The Meaning of Genesis 8:21 Explained

Genesis 8:21

KJV: And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

YLT: and Jehovah smelleth the sweet fragrance, and Jehovah saith unto His heart, 'I continue not to disesteem any more the ground because of man, though the imagination of the heart of man is evil from his youth; and I continue not to smite any more all living, as I have done;

Darby: And Jehovah smelled the sweet odour. And Jehovah said in his heart, I will no more henceforth curse the ground on account of Man, for the thought of Man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will no more smite every living thing, as I have done.

ASV: And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, for that the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  smelled  a sweet  savour;  and the LORD  said  in  his heart,  I will not again  curse  the ground  any more for man's  sake;  for the imagination  of man's  heart  [is] evil  from his youth;  neither will I again  smite  any more every thing living,  as I have done. 

What does Genesis 8:21 Mean?

Study Notes

the Lord said in heart
The Third Dispensation: Human Government. Under Conscience, as in Innocency, man utterly failed, and the judgment of the Flood marks the end of the second dispensation and the beginning of the third. The declaration of the Noahic Covenant subjects humanity to a new test. Its distinctive feature is the institution, for the first time, of human government--the government of man by man. The highest function of government is the judicial taking of life. All other governmental powers are implied in that. It follows that the third dispensation is distinctively that of human government. Man is responsible to govern the world for God. That responsibility rested upon the whole race, Jew and Gentile, until the failure of Israel under the Palestinian Covenant ( Deuteronomy 28:1 to Deuteronomy 30:10 ) brought the judgment of the Captivities, when "the times of the Gentiles" (See); Luke 21:24 ; Revelation 16:14 began, and the government of the world passed exclusively into Gentile hands; Daniel 2:36-45 ; Luke 21:24 ; Acts 15:14-17 . That both Israel and the Gentiles have governed for self, not God, is sadly apparent. The judgment of the confusion of tongues ended the racial testing; that of the captivities the Jewish; while the Gentile testing will end in the smiting of the Image (Daniel 2.) and the judgment of the nations Matthew 25:31-46 .
See, for the other six dispensations:
INNOCENCE
CONSCIENCE
PROMISE
LAW
GRACE
KINGDOM
Be fruitful
The Edenic Covenant, the first of the eight great covenants of Scripture which condition life and salvation, and about which all Scripture crystallizes, has seven elements. The man and woman in Eden were responsible:
(1) To replenish the earth with a new order--man;
(2) to subdue the earth to human uses;
(3) to have dominion over the animal creation;
(4) to eat herbs and fruits;
(5) to till and keep the garden;
(6) to abstain from eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil;
(7) the penalty--death. See, for the other seven covenants:
ADAMIC (See Scofield " Genesis 3:14 ")
NOAHIC (See Scofield " Genesis 9:1 ")
ABRAHAMIC (See Scofield " Genesis 15:18 ")
MOSAIC (See Scofield " Exodus 19:25 ")
PALESTINIAN (See Scofield " Deuteronomy 30:3 ")
DAVIDIC (See Scofield " 2 Samuel 7:16 ")
NEW (See Scofield " Hebrews 8:8 ")
DISPENSATION
A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God. Seven such dispensations are distinguished in Scripture. (See Scofield " Genesis 1:28 ") , note 5.
And God blessed them
The First Dispensation: Innocency. Man was created in innocency, placed in a perfect environment, subjected to an absolutely simple test, and warned of the consequence of disobedience. The woman fell through pride; the man deliberately. 1 Timothy 2:14 God restored His sinning creatures, but the dispensation of innocency ended in the judgment of the Expulsion Genesis 3:24 See, for the other dispensations;
Conscience (See Scofield " Genesis 3:23 ")
Human Government (See Scofield " Genesis 8:21 ")
Promise (See Scofield " 2 Kings 17:1-6 ")
Law (See Scofield " Exodus 19:8 ")
Grace (See Scofield " John 1:17 ")
Kingdom (See Scofield " Ephesians 1:10 ")
Be fruitful
The Edenic Covenant, the first of the eight great covenants of Scripture which condition life and salvation, and about which all Scripture crystallizes, has seven elements. The man and woman in Eden were responsible:
(1) To replenish the earth with a new order--man;
(2) to subdue the earth to human uses;
(3) to have dominion over the animal creation;
(4) to eat herbs and fruits;
(5) to till and keep the garden;
(6) to abstain from eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil;
(7) the penalty--death. See, for the other seven covenants:
ADAMIC (See Scofield " Genesis 3:14 ")
NOAHIC (See Scofield " Genesis 9:1 ")
ABRAHAMIC (See Scofield " Genesis 15:18 ")
MOSAIC (See Scofield " Exodus 19:25 ")
PALESTINIAN (See Scofield " Deuteronomy 30:3 ")
DAVIDIC (See Scofield " 2 Samuel 7:16 ")
NEW (See Scofield " Hebrews 8:8 ")
And God blessed them
The First Dispensation: Innocency. Man was created in innocency, placed in a perfect environment, subjected to an absolutely simple test, and warned of the consequence of disobedience. The woman fell through pride; the man deliberately. 1 Timothy 2:14 God restored His sinning creatures, but the dispensation of innocency ended in the judgment of the Expulsion Genesis 3:24 See, for the other dispensations;
Conscience (See Scofield " Genesis 3:23 ")
Human Government (See Scofield " Genesis 8:21 ")
Promise (See Scofield " Genesis 12:1 ")
Law (See Scofield " Exodus 19:8 ")
Grace (See Scofield " John 1:17 ")
Kingdom (See Scofield " Ephesians 1:10 ")
Be fruitful
The Edenic Covenant, the first of the eight great covenants of Scripture which condition life and salvation, and about which all Scripture crystallizes, has seven elements. The man and woman in Eden were responsible:
(1) To replenish the earth with a new order--man;
(2) to subdue the earth to human uses;
(3) to have dominion over the animal creation;
(4) to eat herbs and fruits;
(5) to till and keep the garden;
(6) to abstain from eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil;
(7) the penalty--death. See, for the other seven covenants:
ADAMIC (See Scofield " Genesis 3:14 ")
NOAHIC (See Scofield " Genesis 9:1 ")
ABRAHAMIC (See Scofield " Genesis 15:18 ")
MOSAIC (See Scofield " Exodus 19:25 ")
PALESTINIAN (See Scofield " Deuteronomy 30:3 ")
DAVIDIC (See Scofield " 2 Samuel 7:16 ")
NEW (See Scofield " Hebrews 8:8 ")
Therefore the Lord God
The Second Dispensation: Conscience. By disobedience man came to a personal and experimental knowledge of good and evil--of good as obedience, of evil as disobedience to the known will of God. Through that knowledge conscience awoke. Expelled from Eden and placed under the second, or ADAMIC COVENANT, man was responsible to do all known good, to abstain from all known evil, and to approach God through sacrifice. The result of this second testing of man is stated in Genesis 6:5 and the dispensation ended in the judgment of the Flood. Apparently "the east of the garden" Genesis 3:24 where were the cherubims and the flame, remained the place of worship through this second dispensation. See for the other six dispensations:
INNOCENCE (See Scofield " Genesis 1:28 ")
HUMAN GOVERNMENT (See Scofield " Genesis 8:21 ")
PROMISE (See Scofield " Genesis 12:1 ")
LAW (See Scofield " Exodus 19:8 ")
GRACE (See Scofield " John 1:17 ")
KINGDOM (See Scofield " Ephesians 1:10 ")
Now the Lord
The Fourth Dispensation: Promise. For Abraham, and his descendants it is evident that the Abrahamic Covenant (See Scofield " Genesis 15:18 ") made a great change. They became distinctively the heirs of promise. That covenant is wholly gracious and unconditional. The descendants of Abraham had but to abide in their own land to inherit every blessing. In Egypt they lost their blessings, but not their covenant. The Dispensation of Promise ended when Israel rashly accepted the law Exodus 19:8 . Grace had prepared a deliverer (Moses), provided a sacrifice for the guilty, and by divine power brought them out of bondage Exodus 19:4 but at Sinai they exchanged grace for law. The Dispensation of Promise extends from Genesis 12:1 to Exodus 19:8 , and was exclusively Israelitish. The dispensation must be distinguished from the covenant. The former is a mode of testing; the latter is everlasting because unconditional. The law did not abrogate the Abrahamic Covenant Galatians 3:15-18 but was an intermediate disciplinary dealing "till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made"; Galatians 3:19-29 ; Galatians 4:1-7 . Only the dispensation, as a testing of Israel, ended at the giving of the law.
See, for the other six dispensations: (See Scofield " Genesis 8:21 ") .
INNOCENCE ( Romans 10:4-10 ) CONSCIENCE ( Genesis 3:23 ) HUMAN GOVERNMENT ( Genesis 8:21 ) LAW ( Exodus 19:8 ) GRACE ( John 1:17 ) KINGDOM ( Ephesians 1:10 )
we will do
The Fifth Dispensation: Law. This dispensation extends from Sinai to Calvary--from Exodus to the Cross. The history of Israel in the wilderness and in the land is one long record of the violation of the law. The testing of the nation by law ended in the judgment of the Captivities, but the dispensation itself ended at the Cross.
(1) Man's state at the beginning Exodus 19:1-4 .
(2) His responsibility Exodus 19:5 ; Exodus 19:6 ; Romans 10:5 .
(3) His failure 2 Kings 17:7-17 ; 2 Kings 17:19 ; Acts 2:22 ; Acts 2:23 .
(4) The judgment Genesis 12:1 ; 2 Kings 17:20 ; 2 Kings 25:1-11 ; Luke 21:20-24
For Another Point of View: See Topic 301180
See, for the other six dispensations: INNOCENCE ( Genesis 1:28 ); CONSCIENCE ( Genesis 3:23 ); HUMAN GOVERNMENT ( Genesis 8:20 ); PROMISE ( Genesis 12:1 ); GRACE ( John 1:17 ); KINGDOM ( Ephesians 1:10 )
(See Scofield " Genesis 1:28 ") . See Scofield " Genesis 3:23 ". See Scofield " Genesis 8:21 ". See Scofield " Genesis 12:1 ". See Scofield " John 1:17 ". See Scofield " Ephesians 1:10 ".
grace
Grace. Summary:
(1) Grace is "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man.. . not by works of righteousness which we have done" Titus 3:4 ; Titus 3:5 .
It is, therefore, constantly set in contrast to law, under which God demands righteousness from man, as, under grace, he gives righteousness to man Romans 3:21 ; Romans 3:22 ; Romans 8:4 ; Philippians 3:9 . Law is connected with Moses and works; grace with Christ and faith; John 1:17 ; Genesis 1:28 . Law blesses the good; grace saves the bad; Exodus 19:5 ; Ephesians 2:1-9 . Law demands that blessings be earned; grace is a free gift; Deuteronomy 28:1-6 ; Ephesians 2:8 ; Romans 4:4 ; Romans 4:5 .
(2) As a dispensation, grace begins with the death and resurrection of Christ Romans 3:24-26 , Romans 4:24 ; Romans 4:25 . The point of testing is no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation, but acceptance or rejection of Christ, with good works as a fruit of salvation,; John 1:12 ; John 1:13 ; John 3:36 ; Matthew 21:37 ; Matthew 22:24 ; John 15:22 ; John 15:25 ; Hebrews 1:2 ; 1 John 5:10-12 . The immediate result of this testing was the rejection of Christ by the Jews, and His crucifixion by Jew and Gentile Acts 4:27 . The predicted end of the testing of man under grace is the apostasy of the professing church: See "Apostasy" (See Scofield " 2 Timothy 3:1 ") 2 Timothy 3:1-8 and the resultant apocalyptic judgments.
(3) Grace has a twofold manifestation: in salvation Romans 3:24 and in the walk and service of the saved Romans 6:15 .
See, for the other six dispensations:
Innocence, (See Scofield " Genesis 1:28 ")
Conscience, (See Scofield " Genesis 3:23 ")
Human Government, (See Scofield " Genesis 8:21 ")
Promise, (See Scofield " Genesis 12:1 ")
Law, (See Scofield " Exodus 19:8 ")
Kingdom, (See Scofield " Ephesians 1:10 ") .
dispensation of the fullness of times
The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. This, the seventh and last of the ordered ages which condition human life on the earth, is identical with the kingdom covenanted to David. 2 Samuel 7:8-17 ; Zechariah 12:8
Summary;
Luke 1:31-33 ; 1 Corinthians 15:24 , and gathers into itself under Christ all past "times":
(1) The time of oppression and misrule ends by Christ taking His kingdom. Isaiah 11:3 ; Isaiah 11:4 .
(2) The time of testimony and divine forbearance ends in judgment. Matthew 25:31-46 ; Acts 17:30 ; Acts 17:31 ; Revelation 20:7-15 .
(3) The time of toil ends in rest and reward. 2 Thessalonians 1:6 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:7 .
(4) The time of suffering ends in glory. Romans 8:17 ; Romans 8:18 .
(5) The time of Israel's blindness and chastisement ends in restoration and conversion. Romans 11:25-27 ; Ezekiel 39:25-29 .
(6) The times of the Gentiles end in the smiting of the image and the setting up of the kingdom of the heavens. Daniel 2:34 ; Daniel 2:35 ; Revelation 19:15-21 .
(7) The time of creation's thraldom ends in deliverance at the manifestation of the sons of God. Genesis 3:17 ; Isaiah 11:6-8 ; Romans 8:19-21 .

Context Summary

Genesis 8:1-22 - Noah Leaves The Ark
Traditions of the Flood are found in every country, from the tablets of Babylon to the rude carvings of the Aztecs, proving man's common origin. "God remembered Noah." He could not forget, because He had entered into covenant with him and his. Though the floods have been abroad on your life for long years, God has not forgotten you. Sooner might a woman forget her babe! Noah's window only looked upward. It had no outlook on the waters, therefore he sent forth the birds. Dove and raven issued from the same window, so the child of God and the wayward, willful child may issue from the same family; but the former cannot find satisfaction with what satisfies the other, but wings its flight back to God. See Psalms 116:7. Through God's grace Noah stepped out into the new world-the world of resurrection. His first act was the burned-offering of consecration, which was followed immediately by promise. See Romans 12:1-2. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 8

1  God remembers Noah and calms the waters
4  The ark rests on Ararat
6  Noah sends forth a raven and then a dove
13  Noah, being commanded, goes forth from the ark
20  He builds an altar, and offers sacrifices,
21  which God accepts, and promises to curse the earth no more

What do the individual words in Genesis 8:21 mean?

And smelled Yahweh - aroma the soothing and said Yahweh in His heart never again will I curse any more the ground on account of man although the imagination in the heart of man [is] evil from his youth nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done
וַיָּ֣רַח יְהוָה֮ אֶת־ רֵ֣יחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־ לִבּ֗וֹ לֹֽא־ אֹ֠סִף לְקַלֵּ֨ל ע֤וֹד הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ בַּעֲב֣וּר הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֠י יֵ֣צֶר לֵ֧ב הָאָדָ֛ם רַ֖ע מִנְּעֻרָ֑יו וְלֹֽא־ אֹסִ֥ף לְהַכּ֥וֹת כָּל־ חַ֖י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִֽׂיתִי

וַיָּ֣רַח  And  smelled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רִיחַ  
Sense: (Hiphil) to smell, scent, perceive odour, accept.
יְהוָה֮  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רֵ֣יחַ  aroma 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֵיחַ  
Sense: scent, fragrance, aroma, odour.
הַנִּיחֹחַ֒  the  soothing 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נִיחֹחַ  
Sense: soothing, quieting, tranquillising.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לִבּ֗וֹ  His  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
לֹֽא־  never 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֹ֠סִף  again  will  I 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
לְקַלֵּ֨ל  curse 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: קָלַל  
Sense: to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light.
ע֤וֹד  any  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
הָֽאֲדָמָה֙  the  ground 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
בַּעֲב֣וּר  on  account 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲבוּר  
Sense: for the sake of, on account of, because of, in order to conj.
הָֽאָדָ֔ם  of  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
כִּ֠י  although 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יֵ֣צֶר  the  imagination 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יֵצֶר  
Sense: form, framing, purpose, framework.
לֵ֧ב  in  the  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
הָאָדָ֛ם  of  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
רַ֖ע  [is]  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
מִנְּעֻרָ֑יו  from  his  youth 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נְעוּרִים 
Sense: youth, early life.
וְלֹֽא־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֹסִ֥ף  will  I  again 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
לְהַכּ֥וֹת  destroy 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
כָּל־  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
חַ֖י  living  thing 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
עָשִֽׂיתִי  I  have  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.