ark, serving as a powerful demonstration of divine selection and preservation.

Genesis 8 18 Commentary

Genesis 8:18 is deceptively simple yet profound. It records Noah's prompt obedience to God's command to leave the ark (Gen 8:17), an act of faith marking humanity's re-entry onto a regenerated earth. This verse emphasizes divine initiative followed by human compliance. The specific listing of family members—Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives—reiterates that precisely the chosen "eight souls" were preserved (1 Pet 3:20). This group forms the foundation for a new beginning, entrusted with the task of repopulating the world under God's blessing and future covenant. It sets the stage for the mandate to "be fruitful and multiply" in the very next chapter (Gen 9:1, 7), echoing the original creation commission. The order of departure—Noah, then his sons, then the women—may suggest a divinely ordained household structure. This act symbolizes redemption and hope, reminding us that even after cataclysmic judgment, God provides a way for life to continue and for His purposes to advance through a remnant of faith. It's a testament to God's faithfulness in preservation and humanity's essential role in His unfolding plan.