What is the meaning of Genesis 7:14? They Genesis 7:14 opens with the simple pronoun “they,” which reaches back to verse 13: “On that very day Noah entered the ark, along with Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons”. • This highlights the eight human beings God preserved through the Flood (cf. 1 Peter 3:20; Hebrews 11:7). • God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Noah is already in motion (Genesis 6:18), demonstrating that when God promises, He also provides the means of salvation. Every kind of wild animal Next, the verse stresses “every kind of wild animal,” underscoring the full spectrum of untamed creatures. • God chose representatives “according to their kinds” (Genesis 6:20; 7:2–3), ensuring post-Flood repopulation. • The phrase echoes the creation mandate of Genesis 1:24–25, tying the Flood narrative back to God’s original creative order. • Psalm 104:24–25 celebrates this same variety as a witness to God’s wisdom. Livestock The list moves to domesticated animals—cattle, sheep, goats, and similar creatures that serve human needs. • Preserving livestock shows God’s concern for Noah’s future provision (Genesis 9:3). • It anticipates the renewed stewardship Noah’s family will exercise after the waters recede (cf. Proverbs 27:23). Crawling creature This phrase gathers ground-dwelling animals such as reptiles and small mammals. • “Crawling creatures” may seem insignificant, yet their inclusion proves that nothing in God’s creation is overlooked (Matthew 10:29–31). • The detail underlines the completeness of God’s rescue plan (Genesis 8:17). Bird Birds receive special notice, reminding us that the ark held creatures of the sky as well as the land. • Later, Noah will send out a raven and a dove (Genesis 8:6–12), practical evidence of why birds are aboard. • Birds testify to God’s providence as they migrate and multiply after the Flood, fulfilling Genesis 1:22. Winged creature Finally, “winged creature” broadens the category beyond typical birds to include every living thing that flies. • The redundancy reinforces absolute completeness—nothing that flies is left out (Genesis 7:22–23). • Romans 1:20 reminds us that creation’s diversity leaves humanity “without excuse” when recognizing God’s power and care. summary Genesis 7:14 piles phrase upon phrase to stress totality: every person chosen, every beast, every creeping thing, every flier—all safely inside the ark. The verse assures us that God’s plan of judgment and salvation is meticulous and all-encompassing. He preserves representatives from every domain of life so that, after the waters recede, His world can begin anew under His faithful covenant. |
    |