Genesis 7:3

3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens*,^[a] the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

Genesis 7:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 7:3

Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and his
female
That is, of such as were clean; seven couple of these were to be brought into the ark, for the like use as of the clean beasts, and those under the law; and so at this time, and here meant were turtledoves, and young pigeons that were for sacrifice; and the rest were for food: and the design of bringing both into the ark was, to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth;
that the species of creatures might be continued, both of beasts and birds, clean and unclean.

Genesis 7:3 In-Context

1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

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.

5 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

Footnotes

• [a]. by sevens: Heb. seven seven