Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee.

GENESIS 8:16KJV
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Genesis 8:16 (KJV)

What does Genesis 8:16 mean?

Genesis 8:16 records God telling Noah to leave the ark, along with his wife, his sons, and his sons’ wives. This marks the moment when Noah and his family are instructed to step out into the world after the floodwaters have receded.

God is speaking directly to Noah after the flood, giving him a clear command to exit the ark with his entire family. The verse highlights that not just Noah, but also his wife, his sons, and their wives are to leave together, emphasizing the importance of family unity and the continuation of humanity after the flood.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 8:16

  • "Go forth" (יָצָא, yatsa’): This word often means to go out or come out. Here, it is a direct command from God, signaling a new beginning and release from the ark’s confinement.
  • "Ark" (תֵּבָה, tevah): This term refers specifically to the vessel Noah built. Its mention here connects the command to the entire flood narrative and God’s preservation of life.
  • "Wife" (אִשָּׁה, ishah) and "wives" (אִשָּׁה, ishah): The same Hebrew word is used for both singular and plural, showing the inclusion of all the women in Noah’s immediate family.
  • "Sons" (בֵּן, ben): This word refers to Noah’s male children, underlining the family structure that will repopulate the earth.

Why Genesis 8:16 matters

  • Genesis 8:16 makes clear that God’s instructions are not just for Noah alone, but for his whole family, highlighting the role of family in God’s plan after the flood.
  • The verse signals a turning point in the story, moving from survival inside the ark to a new chapter of life and restoration on the earth.
  • By naming each group—Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives—the verse emphasizes the completeness of those preserved and the foundation for humanity’s new beginning.

Where else these words appear

“ark” Hebrew H8392 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
  • Genesis 7:13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
  • Genesis 8:9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.