Bible/Genesis/8

Genesis 8:2

8:1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;
The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

KJV

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The deep’s fountains and the sky’s windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained.

The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. continually: Heb. in going and returning

What does Genesis 8:2 mean?

Genesis 8:2 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include מַעְיָן (maʻyân), תְּהוֹם (tᵉhôwm), אֲרֻבָּה (ʼărubbâh). It connects to 8 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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The
fountainsמַעְיָןmaʻyân/mah-yawn'/H4599a fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a source (of satisfaction)
also
of
the
deepתְּהוֹםtᵉhôwm/teh-home'/H8415an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean watersupply)
and
the
windowsאֲרֻבָּהʼărubbâh/ar-oob-baw'/H699a lattice; (by implication) a window, dovecot (because of the pigeon-holes), chimney (with its apertures for smoke), sluice (with openings for water)
of
heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim/shaw-mah'-yim/H8064the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)
were
stopped,סָכַרçâkar/saw-kar'/H5534to shut up; by implication, to surrender
and
the
rainגֶּשֶׁםgeshem/gheh'-shem/H1653a shower
from
heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim/shaw-mah'-yim/H8064the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)
was
restrained;כָּלָאkâlâʼ/kaw-law'/H3607to restrict, by act (hold back or in) or word (prohibit)

Commentary on Genesis 8:2

HENRY_FULL · Genesis 8:2
close of the foregoing chapter we left the world in ruins and the church in straits; but in this chapter we have the repair of the one and the enlargement of the other. Now the scene alters, and another face of things begins to be presented to us, and the brighter side of that cloud which there appeared so black and dark; for, though God contend long, he will not contend for ever, nor be always wrath. We have here, I. The earth made anew, by the recess of the waters, and the appearing of the dry land, now a second time, and both gradual. 1. The increase of the waters is stayed, ver. 1, 2 . 2. They begin sensibly to abate, ver. 3 . 3. After sixteen days' ebbing, the ark rests, ver. 4 . 4. After sixty days' ebbing, the tops of the mountains appeared above water, ver. 5 . 5. After forty days' ebbing, and twenty days before the mountains appeared, Noah began to send out his spies, a raven and a dove, to gain intelligence, ver. 6-12 . 6. Two months after the appearing of the tops of the mountains, the waters had gone, and the face of the earth was dry ( ver. 13 ), though not dried so as to be fit for man till almost two months after, ver. 14 . II. Man placed anew upon the earth, in which, 1. Noah's discharge and departure out of the ark, ver. 15-19 . 2. His sacrifice of praise, which he offered to God upon his enlargement, ver. 20 . 3. God's acceptance of his sacrifice, and the promise he made thereupon not to drown the world again, ver. 21, 22 . And thus, at length, mercy rejoices against judgment. The Earth Becomes Dry. ( b. c. 2349.)

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 7:11

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. windows: or, floodgates

Job 37:11

Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: his: Heb. the cloud of his light

Job 38:37

Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, stay: Heb. cause to lie down

Proverbs 8:28

When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

Jonah 2:3

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. midst: Heb. heart

Matthew 8:9

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

Matthew 8:26

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:27

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 8:2.

Genesis 7:11

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. windows: or, floodgates

Ezekiel 31:15

Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. to mourn: Heb. to be black

Genesis 49:25

Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

Proverbs 8:24

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Frequently asked questions

What does Genesis 8:2 say?

Genesis 8:2 (King James Version) reads: "The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;"

Is Genesis 8:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 8:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Who wrote the book of Genesis?

The book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses.

Reflect

As you read Genesis 8:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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