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;

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God commands Noah to enter the ark with his household, immediately preceding the specific instructions for gathering animals.

The words — The Hebrew תִּקַּח (tiqqach) means "you will take," and the repeated שִׁבְעָה (shiv'ah) emphasizes "seven," specifying the exact quantity required.

The thread — This clean versus unclean distinction governs Noah's post-flood sacrifice (Genesis 8:20) and later establishes the framework for Israelite dietary and worship regulations (Leviticus 10:10; Leviticus 11:1).

Why it lands — The text requires precise obedience to a categorized inventory, establishing that preservation and future worship depend on following exact divine parameters.

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

מִכֹּ֣ל׀mi./Kolof/ all הַבְּהֵמָ֣הha./be.he.Mahthe/ livestock הַטְּהוֹרָ֗הha./te.ho.Rah<the>/ clean תִּֽקַּח־ti.kach-you will takeלְךָ֛le./Khafor <the>/ yourselfשִׁבְעָ֥הshiv.'Ahseven שִׁבְעָ֖הshiv.'Ahseven אִ֣ישׁ'isha male וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹve./'ish.T/oand/ female/ its וּמִן־u./min-and/ of הַבְּהֵמָ֡הha./be.he.Mahthe/ animal[s]אֲ֠שֶׁר'a.Sherwhich לֹ֣אlo'not טְהֹרָ֥הte.ho.Rah[is] clean הִ֛ואhi'it שְׁנַ֖יִםshe.Na.yimtwo אִ֥ישׁ'isha male וְאִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ve./'ish.T/oand/ female/ its

King James Version

Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

Cross-references

Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Leviticus 10:10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean,
Leviticus 11:1 The LORD spoke again to Moses and Aaron, telling them,
Genesis 7:8 The clean and unclean animals, the birds, and everything that crawls along the ground
Acts 10:11 He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
Ezekiel 44:23 They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.
Genesis 6:19 And you are to bring two of every living creature into the ark—male and female—to keep them alive with you.
Deuteronomy 14:1 You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,