Genesis 7:13 (KJV)

What does Genesis 7:13 mean?

Genesis 7:13 says that on the very day the flood began, Noah, his three sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth), Noah’s wife, and the wives of his sons all entered the ark together. This verse emphasizes that the entire family, eight people in total, went into the ark at the same time as the flood started.

Genesis 7:13 is part of the flood story, where God tells Noah to build an ark to save his family and animals from the coming destruction. The verse lists each person by name or relationship, highlighting that Noah’s whole immediate family was included. The mention of “the selfsame day” underlines the urgency and exact timing of their entry, showing they obeyed God’s instructions precisely as the flood began.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 7:13

• “Selfsame” (עֶצֶם, ʿetsem) means “bone” or “essence,” but here it is often understood as “the very” or “exact” day, stressing the precise timing of when they entered the ark.
• “Entered” (בּוֹא, bo) is the common Hebrew verb for “to come in” or “to enter,” making it clear that the action was deliberate and completed.
• “Ark” (תֵּבָה, tevah) refers to the special vessel Noah built, a unique word in the Hebrew Bible used only for Noah’s ark and the basket of baby Moses, highlighting its role as a means of rescue.

Why Genesis 7:13 matters

• Genesis 7:13 clarifies that only Noah’s immediate family was saved, not a larger group or extended relatives, which helps answer questions about who survived the flood.
• The verse’s emphasis on “the selfsame day” shows that Noah’s obedience was timely and exact, matching God’s instructions and the unfolding of events.
• By listing each person, Genesis 7:13 connects back to earlier chapters where these family members are introduced, reinforcing the continuity and careful record-keeping in the story.