Genesis 7:15

15 They came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two of every creature ^[a] with the breath of life.

Genesis 7:15 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 7:15

And they went in unto Noah into the ark
Noah went in first, and the creatures of themselves came to him, or were conducted by the ministry of angels; and they were delivered into his hands, and he placed them in the ark as was most convenient for them: it is very likely he went in and out as occasion required, for the better management and disposition of things; for he seems to be the last of all that went in, see ( Genesis 7:16 ) : two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life;
they that went by sevens, yet being seven couples, as has been observed, as those which were only two or four, went by pairs: this is true of them all.

Genesis 7:15 In-Context

13 On that very day Noah entered the ark, along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and his wife, and the three wives of his sons—

14 they and every kind of wild animal, livestock, crawling creature, bird, and winged creature.

15 They came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two of every creature with the breath of life.

16 And they entered, the male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.

17 For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally of all flesh; similarly in verses 16 and 21