Did the Flood Truly End When the Dove Didn't Return?
In this article, you will learn how Genesis 8:12 contradicts Genesis 7:24, Genesis 7:4, Genesis 8:10 and Genesis 8:7. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The story of Noah and the flood is a fascinating narrative filled with dramatic events and symbolic moments. At the center of this tale is the moment Noah releases a dove, and its failure to return is seen as a sign of hope. Genesis 8:12 emphasizes the importance of the dove not coming back, suggesting it found land, signaling the flood's end and a new beginning for Noah and his family. But the surrounding verses paint a complex picture that seems to challenge this straightforward conclusion.
Consider Genesis 7:24, which states the floodwaters prevailed on the earth for 150 days. This time frame seems to conflict with the implication in Genesis 8:12 that conditions were suitable for the dove to find land. How could the waters dominate for so long if the dove's actions suggested otherwise?
Genesis 7:4 adds another layer of complexity by highlighting God's declaration that it would rain for 40 days and nights. This suggests a limited timeframe for the deluge's most intense phase, yet Genesis 8:12 implies a much longer timeline for resolving the flood's impact.
Adding to the puzzle, Genesis 8:10 discusses Noah waiting patiently for seven days before again sending out the dove, reflecting a deliberate, sequential process rather than the immediate resolution hinted at when the dove doesn’t return.
Moreover, Genesis 8:7 introduces the curious case of the raven, which is sent out earlier. The raven did not return, similar to the dove, but its journey doesn’t carry the same weight or message of hope. This difference raises questions: why is the dove’s mission seen as a definitive sign while the raven's isn’t?
These intertwined details serve as a metaphorical puzzle, challenging readers to reconcile these verses. The narrative invites contemplation on the nature of hope, resolution, and waiting, encouraging us to consider the complexities and contradictions within a broader journey.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Genesis 8:12 | And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more. |
| 2. | Genesis 7:24 | And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. |
| 3. | Genesis 7:4 | For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. [destroy: Heb. blot out] |
| 4. | Genesis 8:10 | And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; |
| 5. | Genesis 8:7 | And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. [to...: Heb. in going forth and returning] |