Genesis 7:3

3 But of the beasts that are unclean two and two, the male and the female. Of the fowls also of the air seven and seven, the male and the female: that seed may be saved upon the face of the whole earth.

Genesis 7:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 7:3

Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and his
female
That is, of such as were clean; seven couple of these were to be brought into the ark, for the like use as of the clean beasts, and those under the law; and so at this time, and here meant were turtledoves, and young pigeons that were for sacrifice; and the rest were for food: and the design of bringing both into the ark was, to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth;
that the species of creatures might be continued, both of beasts and birds, clean and unclean.

Genesis 7:3 In-Context

1 And the Lord said to him: Go in, thou and all thy house, into the ark: for thee I have seen just before me in this generation.
2 Of all clean beasts take seven and seven, the male and the female.
3 But of the beasts that are unclean two and two, the male and the female. Of the fowls also of the air seven and seven, the male and the female: that seed may be saved upon the face of the whole earth.
4 For yet a while, and after seven days, I will rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights: and I will destroy every substance that I have made, from the face of the earth.
5 And Noe did all things which the Lord had commanded him.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.