Genesis 7:14

KJV

They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.

KJV (with Strong's)

They {H1992}, and every beast {H2416} after his kind {H4327}, and all the cattle {H929} after their kind {H4327}, and every creeping thing {H7431} that creepeth {H7430} upon the earth {H776} after his kind {H4327}, and every fowl {H5775} after his kind {H4327}, every bird {H6833} of every sort {H3671}.

Complete Jewish Bible

they, and every animal of every species, all the livestock of every species, every animal that creeps on the ground of every species, and every bird of every species — all sorts of winged creatures.

Berean Standard Bible

they and every kind of wild animal, livestock, crawling creature, bird, and winged creature.

American Standard Version

they, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 7:14 meticulously details the comprehensive entry of diverse animal categories into Noah's Ark, emphasizing that each entered "after his kind." This verse underscores the precise fulfillment of God's divine command for the preservation of all land-dwelling, air-breathing life, highlighting the meticulous order maintained even amidst the impending global judgment and the comprehensive scope of the divine rescue operation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a pivotal moment in the Flood narrative, immediately following Noah, his family, and the animals' entry into the Ark (Genesis 7:13). It serves as the culmination of God's detailed instructions given to Noah in [Genesis 6:19-20](/genesis/6-19-20 "God's Command to Noah Regarding the Animals") and [Genesis 7:2-3](/genesis/7-2-3 "God's Specific Instructions for Clean and Unclean Animals"). The preceding verses describe the gathering and entry, while Genesis 7:14 provides a comprehensive summary of the types of creatures, reinforcing the complete obedience of Noah and the global scope of the impending deluge. The subsequent verses ([Genesis 7:15-16](/genesis/7-15-16 "Animals Enter the Ark; God Shuts the Door")) describe the process of entry and God's sealing of the Ark, setting the stage for the commencement of the Flood.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The concept of a great flood was not unique to ancient Israel, with various flood narratives existing in the ancient Near East (e.g., the Epic of Gilgamesh, Atrahasis). However, the biblical account in Genesis distinguishes itself by its monotheistic framework, moral emphasis, and the direct, personal interaction between God and Noah. The meticulous categorization of animals "after his kind" reflects an ancient understanding of biological distinction, emphasizing divine order in creation rather than an evolutionary process. The pre-Flood world, as depicted in [Genesis 6:5-7](/genesis/6-5-7 "God's Grief Over Human Wickedness"), was characterized by widespread corruption and violence, necessitating divine judgment. The Ark, therefore, represents God's singular means of preserving a remnant of humanity and the animal kingdom, establishing a new beginning for creation.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 7:14 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Preservation**, demonstrating God's absolute control over creation and His ability to sustain life even in the face of cataclysmic judgment. Secondly, the repeated phrase "after his kind" highlights the theme of **Created Order and Distinction**, echoing the creation account in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "The Creation Account"), where God established distinct biological categories. This emphasizes an intelligent design and fixed boundaries within creation. Thirdly, the verse subtly underscores **Noah's Obedience**, as the entry of these diverse creatures is a direct fulfillment of God's specific commands, a theme central to Noah's righteousness (e.g., [Genesis 6:22](/genesis/6-22 "Noah's Obedience")). Finally, it foreshadows the theme of **New Creation**, as the preserved life forms on the Ark will repopulate the earth, leading to a renewed covenant with God in [Genesis 9](/genesis/9 "God's Covenant with Noah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **kind (Hebrew, _mîyn'_):** From an unused root meaning "to portion out," this word denotes a "sort" or "species." In the context of Genesis, especially in the creation and flood narratives, it refers to distinct, reproducing biological categories established by God. The repeated use of "after his kind" (H4327) throughout Genesis 1 and 7 emphasizes the fixed boundaries within which living things reproduce, ensuring the integrity of created types.
* **beast (Hebrew, _chay'_):** Derived from a root meaning "alive," this term broadly refers to living things, often specifically to "wild beasts" or living creatures. In this context, it distinguishes undomesticated land animals from "cattle." Its usage here, alongside "cattle," "creeping thing," and "fowl," underscores the comprehensive nature of the animal life preserved, encompassing all major categories of land-dwelling, air-breathing creatures.
* **creeping thing (Hebrew, _remes'_):** From a root meaning "to glide swiftly" or "to crawl," this term refers to reptiles or any rapidly moving animal that moves low to the ground. Its inclusion ensures that even smaller, less prominent creatures were part of God's preservation plan, demonstrating the thoroughness of the divine command and the scope of Noah's obedience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They, and every beast after his kind":** This clause initiates the comprehensive list, referring to Noah and his family ("They") and then immediately transitioning to the first major category of animals: wild, undomesticated land animals. The phrase "after his kind" immediately establishes the principle of distinct biological categories, meaning that various species of wild animals entered according to their specific, divinely ordained types.
* **"and all the cattle after their kind":** This specifies the inclusion of domesticated animals, distinct from the "beasts." "Cattle" (Hebrew: *bᵉhêmâh*) refers to larger quadrupeds, often those used by humans. Again, the phrase "after their kind" reinforces that these animals also entered in their distinct species, maintaining the integrity of their biological types.
* **"and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind":** This clause broadens the scope to include smaller, ground-dwelling creatures, such as reptiles and insects. The descriptive "that creepeth upon the earth" further clarifies the nature of these animals. The consistent repetition of "after his kind" underscores that even these numerous and diverse creatures adhered to the same principle of distinct biological categories.
* **"and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort":** This final clause encompasses all flying creatures. "Fowl" (Hebrew: *ʻôwph*) generally refers to birds or anything that flies. The addition of "every bird of every sort" (Hebrew: *tsippôwr* and *kânâph*) serves as an emphatic clarification, ensuring that all varieties of winged creatures, from large birds to small sparrows, were included, each according to its specific kind. This comprehensive phrasing leaves no doubt about the exhaustive nature of the animal collection.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in [Genesis 7:14](/genesis/7-14 "The Animals Enter the Ark") is **Repetition**, specifically the recurring phrase "after his kind" (Hebrew: *lemino*). This phrase appears four times within this single verse, echoing its ten uses in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "The Creation Account"). This insistent repetition serves to emphasize the divine order and the fixed boundaries God established for biological reproduction. It highlights that the animals entered the Ark not as a chaotic jumble, but in distinct, divinely ordained categories, preserving the original created order. Additionally, the verse employs **Enumeration** or **Cataloging**, systematically listing the different categories of animals ("beast," "cattle," "creeping thing," "fowl," "bird"). This detailed list underscores the comprehensive nature of the preservation effort and the monumental scope of Noah's task, leaving no ambiguity about the types of life God intended to save. The cumulative effect of these devices is to convey a sense of meticulous divine planning and execution, even in the midst of global judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 7:14 profoundly illustrates God's meticulous care for His creation and His absolute sovereignty over all life. The precise categorization of animals "after his kind" reinforces the biblical concept of distinct created "kinds" (Hebrew: *min*), emphasizing that while there is variation within these kinds, there are fixed boundaries that prevent inter-kind reproduction. This points to an intelligent design inherent in creation and God's commitment to preserving the integrity of His original creative acts. While the Flood represents divine judgment against human wickedness, the detailed preservation of life through the Ark demonstrates God's profound mercy and His commitment to the continuity of His creation, ensuring a future for life on Earth. Noah's faithful and precise obedience to God's seemingly impossible commands was the human instrument through which divine preservation was enacted, highlighting the vital role of obedience in God's redemptive plans.

* [Genesis 1:24-25](/genesis/1-24-25 "God Creates Land Animals After Their Kind")
* [Leviticus 11:14-22](/leviticus/11-14-22 "Dietary Laws Regarding Birds and Creeping Things")
* [Psalm 36:6](/psalms/36-6 "God Preserves Man and Beast")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 7:14 serves as a profound reminder of God's meticulous care for His creation and His sovereign control over all life. It powerfully illustrates the importance of obeying God's instructions precisely, even when they appear daunting or defy human logic. Just as God preserved life "after his kind" through a cataclysmic event, He demonstrates His unwavering ability to sustain and uphold His creation according to His divine order. This verse challenges us to consider the depth of God's wisdom in establishing boundaries and distinctions, not only in the natural world but also in spiritual and ethical realms. For believers today, this passage reinforces the truth that God's plans are detailed, His promises of preservation are reliable—whether in judgment or salvation—and it urges us to trust and faithfully follow His Word in every aspect of our lives, recognizing His enduring faithfulness and the comprehensive nature of His redemptive work.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the phrase "after his kind" in Genesis 7:14 deepen your understanding of God's creative order and design?**
* **What does Noah's meticulous obedience in gathering all the animals "after his kind" teach us about our own response to God's commands?**
* **In what ways does God's preservation of life in the Ark, despite widespread judgment, reveal His character of both justice and mercy?**

### FAQ
**What does "after his kind" imply about biological diversity?**

Answer: The phrase "after his kind" (Hebrew: *lemino*) implies that God created distinct biological categories or "kinds" that reproduce only within their own boundaries. It suggests a fixed nature to these original creative acts, allowing for significant variation within a kind (e.g., different breeds of dogs, wolves, and coyotes all belong to the "dog kind") but not inter-kind reproduction (e.g., a dog and a cat cannot breed). This principle ensured the genetic integrity and diversity of life were preserved on the Ark without a merging of fundamental biological types. This concept is foundational to the biblical understanding of creation, emphasizing God's orderly design, as seen in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "The Creation Account").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [Genesis 7:14](/genesis/7-14 "The Animals Enter the Ark") primarily details God's preservation of creation through Noah, it profoundly foreshadows Christ's ultimate role as the preserver and restorer of all things. Just as Noah's obedience secured the physical continuation of life for "every kind" of creature, Christ's perfect obedience, culminating in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, secures spiritual life and a new creation for humanity. He is the true "Ark" of salvation, through whom all who believe are preserved from spiritual judgment and brought into a new covenant, ensuring the continuation of God's people "after His kind"—those who are born again, bear His image, and are made new in Him (cf. [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "New Creation in Christ")). The meticulous inclusion of every kind of animal points to the comprehensive scope of God's redemptive plan, which ultimately encompasses all creation in Christ (cf. [Colossians 1:19-20](/colossians/1-19-20 "Christ Reconciles All Things")). He is the one who gathers His chosen people, preserving them through the storms of life and bringing them safely into the eternal kingdom, fulfilling God's ultimate plan of redemption for a new heaven and a new earth (cf. [Revelation 21:1-5](/revelation/21-1-5 "New Heaven and New Earth")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 7:2

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.

Genesis 7:3

Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

Genesis 7:8

Of clean beasts, and of beasts that [are] not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,

Genesis 7:9

There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.