The Meaning of Genesis 8:7 Explained

Genesis 8:7

KJV: And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

YLT: and he sendeth forth the raven, and it goeth out, going out and turning back till the drying of the waters from off the earth.

Darby: And he sent out the raven, which went forth going to and fro, until the waters were dried from the earth.

ASV: and he sent forth a raven, and it went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he sent forth  a raven,  which went forth  to  and fro,  until the waters  were dried up  from off the earth. 

What does Genesis 8:7 Mean?

Study Notes

raven
The raven and the dove have been thought to stand for the believer's two natures: the "old man" satisfied with a world under judgment; the "new man" finding satisfaction only in the things of the new creation.

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 8:7 mean?

and he sent out - a raven and it went forth going out and returning until had dried up the waters from the earth
וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־ הָֽעֹרֵ֑ב וַיֵּצֵ֤א יָצוֹא֙ וָשׁ֔וֹב עַד־ יְבֹ֥שֶׁת הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ

וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח  and  he  sent  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
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.
הָֽעֹרֵ֑ב  a  raven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹרֵב  
Sense: raven.
וַיֵּצֵ֤א  and  it  went  forth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
יָצוֹא֙  going  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
וָשׁ֔וֹב  and  returning 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
עַד־  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
יְבֹ֥שֶׁת  had  dried  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָבֵשׁ  
Sense: to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered.
הַמַּ֖יִם  the  waters 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
הָאָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 8:7?

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