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Commentary on Genesis 8 verses 1–3
Here is, I. An act of God's grace: God remembered Noah and every living thing. This is an expression after the manner of men; for not any of his creatures (Luk 12:6), much less any of his people, are forgotten of God, Isa 49:15, Isa 49:16. but, 1. The whole race of mankind, except Noah and his family, was now extinguished, and driven into the land of forgetfulness, to be remembered no more; so that God's remembering Noah was the return of his mercy to mankind, of whom he would not make a full end. It is a strange expression, Eze 5:13, When I have accomplished my fury in them, I will be comforted. The demands of divine justice had been answered by the ruin of those sinners; he had eased him of his adversaries (Isa 1:24), and now his spirit was quieted (Zac 6:8), and he remembered Noah and every living thing. he remembered mercy in wrath (Hab 3:2), remembered the days of old (Isa 63:11), remembered the holy seed, and then remembered Noah. 2. Noah himself, though one that had found grace in the eyes of the Lord, yet seemed to be forgotten in the ark, and perhaps began to think himself so; for we do not find that God had told him how long he should be confined and when he should be released. Very good men have sometimes been ready to conclude themselves forgotten of God, especially when their afflictions have been unusually grievous and long. Perhaps Noah, though a great believer, yet when he found the flood continuing so long after it might reasonably be presumed to have done its work, was tempted to fear lest he that shut him in would keep him in, and began to expostulate. How long wilt thou forget me? But at length God returned in mercy to him, and this is expressed by remembering him. Note, Those that remember God shall certainly be remembered by him, how desolate and disconsolate soever their condition may be. He will appoint them a set time and remember them, Job 14:13. 3. With Noah, God remembered every living thing; for, though his delight is especially in the sons of men, yet he rejoices in all his works, and hates nothing that he has made. He takes special care, not only of his people's persons, but of their possessions - of them and all that belongs to them. He considered the cattle of Nineveh, Jon 4:11.
II. An act of God's power over wind and water, both of which are at his beck, though neither of them is under man's control. Observe,
1.He commanded the wind, and said to that, Go, and it went, in order to the carrying off of the flood: God made a wind to pass over the earth. See here, (1.) What was God's remembrance of Noah: it was his relieving him. Note, Those whom God remembers he remembers effectually, for good; he remembers us to save us, that we may remember him to serve him. (2.) What a sovereign dominion God has over the winds. He has them in his fist (Pro 30:4) and brings them out of his treasuries, Psa 135:7. He sends them when, and whither, and for what purposes, he pleases. Even stormy winds fulfil his word, Psa 148:8. It should seem, while the waters increased, there was no wind; for that would have added to the toss of the ark; but now God sent a wind, when it would not be so troublesome. Probably, it was a north wind, for that drives away rain. However, it was a drying wind, such a wind as God sent to divide the Red Sea before Israel, Exo 14:21.
2.He remanded the waters, and said to them, Come, and they came. (1.) He took away the cause. He sealed up the springs of those waters, the fountains of the great deep, and the windows of heaven. Note, [1.] As God has a key to open, so he has a key to shut up again, and to stay the progress of judgments by stopping the causes of them: and the same hand that brings the desolation must bring the deliverance; to that hand therefore our eye must ever be. He that wounds is alone able to heal. See Job 12:14, Job 12:15. [2.] When afflictions have done the work for which they are sent, whether killing work or curing work, they shall be removed. God's word shall not return void, Isa 55:10, Isa 55:11. (2.) Then the effect ceased; not all at once, but by degrees: The waters abated (Gen 8:1), returned from off the earth continually, Heb. they were going and returning (v. 3), which denotes a gradual departure. The heat of the sun exhaled much, and perhaps the subterraneous caverns soaked in more. Note, As the earth was not drowned in a day, so it was not dried in a day. In the creation, it was but one day's work to clear the earth from the waters that covered it, and to make it dry land; nay, it was but half a day's work, Gen 1:9, Gen 1:10. But, the work of creation being finished, this work of providence was effected by the concurring influence of second causes, yet thus enforced by the almighty power of God. God usually works deliverance for his people gradually, that the day of small things may not be despised, nor the day of great things despaired of, Zac 4:10. See Pro 4:18.
The springs of the abyss and the floodgates of heaven were open forty days and forty nights and “the ark was afloat for one hundred fifty days.” But after one hundred fifty days the waters began to subside and the ark came to rest on Mt. Qardu. In the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen. In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. In the second month, that is, Iyor, “on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.” Therefore Noah and those with him had been in the ark three hundred sixty-five days, for from the seventeenth of the second month, that is, Iyor, until the twenty-seventh of the same month the following year, according to the lunar reckoning, there were three hundred sixty-five days. Notice then that even the generation of the house of Noah employed this reckoning of three hundred sixty-five days in a year. Why then should you say that it was the Chaldeans and Egyptians who invented and developed it?
And the Lord brought a spirit upon the earth, and the water ceased (Genesis VIII, 1). I do not think this is said in such a way that we should understand the spirit as the name for wind. For the wind could not have dried up the flood. Otherwise, since the sea is stirred up daily by winds, it would certainly be emptied. For how could the sea, which had spread out over the whole earth in the flood, not be emptied by the force of the winds, if it had receded even to the pillars of Hercules, as they say, and the Great Sea was boiling up against the roofs of high mountains? Therefore, it is not doubtful that by the power of the invisible divine spirit, that flood was repressed, not by a gust of wind, but by celestial operation.
See how God did everything out of his esteem for the human being. As in the case of the destruction of human beings in the flood he destroyed also along with them the whole range of brute beasts, so in this case too, when he intends to show his characteristic love for the good man out of his regard for him, he extends his goodness to the animal kingdom as well, the wild beasts, the birds and the reptiles. “God was mindful of Noah,” the text says, “and of all the wild beasts, all the cattle and all the reptiles that were with him in the ark. God sent a wind upon the earth, and the water subsided.” Being mindful of Noah, the text says, and of those with him in the ark, he directed the flood of water to halt so that little by little he might show his characteristic love and now give the good man a breath of fresh air, free him from the turmoil of his thoughts and restore him to a state of tranquility by granting him the enjoyment of daylight and a breath of fresh air. “God sent a wind upon the earth, and the water subsided. The torrents of the depths and the sluice gates of heaven were shut off.”
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SUMMARY
Genesis 8:3 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical Flood narrative, signaling the definitive commencement of the waters' recession "continually" after the initial 150 days of their prevailing. This verse highlights God's active and methodical reversal of the deluge, transitioning from judgment towards restoration and offering the first tangible sign of hope and deliverance for Noah, his family, and all life preserved within the ark, thereby indicating the earth's gradual recovery.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 8:3 precisely details the turning point in the global deluge: "And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated." This verse marks the shift from the flood's destructive power to its gradual retreat, orchestrated by divine will.
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Genesis 8:3 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The Chronological Marker "after the end of the hundred and fifty days" precisely situates this event within the larger narrative, emphasizing the duration of the flood's peak and the divine timing of its reversal. The Repetition inherent in the Hebrew idiom haloch vashov, translated as "continually" or "going and returning," creates a sense of persistent, gradual action, underscoring the methodical nature of God's work. This Emphasis on a slow, steady recession contrasts with the sudden, overwhelming onset of the flood, highlighting God's patience and thoroughness in restoration. Furthermore, the receding waters serve as powerful Symbolism, representing the conclusion of divine judgment and the dawning of a new era of hope and renewal, paving the way for the covenant God will establish with Noah.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 8:3 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His meticulous control over both judgment and restoration. Just as He initiated the flood as an act of righteous judgment against human wickedness, He orchestrates its precise and methodical withdrawal, demonstrating His power to reverse even the most catastrophic events. This transition from prevailing waters to their abatement signifies the conclusion of divine wrath and the dawning of a new era, offering the first tangible sign of hope and deliverance for Noah and his family. It underscores God's faithfulness to His promise to remember Noah (Genesis 8:1), showcasing His patient and deliberate work in bringing about salvation and renewal, even when circumstances seem unending. This verse thus serves as a powerful testament to God's providence, His commitment to His chosen ones, and His ultimate plan for a new creation.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 8:3 offers profound lessons for believers today, reminding us that even the most overwhelming trials have a divinely appointed end. Just as the floodwaters receded after a long period, so too do many of life's difficulties eventually diminish under God's sovereign hand. This verse encourages us to cultivate unwavering trust in God's faithfulness, knowing that He is actively working behind the scenes, even when circumstances seem unending. It calls us to embrace patience, understanding that God's deliverance may not be immediate but is always certain and perfectly orchestrated according to His divine timing. Furthermore, we are taught to recognize and appreciate gradual progress, discerning the incremental signs of God's restorative work in our lives and in the world, even when a full solution isn't yet visible. This patient process of abatement points to the larger biblical narrative of God's patient work culminating in the new heaven and new earth, where all things are made new.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the "hundred and fifty days" mentioned here?
Answer: The "hundred and fifty days" refers to the initial period during which the floodwaters prevailed upon the earth, reaching their maximum height and covering all the high mountains (Genesis 7:24). Genesis 8:3 marks the conclusion of this prevailing period and the beginning of the waters' recession, signifying a crucial turning point from the flood's peak to its gradual abatement. It highlights the precise chronology of God's judgment and subsequent restoration.
Does "continually" suggest a slow process, and what does that teach us about God?
Answer: Yes, "continually" (Hebrew: haloch vashov, "going and returning") strongly suggests a steady, ongoing, and gradual process rather than an instantaneous event. This teaches us about God's methodical and deliberate nature. While He is capable of instant miracles, He often works through sustained, incremental processes, demonstrating His patience, persistence, and the thoroughness of His restorative work. It reminds us that significant change and healing often unfold over time, aligning with His perfect timing and comprehensive plan.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Genesis 8:3, marking the end of the flood's judgment and the beginning of new life, powerfully prefigures the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Just as the receding waters signified the cessation of divine wrath and the promise of a new creation for Noah, so too does Christ's death on the cross and His glorious resurrection mark the definitive end of God's judgment upon sin for all who believe. He is the ultimate "ark" of salvation, through whom believers are delivered from the deluge of sin and death, being "baptized into Christ Jesus" and sharing in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). His finished work initiates a new creation, where the "old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through Christ, God's restorative work is fully realized, not merely abating a flood, but ushering in an eternal kingdom of righteousness and life, where He promises to "wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more" (Revelation 21:4).