Read the article on the introduction to the Hebrew language Hebrew Through the Ages: An Introduction to the Biblical Language
The biblical episode
Noah’s Ark is one of the most famous episodes told in the Bible. Along with the story of Moses, it is known by everyone, both those who believe in God and those who do not believe.
In this story, however, there are many references to the figure of Jesus, to his coming to earth, to his death to pay for our sins and to his resurrection to give us eternal life (Romans 10:9-10).
In this study, we analyze only a portion of the entire flood account, specifically the following verses:
Genesis 8:7-87 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. 8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
Read on bibbia.xyz
Although by culture or habit, it is believed that the first animal sent out of the ark was the dove, we read that the first animal to be sent out was the raven.
So there are three figures that appear, in order:
- Noah
- The raven
- The dove
Noah
From the biblical stories we know little about Noah, but in some way we all owe our lives to him because it is through him that all mankind has had a following.
At a time when the entire earth was dominated by immorality, God set out to exterminate mankind and all living things in order to eradicate evil.
Genesis 6:5-75 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Read on bibbia.xyz
However, among all the inhabitants of the earth, Noah stands out.
In the following two verses, the Bible explains why, of all people, Noah was spared, and with him his family.
Genesis 6:8-98 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.
Read on bibbia.xyz
2 Peter 2:5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Read on bibbia.xyz
Analysis of the name "Noah"
The name Noah in Hebrew is
נֹחַ (Noach): rest
This name derives from the Hebrew verb
נוּחַ (nuach): to rest
The word
The Hebrew word for Noah is נֹחַ, composed of the letters
| Symbol | Word |
| נ | nun |
| ח | het |
Ancient Hebrew
These letters, in ancient Hebrew, are respectively
| Symbol | Shape | Meaning |
| N | seed | continue, heir, son |
| X | wall, tent wall | divide, half |
Meaning
The name of Noah speaks to us of rest, but it also tells us that in order to be in rest there will be a division of the lineage of man.
This ties in with what was written in
Hebrews 4:1-81 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Read on bibbia.xyz
We will see shortly what this division will be.
Raven
The word
The Hebrew word for crow is עֹרֵב, composed of the letters
| Symbol | Word |
| ע | ayin |
| ר | resh |
| ב | bet |
Ancient Hebrew
These letters, in ancient Hebrew, are respectively
| Symbol | Shape | Meaning |
| [ | eye | to see,to look, to know |
| R | head | head, before, top, start |
| B | tent | family, house |
Meaning
The word “crow” tells us about the unstable attitude of man who gets passionate and stops (pitches his tent) wherever his eye falls.
This word is related to the human nature of man who is guided by his senses and finds “rest” in things that satisfy them.
The fact that the raven “went back and forth” as long as the waters were on the earth indicates man’s continual search for something better than what he already has.
Dove
The word
The Hebrew word for dove is יוֹנָה, composed of the letters
| Symbol | Word |
| י | yod |
| ו | waw |
| נ | nun |
| ה | he |
Ancient Hebrew
These letters, in ancient Hebrew, are respectively
| Symbol | Shape | Meaning |
| Y | hand and arm | hand, to work |
| W | peg | to add, make stable |
| N | seed | continue, heir, son |
| H | man with raised arm | to look, to reveal, breath |
Meaning
The word “dove” tells us of an arm with a peg that will reveal lineage.
It is easy to understand, therefore, that we are talking about the sacrifice of Jesus, whose sacrifice will be what reveals a new lineage.
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Read on bibbia.xyz
Christ's Sacrifice Revealed
To recap, we have seen that
- Noah represents a rest that is entered into with a division of the lineage.
- The crow represents the human nature of man
- The dove represents Christ’s sacrifice as an indicator of the new birth.
Putting all this together, we see that already in Genesis 6 God indicated the spiritual condition of man and the way in which He Himself would remedy it.
Man, after the fall that occurred through the sin of Adam and Eve, founded his life on satisfying his senses (this is the crow). Therefore, God had to re-establish rest for man, but this rest would have been accessible only if there had been a separation from his nature for man (this is Noah). The solution to the separation of his nature would have been possible through a “pierced hand” (this is the dove). So the division is the one that was generated with the resurrection of Jesus, who divided the human race into two species:
- creatures of God (those who do not believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus)
- children of God (those who believed and achieved the new birth).
The return of Christ announced
If on the one hand these three figures, Noah, the crow and the dove, speak to us of Christ’s sacrifice, on the other hand the dove, a prophecy of the new birth, is also a prophecy of the times when Christ would leave heaven.
As the dove leaves the ark three times, and returns only twice, so it is with Christ who leaves heaven and returns.
1st exit
Christ leaves heaven and comes to earth
1st return
Christ Returns to Heaven After the Resurrection
2nd exit
Christ leaves heaven before the age of seven and stops in the air
2nd return
Christ returns to heaven with the church (the dove that returns with the olive branch)
3rd return
Christ leaves heaven and returns to earth to establish the millennial kingdom
