Bible Strands
Genesis 7:16
And they entered, the male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records the completion of the animals' entry into the ark, situated between the preparatory command in Genesis 7:15 and the onset of the flood in Genesis 7:17. The moment marks the transition from human obedience to divine judgment.
The words — The Hebrew phrase כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה (ka-'asher tzi-vah) translates literally as "just as he had commanded," explicitly attributing the directive to God rather than Noah. The term בָּשָׂר (ba-sar, "flesh") refers to the living creatures entering the ark in their designated pairs.
The thread — This motif of a divinely sealed boundary runs through Matthew 25:10 and Luke 13:25, where a shut door terminates the opportunity for entry. The parallel highlights that once God closes access, the window for crossing over ends.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that human obedience merely fulfills the prerequisite, after which God alone determines the point of no return. It demands acceptance that preservation and judgment are governed by divine action, not human timing.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.
Cross-references
- Matthew 25:10 But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.
- Luke 13:25 After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
- Genesis 7:2 You are to take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate; a pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate;
- Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
- 2 Kings 4:4 Then go inside, shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these jars, setting the full ones aside.”
- Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’
- Psalms 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas,
- John 10:27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
- 1 Peter 1:5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Proverbs 3:23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.