Contradiction with Genesis 6:19-20
These verses describe that two of every living thing, both male and female, would come to Noah, which could suggest that Noah did not gather them on his own, unlike Genesis 7:16 where it seems like Noah took them into the ark.
Genesis 6:19-20: And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every [sort] shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep [them] alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
Contradiction with Genesis 7:9
This verse indicates that animals went in two by two into the ark, similar to Genesis 7:16, but doesn't specify about closing the ark, implying a difference in the process of entering the ark.
Genesis 7:9: There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
Contradiction with Genesis 7:14-15
These verses suggest more detail in the variety of animals entering the ark and how they came to Noah, whereas Genesis 7:16 simplifies the description, potentially implying different emphasis.
Genesis 7:14-15: They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. [sort: Heb. wing]
Contradiction with Genesis 6:18
God mentions establishing a covenant with Noah, suggesting a broader divine involvement than Genesis 7:16, which limits the focus to the act of entering the ark.
Genesis 6:18: But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
Contradiction with Genesis 8:1
Suggests God remembered Noah and the animals, indicating continued divine intervention beyond the ark entry described in Genesis 7:16, and emphasizing a different aspect of God's role.
Genesis 8:1: And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that [was] with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;
Paradox #1
The scientific inconsistency related to this verse is about the feasibility of a global flood event that covers the entire Earth with water. From a scientific perspective, there is no geological or historical evidence that supports a worldwide flood occurring in the recent past. Additionally, the logistics of gathering all animal species, housing them in a single vessel, and maintaining their survival for an extended period present further challenges that conflict with our scientific understanding of biology and ecology.
Paradox #2
One possible contradiction in Genesis 7:16 is the idea of divine favoritism. While Noah and his family are chosen and saved, many other innocent creatures and humans perish in the flood. This raises questions about fairness and the criteria for divine judgment, as it appears that some are spared while others are not without a clear explanation of why this choice is just.