Genesis 8:8-12

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 8:8

Also he sent forth a dove from him ,.... Seven days after he had sent out the raven, as in Genesis 8:10 . to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground ; for the dove is a creature that delights in cleanness, flies low, and goes far off, so that if it returned not again, he might conclude that the waters were gone off the earth; but being a sociable creature, and familiar to men, and especially loving to its mate, if they were not gone off, it would certainly return... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 8:10

And he stayed yet other seven days ,.... As he had stayed seven days between the sending out of the raven and the dove, so he stayed seven days more after he had sent out the dove, and it returned to him, waiting patiently for his deliverance, and the signs of it; though he could have been glad to have known its near approach, for which he made the experiments be did: and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark ; very probably the selfsame dove he had sent out before. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 8:11

And the dove came in to him in the evening ,.... It having been out all day delighting itself in a free air, and perching upon the trees, but yet not finding sufficient food, or a proper lodging, it returned to Noah at the evening for food and dwelling in the ark: and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off : which might easily be done, and even an "olive branch", as the word sometimes signifies, and is by some F16 עלה זית "ramum olivae", V. L. so Ainsworth, see Neh.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 8:12

And he stayed yet other seven days ,.... After the dove had returned: and sent forth the dove ; the same dove again: which returned not again unto him any more : the earth being dry, it found rest for the sole of its feet, sufficient food to eat, and a proper place for its habitation; and liking to be at liberty, and in the open air, chose not to return to the ark, even though its mate was there: of those birds sent out, the Heathen writers make mention: Abydenus says F19 Apud... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 8:8

He sent forth a dove - The dove was sent forth thrice; the first time she speedily returned, having, in all probability, gone but a little way from the ark, as she must naturally be terrified at the appearance of the waters. After seven days, being sent out a second time, she returned with an olive leaf pluckt off, Genesis 8:11 , an emblem of the restoration of peace between God and the earth; and from this circumstance the olive has been the emblem of peace among all civilized nations. At... 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

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