And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

GENESIS 8:21KJV
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Genesis 8:21 (KJV)

What does Genesis 8:21 mean?

Genesis 8:21 describes how, after the flood, the LORD was pleased with Noah’s sacrifice and decided not to curse the ground again or destroy all living things, even though human hearts are inclined toward evil from an early age. God makes a promise within himself to show restraint and mercy toward humanity despite their ongoing tendency toward wrongdoing.

In this verse, the LORD (God) is responding to Noah’s burnt offering after the floodwaters have receded. The phrase “smelled a sweet savour” means God accepted the sacrifice as pleasing. God then reflects inwardly, recognizing that people’s hearts are prone to evil (“the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth”), yet he resolves not to bring another total destruction on the earth as he did with the flood. This moment marks a turning point in God’s relationship with creation, emphasizing mercy over judgment.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 8:21

  • “Smelled” (רֵיחַ, rêach): This word means to smell or perceive an aroma. Here, it shows God’s acceptance of Noah’s offering, using human language to describe God’s response.
  • “Sweet” (נִיחוֹחַ, nîchoach) and “savour” (רֵיחַ, rêach): Together, these words mean a pleasing or restful aroma, highlighting that God found Noah’s sacrifice genuinely satisfying.
  • “Imagination” (יֵצֶר, yetser): This word refers to the inclination or forming of thoughts and intentions. It points to the deep-seated tendency in humans toward wrongdoing, not just occasional mistakes.
  • “Evil” (רַע, ra’): This word means bad or wicked. Its use here underlines the seriousness of the human condition that God acknowledges.

Why Genesis 8:21 matters

  • Genesis 8:21 clarifies that God’s decision to spare the earth from another total destruction is not because humanity has improved, but because of God’s own choice to show mercy, despite human nature.
  • The verse connects Noah’s sacrifice with God’s promise, showing that acts of worship and gratitude can be meaningful responses to God, even when people are flawed.
  • This verse sets the stage for the covenant God will make with Noah and all living creatures, introducing a new era of God’s dealings with the world after the flood.

Where else these words appear

“sake” Hebrew H5668 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 21:30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
  • Exodus 13:8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
  • 2 Samuel 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

“imagination” Hebrew H3336 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
  • 1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
  • Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

“smelled” Hebrew H7306 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 27:27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
  • Deuteronomy 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
  • Job 39:25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

“in” Hebrew H413 · used in 37 verses

  • Genesis 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
  • Exodus 19:20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
  • 1 Samuel 4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.