Pairs from all flesh with the breath of life in them went into the ship to Noah.
Parallel translations
- KJV And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
- BSB They came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two of every creature with the breath of life.
- NKJV And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life.
- NASB So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which there was the breath of life.
- NLT Two by two they came into the boat, representing every living thing that breathes.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Pairs of all flesh with the breath of life went into the ark to Noah. Life is gathered to be kept safe.
Overview
The phrase "breath of life" recalls God's life-giving work in creation, now sheltered in the ark. The creatures come to Noah, again showing God's sovereign direction of his creatures. The safe gathering of all that breathes underscores God's purpose to preserve life through judgment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Isa 11:6The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them.
- Gen 6:19–20Of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ship, to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 7:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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