Genesis 8:19 kjv

Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

Genesis 8:19 nkjv

Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark.

Genesis 8:19 niv

All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds?everything that moves on land?came out of the ark, one kind after another.

Genesis 8:19 esv

Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.

Genesis 8:19 nlt

And all of the large and small animals and birds came out of the boat, pair by pair.

Genesis 8 verses

Genesis 8 19 Meaning

Genesis 8:19 signifies the comprehensive, orderly, and divinely guided release of all living creatures from the ark after the floodwaters receded. It marks a pivotal moment of new beginnings and repopulation for the earth, emphasizing God's faithfulness in preserving every distinct "kind" of animal. This verse demonstrates the reestablishment of life according to God's created order, preparing the world for Noah's subsequent actions and the covenant God would establish with all living creatures.

Genesis 8 19 Context

Genesis 8:19 concludes the significant transition phase following the global Flood. The immediate preceding verses detail God's command to Noah to leave the ark with his family and the entire complement of animals. After over a year confined, this verse marks the triumphant emergence onto a cleansed, new earth. It sets the stage for Noah's first act of worship (Gen 8:20) and God's subsequent covenant with humanity and all living creatures (Gen 9). Historically, this event signifies the divine act of preserving life against the backdrop of pervasive corruption that necessitated the Flood, underscoring God's ultimate sovereignty over creation and judgment, yet also His steadfast love and desire for life's continuation. The careful, categorized exit contrasts with the chaos of the judgment and highlights the return to order, anticipating a renewed world.

Genesis 8 19 Word analysis

• "Every beast": (Hebrew: kol-chayyah, כָל-חַיָּה) - The use of kol (every, all) emphasizes completeness and universality. Chayyah refers to a living creature, specifically wild animals, distinguishing them from domesticated livestock (behemah). It shows God's intent to repopulate all kinds of wild terrestrial life.
• "every creeping thing": (Hebrew: kol-remes, כָל-רֶמֶשׂ) - Remes denotes creatures that move low to the ground, including reptiles, amphibians, and various small invertebrates. This category highlights the meticulousness of God's preservation, down to creatures often overlooked, yet vital for the ecosystem.
• "and every bird": (Hebrew: v'kol-oph, וְכָל-עוֹף) - Oph signifies flying creatures, specifically birds. The three categories ("beast," "creeping thing," "bird") are comprehensive descriptions of terrestrial animal life, paralleling their inclusion in the creation account and their entry into the ark.
• "everything that moves on the earth": (Hebrew: kol asher romes al ha'arets, כָּל אֲשֶׁר רֹמֵשׂ עַל-הָאָרֶץ) - This is a summary phrase reinforcing the preceding specific categories, ensuring no type of land-dwelling creature is omitted. It reiterates the scope of God's redemptive preservation of life for repopulation.
• "went out": (Hebrew: yatsa, יָצָא) - "To go out," "come forth." This verb emphasizes a deliberate and active departure, echoing the divine command in Gen 8:17, indicating the creatures were released in an orderly fashion, not haphazardly escaped.
• "by families": (Hebrew: lemishpechotehem, לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתֵיהֶם) - This crucial phrase implies the distinct "kinds" (min) of animals preserved. It denotes a biological categorization where each kind maintained its distinct reproductive capacity and identity, affirming the original created order from Genesis 1. This "family" or "kind" preservation ensured genetic diversity and the re-establishment of diverse ecosystems.
• "from the ark": (Hebrew: min ha'tevah, מִן-הַתֵּבָה) - The ark, which served as the vessel of salvation and preservation during judgment, now becomes the point of origin for the renewed life on earth. It highlights its unique role as a symbol of divine refuge and new creation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth": This comprehensive list reiterates the scope of God's preservation, mirroring the extensive detail given to their entry into the ark. It assures the reader that God's plan encompassed all forms of life He originally intended to survive and thrive on the post-Flood earth, setting the foundation for the command to "be fruitful and multiply." The repetition of "every" (kol) emphasizes completeness, leaving no animal category unaddressed.
• "went out by families": This phrase captures both the ordered departure and the maintenance of distinct biological integrity. The "going out" was an active and deliberate release, following divine instructions. The specification "by families" (which directly relates to the concept of "kinds" in Genesis 1, 6, 7) signifies that species remained distinct; there was no blending or blurring of created types during the Flood or the ark experience. This reinforces the created order and implies that they departed in reproductive units to begin the process of repopulating the earth.

Genesis 8 19 Bonus section

The deliberate categorization of animals ("beast," "creeping thing," "bird") in Gen 8:19 parallels the classification found in ancient Israelite legal texts (e.g., Lev 11 regarding clean and unclean animals). This consistency throughout the Pentateuch highlights a consistent understanding of creature types as divinely ordained categories. The precision in stating that "everything that moves on the earth" (kol asher romes al ha'arets) went out is crucial. It underscores the scope of repopulation and sets the stage for the renewed dominion God grants to Noah and his descendants over the whole of creation, as seen in Genesis 9:1-7. This orderly re-entry of life signifies not just physical preservation, but the continuation of God's sovereign plan for a living world, a world where humanity would once again have a stewardly role.

Genesis 8 19 Commentary

Genesis 8:19 is a quiet but profound moment, underscoring the success of God's redemptive act through the Flood. Having described the judgment, then the patient waiting for the waters to recede, this verse pictures life re-emerging under God's careful oversight. It's not a chaotic escape but an orderly procession, highlighting God's faithfulness and continued governance over creation. The emphasis on animals leaving "by families" (or "kinds") links directly back to the original creation mandate and the detailed instructions for ark entry, assuring the reader that the fundamental biological distinctions established at creation were preserved. This speaks to the steadfastness of God's created order despite the disruptive judgment. The ark, once a vessel of safety from death, now becomes the doorway to new life, serving as the nucleus from which the earth is re-inhabited, preparing for a covenant of hope and a world renewed for God's purposes.