Genesis 8:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Holy Scripture provides intricate details for good reason; it serves to inform us that the appointed time for the revelation of the righteous’ endurance and the purification of all creation has indeed been fulfilled, down to the very day.

In the second month, known as Jor (Iyar), on the twenty-seventh day, the earth suffered from drought. Consequently, Noah along with his companions remained in the ark for a total of three hundred sixty-five days. The period spanned from the twenty-seventh day of the second month of Jor (Genesis 7:11) to the twenty-seventh day of the same month in the following year, in accordance with the lunar calendar, totaling three hundred sixty-five days. Additionally, it's noteworthy that Noah's generation recognized the year as three hundred sixty-five days long, raising the question of whether the Chaldeans and Egyptians were responsible for creating and formalizing this system of timekeeping.

Let us consider this: Why did Noah and those with him board the ark in the following sequence: first, Noah and his sons, then Noah's wife alongside his sons' wives (see Gen. 6:18)? Did this sequence shift when they exited the ark? The Scripture states, "Thou shalt come out of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives." This indicates that at the entry, there was a refusal of procreation, while at the exit, procreation resumed. Initially, the father, his sons, and the sons with their father entered first, followed by the wife and the sons' wives, reflecting that there was no mingling of genders during entry; however, upon exit, they were mixed.

When Noah received the divine command to enter the ark and safeguard the seeds of peace, he was instructed: “Enter into the ark, you and your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives” (Gen. 7:7). In this directive, God distinguished between husbands and wives, enabling them to maintain purity and thereby avoiding the depths of destruction caused by the great flood. Once the deluge had receded, the Lord commanded, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons, and your sons’ wives” (Gen. 8:16). In this instance, the institution of marriage was reaffirmed to facilitate the continuation of humanity.

Let us therefore yield to His magnificent and glorious purpose, renouncing the futility, conflict, and jealousy that lead to death. We should humbly approach His compassion, earnestly seeking His grace and goodness. We must consistently turn our attention to those who have served His glorious majesty with perfection. Consider Enoch, who, through his faithfulness, was deemed righteous and passed away without experiencing death. Similarly, Noah demonstrated his steadfastness; he proclaimed renewal to the world through his faithful service, and by him, the Lord preserved the creatures that entered the ark as directed.

In the same way that God safeguarded Noah's ark and its occupants during the great flood, He will similarly protect the Church founded upon Peter and all within it from harm at the time of the world's conclusion. Moreover, just as the dove returned to Noah's ark with a message of tranquility after the floodwaters receded, Christ will impart the joy of peace to Peter’s Church when the final judgment is fulfilled. For He embodies the dove, representing peace, as affirmed in the promise: I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice (John 16:22).

The final stage is the complete desiccation of the earth. This means that after the waters were removed from its surface and the sun had thoroughly drawn out the moisture that permeated deeply, the soil returned to its typical state of dryness and firmness. This process took almost two months. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth had become entirely dry. As a result, the duration of the flood was one year and ten or eleven days. However, with this additional time, the lunar year aligns with the solar year.

During the period from the first day of the first month to the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the ground of the earth, liberated from the waters, continued to dry out as the moisture deeply embedded within it evaporated, ultimately becoming solid enough for both humans and animals to traverse. Therefore, the duration of the flood spans precisely one year. It is clear that the author is referencing a solar year rather than a lunar one, as demonstrated by his description of the first five months of the flood—from the 27th day of the second month to the 27th day of the seventh month—as totaling 150 days, a duration that aligns more closely with a solar calendar than a lunar one.