Genesis 8:9 kjv

But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.

Genesis 8:9 nkjv

But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself.

Genesis 8:9 niv

But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark.

Genesis 8:9 esv

But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him.

Genesis 8:9 nlt

But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside.

Genesis 8 verses

Genesis 8 9 Meaning

Genesis 8:9 details the unsuccessful initial attempt by Noah to determine the extent of the earth's dryness by sending forth a dove. The dove, unable to find a single dry place to land or "rest," returns to the ark. Noah's compassionate act of extending his hand to bring the dove back into the safety of the ark underscores the ark's singular status as the only refuge on a still-flooded earth. This verse marks a moment of both lingering judgment (waters still prevalent) and developing hope (the search for new life), showcasing divine providence through human patience.

Genesis 8 9 Context

Genesis chapter 8 describes the progressive drying of the earth after the global flood. Following 150 days of the waters prevailing (Gen 7:24) and another 150 days of receding (Gen 8:3), the ark rests on the mountains of Ararat (Gen 8:4). After 40 more days (Gen 8:6), Noah opens a window and first sends out a raven (Gen 8:7), which flies back and forth until the waters dry up. This is followed by the sending of a dove. Verse 9 is the account of the first dove's unsuccessful reconnaissance mission. This verse fits into a methodical, patient, and gradual process of uncovering the new, post-diluvian world, under Noah's stewardship, patiently awaiting God's timing. It highlights that though the judgment waters were receding, the earth was not yet ready for habitation.

Genesis 8 9 Word analysis

• But the dove (וְהַיּוֹנָה, vehayyonah):

  • Dove (יוֹנָה, yonah): The same Hebrew word used here is consistently translated as "dove" throughout the Bible. Symbolically, doves are associated with purity, peace (Ps 55:6), innocence (Mt 10:16), and most significantly, the Spirit of God (Mt 3:16; Jn 1:32). Here, the dove acts as Noah's messenger, seeking signs of a new creation, much like the Holy Spirit's role in guiding God's people (Jn 16:13). Its purity contrasts with the unclean raven sent previously (Lev 11:15), indicating Noah's increasing hope for a habitable, clean world.

• found no resting place (מָנוֹחַ לְכַף רַגְלָהּ, manōach lekhaf raglah):

  • Found no: Signifies complete absence, not merely a difficulty in finding.
  • Resting place (מָנוֹחַ, manōach): From the root נוּח (nuakh), meaning "to rest, settle down." This echoes God's rest on the seventh day after creation (Gen 2:2) and anticipates the land of Canaan as a place of rest for Israel (Dt 12:9). The lack of "rest" for the dove signifies the earth's state of unreadiness and the absence of a stable environment for life. It implies the chaotic aftermath of the flood still largely covers the world, reflecting the spiritual restlessness apart from divine provision (Mt 11:28-29; Heb 4:1-11).
  • for the sole of her foot (לְכַף רַגְלָהּ, lekhaf raglah): Emphasizes that there was no spot of dry ground, not even enough for one foot to land and support itself. This imagery vividly portrays the comprehensive reach of the floodwaters.

• and she returned (וַתָּשָׁב, vatashav):

  • Returned: A clear indication of the mission's failure. This is not a flight away but a flight back to the source of safety, implying a recognition of the ark as the only viable dwelling place. It highlights the ark's unique status as the only preserved space of life and security on the entire earth.

• to him into the ark, (אֵלָיו אֶל־הַתֵּבָה, elav el-hatevah):

  • To him: Noah is the keeper and shepherd of all life in the ark.
  • Into the ark (אֶל־הַתֵּבָה, el-hatevah): The ark (Heb. tevah) is presented as the singular haven, symbolizing God's protective salvation (1 Pet 3:20).

• for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. (כִּי־מַיִם עַל־פְּנֵי כָל־הָאָרֶץ, ki mayim al-pney khol-ha'aretz):

  • For (כִּי, ki): Connects the dove's inability to find rest with the reason – the waters still cover everything.
  • Still: Emphasizes the ongoing, though perhaps receding, presence of the flood.
  • Face of the whole earth: Reinforces the universal impact of the flood and the vastness of the water-covered landscape. This directly counters the dry land established in Gen 1:9, signifying a return to an undifferentiated water mass, though progressively receding by God's decree.

• So he put out his hand (וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת־יָדוֹ, vayishlach et-yado):

  • Put out his hand: A simple, deliberate, and caring action. It conveys tenderness and provision, illustrating Noah's paternal role. This act reflects God's active, personal care for His creation, working through Noah.

• and took her and brought her into the ark with him. (וַיִּקָּחֶהָ וַיָּבֵא אֹתָהּ אֵלָיו אֶל־הַתֵּבָה, vayikahḥeha vayave otah elav el-hatevah):

  • Took her and brought her: A dual action signifying not just retrieval, but active welcoming back into safety. This depicts the ark not just as a vessel, but a dwelling of protection and rescue.
  • With him: Emphasizes Noah's personal involvement and the intimate bond between the preserver and the preserved within God's salvation plan.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot": This phrase powerfully conveys the utter desolation outside the ark. The inability to find even a minimal point of stability highlights the pervasive nature of the flood's judgment. It implies the earth's fundamental unreadiness for re-inhabitation, forcing a return to the single point of safety.
• "and she returned to him into the ark": This highlights the ark's absolute function as the refuge and the single point of hope and life on the planet. The voluntary return signifies its recognition as a place of absolute security.
• "for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth": This serves as the direct theological and practical explanation for the dove's return. It reaffirms the continued, widespread presence of the flood, which despite receding, still dominated the landscape, preventing normal life from resuming. This maintains the reality of the judgment, even amidst the anticipation of renewal.
• "So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him": This final action sequence portrays Noah's tender, compassionate, and authoritative care. It demonstrates a responsive, protective shepherd-like figure. This care foreshadows God's active involvement in restoration and bringing His people into a safe haven, reflecting His merciful hand extended toward His creation.

Genesis 8 9 Bonus section

• The sequence of birds (raven then dove) reveals Noah's methodical process, likely guided by observation and perhaps divine prompting. The raven, being carrion-eater, found enough floating debris or carcasses to sustain itself, indicating that dry land was still too far. The dove, a vegetarian and cleaner bird, needed dry ground to alight, hence its immediate return signifies the complete absence of it. This sequential testing demonstrates a divinely ordered progression from judgment to restoration.
• This specific act of "putting out his hand and took her" stands out as a unique personal intervention by Noah, signifying his careful, shepherd-like attentiveness to the precious lives entrusted to his care within the ark. It reflects God's active engagement and tender concern for creation.
• The repetitive return to the ark (tevah) underscores its singularity as the source of safety and the nexus of life on a still-hostile world, providing a tangible symbol of security found exclusively in God's provided refuge.

Genesis 8 9 Commentary

Genesis 8:9 presents a poignant scene that reveals several layers of theological truth. The unsuccessful flight of the dove, symbolizing purity and new life, underscores the continued desolation of the post-flood world. The absence of a "resting place" for the dove's foot reflects the absence of a stable environment, signaling that God's judgment, while receding, had not yet fully prepared the earth for re-habitation. This concept of "rest" (Heb. manōach) echoes creation's Sabbath rest (Gen 2:2) and anticipates Israel's quest for rest in the Promised Land (Dt 12:9) and ultimately the believer's true rest in Christ (Heb 4:9-11). The dove's inability to find rest reminds us that outside God's designated place of salvation (the ark, a type of Christ or the Church), true security and peace are impossible in a fallen world.

Noah's patient sending of the dove, a cleaner and more delicate bird than the raven (Gen 8:7), shows a hopeful expectation for a new, cleansed earth. His active retrieval of the returning dove—reaching out, taking, and bringing it into the ark—is a tender act of preservation and mercy. This action mirrors God's own proactive grace in drawing His people into the ark of salvation, a divine compassion that shelters the vulnerable from overwhelming judgment (Ps 91:4). The ark, therefore, is not merely a survival vessel, but a living sanctuary, a representation of God's redemptive provision and protective presence. This verse highlights the methodical, patient, and gradual unfolding of God's plan for renewal, contrasting human impatience with divine timing, as both Noah and the natural world await God's full revelation for a new beginning.