In this chapter, the author continues his pattern of statements that summarize events already described, and of repeating events that have already happened. Again, careful translation is necessary so that readers do not think that the same events happened more than one time in the story. Special attention in this regard should be given to 7:5,10,13, and 17.
Noah sacrificed to Yahweh some of the "clean" animals and birds that he had with him (8:20). These were animals and birds that the Hebrew people would later consider to be fit to eat and to sacrifice to God. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#clean)
The flood is presented as occurring because of rain pouring out of the sky and because of seawater rising from under the earth. This is because the ancient Hebrews pictured the earth as resting on top of the sea. They also pictured the sky as containing water above the earth that poured down through windows in the sky when God allowed it to rain. Translators should not try to change this picture in order to suit what readers believe about the world. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#heaven)
The events in this chapter take place after Noah built the ark, gathered the food, and put it in the ark.
"Enter ... into the ark." Many translations read "Go ... into the ark." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-go)
The word "you" refers to Noah and is singular. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you)
"your family"
This means that God saw Noah as righteous.
This refers to all the people who were living at that time. Alternate translation: "among all the people who are now living"
"take." Many translations read "you will take." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-go)
This was an animal that God allowed his people to eat and to sacrifice.
These were animals that God did not allow people to eat or to sacrifice.
"so that they will have offspring that will live" or "so that, after the flood, animals will continue to live"
This was a full forty days. It was not a total of eighty days. Alternate translation: "forty days and nights"
This refers to physical life.
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Verses 6-12 repeat for a second time and give more detail about how Noah went into the ark with his family and the animals in Genesis 7:1-5. This is not a new event.
"happened" or "came on the earth"
"because of the flood that would come" or "to escape the flood water"
Verses 6-12 repeat for a second time and give more detail about how Noah went into the ark with his family and the animals in Genesis 7:1-5. This is not a new event.
These were animals that God allowed people to eat and to give to him as sacrifices.
These were animals that God did not allow people to eat or to give to him as sacrifices.
The animals entered the boat in pairs of one male and one female.
This phrase is used here to mark an important event in the story: the start of the flood. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
"after seven days" or "seven days later"
The implicit information, "it started to rain" can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "it started to rain and the waters of the flood came upon the earth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Verses 6-12 repeat for a second time and give more detail about how Noah went into the ark with his family and the animals in Genesis 7:1-5. This is not a new event.
"When Noah was 600 years old" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-ordinal)
Since Moses wrote this book, it is possible he is referring to the second month of the Hebrew calendar. But this is uncertain. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-hebrewmonths and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-ordinal)
This refers to the specific day when the rain began. This phrase emphasizes how all of these major events happened quickly when the time arrived.
"water from under the earth rushed up to the earth's surface"
This refers to the sea that was thought to be under the earth.
This refers to rain. It describes the sky as a ceiling that keeps the waters above it from falling down to the earth. When the windows, or doors, in the sky were opened, the water came down through them. Alternate translation: "the sky opened" or "the doors in the sky opened"
If your language has a word for a great amount of rain, it would be appropriate here.
Verses 13-18 repeat for a third time and give more detail about how Noah went into the ark with his family and the animals in Genesis 7:1-5. This is not a new event.
"On that exact day." This refers to the day that the rain started. Verses 13-16 tell what Noah did immediately before the rain began.
These four groups are listed to show that every kind of animal was included. If your language has another way of grouping all the animals, you can use that, or you can use these groups. See how you translated this in Genesis 1:24.
This refers to animals that crawl on the ground, like rodents, insects, lizards, and snakes.
"so that each kind of animal will produce more of its own kind." See how you translated this in Genesis 1:24.
Verses 13-18 repeat for a third time and give more detail about how Noah went into the ark with his family and the animals in Genesis 7:1-5. This is not a new event.
Here "flesh" represents animals. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
Here "breath" represents life. Alternate translation: "that lived" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
The word "came" can be translated as "went." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-go)
Here "flesh" represents animals. Alternate translation: "of every kind of animal" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
The full meaning can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "after they entered the ark" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Verses 13-18 repeat for a third time and give more detail about how Noah went into the ark with his family and the animals in Genesis 7:1-5. This is not a new event.
"the water became very deep." This happened during the forty days while the water kept coming.
"it caused the ark to float"
"causes the ark to rise up high over the ground" or "he ark floated on top of the deep water"
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"The water totally overwhelmed the earth"
"six meters." See how you translated this in Genesis 6:15.
"moved about" or "roamed"
This refers to all the animals that move around on the ground in large groups.
Here "noses" represent the whole animal or human. Alternate translation: "everyone that breathed" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
The words "breath" and "life" represent the power that causes people and animals to be alive. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
If necessary, this can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "So every living thing ... perished" or "So the flood completely destroyed every living thing" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God destroyed them all" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"so they were no longer on the earth"
"the people and animals that were with him"
"remained" or "lived" or "remained alive"
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