Genesis 7:13

Authorized King James Version

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;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
בְּעֶ֨צֶם
In the selfsame
a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame
#2
הַיּ֤וֹם
day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#3
הַזֶּה֙
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#4
בָּ֣א
entered
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#5
נֹ֗חַ
Noah
noach, the patriarch of the flood
#6
וְשֵׁם
and Shem
shem, a son of noah (often including his posterity)
#7
וְחָ֥ם
and Ham
cham, a son of noah; also (as a patronymic) his descendants or their country
#8
וָיֶ֖פֶת
and Japheth
jepheth, a son of noah; also his posterity
#9
בָנָ֛יו
of his sons
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#10
נֹ֗חַ
Noah
noach, the patriarch of the flood
#11
נְשֵֽׁי
wife
a woman
#12
נֹ֗חַ
Noah
noach, the patriarch of the flood
#13
וּשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת
and the three
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
#14
נְשֵֽׁי
wife
a woman
#15
בָנָ֛יו
of his sons
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#16
אִתָּ֖ם
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
#17
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#18
הַתֵּבָֽה׃
with them into the ark
a box

Analysis

The creation and providence theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the tribal and clan-based society of the ancient Near East. The author writes to address the foundational narrative for Israel's identity and relationship with God, making the emphasis on creation and providence particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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