And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

GENESIS 8:4KJV
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Genesis 8:4 (KJV)

What does Genesis 8:4 mean?

Genesis 8:4 states that the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat on the seventeenth day of the seventh month. This marks the moment when Noah’s ark, after many months afloat during the flood, finally settled on solid ground.

In this verse, the narrative is describing a turning point in the flood account. God has brought the waters down enough for the ark to stop moving, and Noah, his family, and the animals are no longer adrift. The mention of the "mountains of Ararat" points to a region in ancient Armenia, not a single mountain, and the specific dating shows careful attention to the timeline of events.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 8:4

  • "ark" (תֵּבָה, tevah): This word refers to the large vessel Noah built, distinct from a typical boat or ship, emphasizing its purpose as a container for preservation rather than navigation.
  • "rested" (נוּחַ, nuach): This verb means to settle down or come to rest, highlighting the end of the ark’s journey and the beginning of a new phase for its occupants.
  • "mountains" (הָרִים, harim): The plural form shows the ark landed in a mountainous region, not necessarily a single peak, which clarifies that the exact landing spot is not specified.
  • "Ararat" (אֲרָרָט, Ararat): This name refers to a region known in ancient times, likely in modern-day eastern Turkey or Armenia, rather than a specific mountain called "Mount Ararat" as sometimes assumed.

Why Genesis 8:4 matters

  • Genesis 8:4 clarifies that the ark did not land on a single mountain called Ararat, but rather in a mountainous region known as Ararat, which helps avoid confusion about the exact location.
  • The verse marks a significant shift in the flood story, showing that God’s judgment is ending and a new beginning for humanity and the animals is about to start.
  • The careful dating in the verse helps readers see the structured timeline of the flood narrative, emphasizing the order and purpose in the unfolding events.

Where else these words appear

“Ararat” Hebrew H780 · used in 4 verses

  • 2 Kings 19:37 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
  • Isaiah 37:38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
  • Jeremiah 51:27 Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.

“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 8:10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;

“rested” Hebrew H5117 · used in 64 verses

  • Exodus 10:14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.
  • 2 Samuel 21:10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
  • Isaiah 7:19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.

“seventh” Hebrew H7637 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • Leviticus 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
  • 1 Kings 18:44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.