Genesis 7:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As the deluge commenced at the Lord's command, Noah along with his sons, his wife, and the wives of his sons entered the ark, and every type of animal came in alongside them (Gen. 7:1-2).

The Lord God sealed the ark from behind, preventing any man from breaking in as the waters surged. Throughout this time, the flood overwhelmed the earth, leading to the demise of every living being, with only Noah and those with him in the ark surviving (Gen. 7:17, 21, 23). The depths of the sea and the heavens were unleashed for forty days and nights, causing the ark to remain buoyant upon the waters for one hundred and fifty days (See Gen. 7:24).

This is the day referred to as ‘the eighth day’; hence, certain psalms bear the title ‘on the eighth.’ It is the day when the synagogue has fulfilled its purpose and the Church arises. It is the day that corresponds to the number ‘eight,’ representing the redeemed souls that were present in the ark. As Peter states, “So also we are saved by the Church.”

When the Almighty declares: God turned away from Abraham, or: God addressed Moses, or: The Lord descended to observe the city and the tower that the children of men were constructing, or: God sealed the ark of Noah from the outside, one should not assume that the unborn God Himself traveled down or up from any location. For the ineffable Father and Sovereign of all does not occupy a specific space, nor does He walk, slumber, or rise; rather, He remains in His own realm, whatever that may be, perceiving and hearing in a manner beyond human comprehension, not through physical eyes or ears, but through unfathomable power, so that He perceives all things and comprehends all things, with none hidden from Him.

The storyteller lists the various men and animals—wild beasts, domestic creatures, reptiles, and birds—that entered the ark, reiterating his previous statements to ensure that everyone recognizes and remembers that all other beings, unable to survive in water or procreate from seed, were destined for destruction. By understanding and recalling this, individuals are encouraged to hold in awe the divine judgement of God.