Genesis 8:13

Authorized King James Version

And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.

Word-by-Word Analysis

וַ֠יְהִי

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בְּאֶחָ֣ד

H259

month the first

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

וְשֵׁשׁ

H8337

And it came to pass in the six

six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth

מֵא֜וֹת

H3967

hundredth

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

שָׁנָ֗ה

H8141

and first year

a year (as a revolution of time)

בָּֽרִאשׁוֹן֙

H7223

in the first

first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)

בְּאֶחָ֣ד

H259

month the first

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ

H2320

day of the month

the new moon; by implication, a month

חָֽרְב֥וּ

H2717

was dry

to parch (through drought) i.e., (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill

#10

הַמַּ֖יִם

H4325

the waters

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

#11

מֵעַ֣ל

H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

#12

הָאָ֑רֶץ

H776

from off the earth

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

#13

וַיָּ֤סַר

H5493

removed

to turn off (literally or figuratively)

#14

נֹ֙חַ֙

H5146

and Noah

noach, the patriarch of the flood

#15

אֶת

H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

#16

מִכְסֵ֣ה

H4372

the covering

a covering, i.e., weatherboarding

#17

הַתֵּבָ֔ה

H8392

of the ark

a box

#18

וַיַּ֕רְא

H7200

and looked

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

#19

וְהִנֵּ֥ה

H2009

lo!

#20

חָֽרְב֖וּ

H2720

parched or ruined

#21

פְּנֵ֥י

H6440

and behold the face

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

#22

הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃

H127

of the ground

soil (from its general redness)

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

The historical context of the patriarchal period (c. 2000-1500 BCE) and primeval history provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The ancient Near Eastern world with its creation myths, flood narratives, and patriarchal social structures provided the cultural backdrop against which God's revelation stands in stark contrast. The ancient Near Eastern cosmology and patriarchal society would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Ancient Near Eastern creation texts like Enuma Elish provide comparative context for understanding Genesis's unique theological perspective.

Questions for Reflection

How does the creation and providence theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
What practical applications emerge from understanding creation and providence as presented in this verse, particularly in light of contemporary challenges facing the church and individual believers?
How does this verse's literary context within Genesis chapter 8 illuminate its theological significance, and what does this teach us about biblical interpretation?

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