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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 8:6-12

We have here an account of the spies which Noah sent forth to bring him intelligence from abroad, a raven and a dove. Observe here, I. That though God had told Noah particularly when the flood would come, even to a day (Gen. 7:4), yet he did not give him a particular account by revelation at what times, and by what steps, it should go away, 1. Because the knowledge of the former was necessary to his preparing the ark, and settling himself in it; but the knowledge of the latter would serve only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 8:9

But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark ,.... It being a creature that feeds upon seeds it picks off from the ground, and loving cleanness, it could find no place where it could alight, and have food to live upon, and retain its cleanness; for though the tops of the mountains were clear of the waters, yet they might be muddy and filthy with what the waters had raised up in them, or left upon them; and therefore it returned to Noah again,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 8:4-18

Mount Ararat, or the landing of the ark. That disembarkment on the mountain heights of Ararat was an emblem of another landing which shall yet take place, when the great gospel ship of the Christian Church shall plant its living freight of redeemed souls upon the hills of heaven. Everything that Mount Ararat witnessed on that eventful day will yet be more conspicuously displayed in the sight of God's believing people who shall be counted worthy of eternal life. I. SIN PUNISHED . Mount... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 8:6-12

The dispensations of righteousness and love. The raven and the dove. While this passage has its natural, historical fitness, we cannot overlook its symbolical significance. It seems to set forth the two administrations of God, both of them going forth from the same center of his righteousness in which his people are kept safe. The one represented by the carrion bird, the raven, is THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUDGMENT , which goes forth to and fro until the waters are dried up from off the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 8:8-9

Also he sent forth —per. 10 seems to Warrant the inference that this was after an interval of seven days (Baumgarten, Knobel, Keil, Lange)— a dove . Literally, the dove. The Scriptural references to the dove are very numerous: cf. Psalms 68:14 (its beautiful plumage); Le Psalms 5:7 ; Psalms 12:6 (its sacrificial use); Isaiah 38:14 ; Isaiah 59:11 (its plaintive notes); Psalms 55:6 (its power of flight); Matthew 10:16 (its gentleness); vide also the metaphorical usage of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 8:1-14

- The Land Was Dried1. שׁכך shākak “stoop, assuage.”3. חסר chāsar “want, fail, be abated.”4. אררט 'ărārāṭ, “Ararat,” a land forming part of Armenia. It is mentioned in 2 Kings 19:37, and Isaiah 37:38, as the retreat of Adrammelek and Sharezer after the murder of their father; and in Jeremiah 51:27 as a kingdom.8. קלל qālal, “be light, lightened, lightly esteemed, swift.”10. חוּל chûl, “twist, turn, dance, writhe, tremble, be strong, wait.” יהל yāchal “remain, wait, hope.”13. חרב... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 8:7-12

Genesis 8:7-12 . Noah sent forth a raven Through the window of the ark; which went forth As the Hebrew phrase is, going forth and returning; that is, flying about, but returning to the ark for rest; probably not in it, but upon it. This gave Noah little satisfaction: therefore, he sent forth a dove Which returned the first time with no good news, but probably wet and dirty; but the second time she brought an olive-leaf in her bill, which appeared to be fresh plucked off; a... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 8:1-19

The flood (6:9-8:19)Amid the corruption, there was one man, Noah, who remained faithful to God. Therefore, God promised to preserve Noah, along with his family, so that when the former evil race had been destroyed, he could use Noah and his family to build a new people (9-12; cf. Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:4-5; 2 Peter 2:4-5).God’s means of destruction was a great flood. Besides preserving Noah and his family, God preserved a pair of each kind of animals in the region, thereby helping to maintain... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 8:6-12

"And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: and he sent forth a raven, and it went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from the earth. And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; but the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him to the ark; for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: and he put forth his hand and took her in unto... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 8:6-14

"The raven in seeking food settles upon every carcass it sees, whereas the dove will only settle on what is dry and clean." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, 1:149.] Doves (Genesis 8:8), light, clean animals (Leviticus 1:14; Leviticus 12:6; et al.) in contrast to dark, unclean animals (Leviticus 11:15; Deuteronomy 14:14), return to their home when they find no place to land."The olive tree will put out leaves even under water." [Note: Ibid.] read more

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