Genesis 7:16

16 And they that entered went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded Noe, and the Lord God shut the ark outside of him.

Genesis 7:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 7:16

And they that went in, went in male and female of all
flesh
These pairs were not two males or two females, but one male and one female; so they were coupled for the propagation of their species, which was the end of their entering into the ark, and being preserved: as God had commanded him:
Noah, who took care, as they entered, that there were so many of a sort as was enjoined, and these were male and female: and the Lord shut him in;
or shut the door after him ^F12, he being the last that entered; and which he could not so well shut himself, at least so close, as was done by the Lord, or by the angels; and this was done to keep out the waters, and all within in safety; and to shut out others, and preserve Noah from the rage of wicked men, as well as the violence of the waters: some ^F13 have thought that not so much the door of the ark is meant, as the way to it, the pensile bridge which was necessary for the creatures to enter the ark; which being carried away by the force of the waters near the ark, that not being joined to it, precluded all access of the scoffers, whose scoffs were soon turned to lamentation and howling.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 (wdeb) "post ipsum", Vatablus, Tigurine version, Cocceius, Schmidt. "Pone eum", Piscator.
F13 Scheuchzer. Physica Sacra, vol. 1. p. 45.

Genesis 7:16 In-Context

14 And all the wild beasts after their kind, and all cattle after their kind, and every reptile moving itself on the earth after its kind, and every flying bird after its kind,

15 went in to Noe into the ark, pairs, male and female of all flesh in which is the breath of life.

16 And they that entered went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded Noe, and the Lord God shut the ark outside of him.

17 And the flood was upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and the water abounded greatly and bore up the ark, and it was lifted on high from off the earth.

18 And the water prevailed and abounded exceedingly upon the earth, and the ark was borne upon the water.