Genesis 8:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Now, we must explain why this bird chose to stay outside the ark. It is possible that this unclean creature remained beyond the ark because it encountered the remains of humans and beasts after the waters receded, discovering sustenance within them. This very circumstance provided the just man with a significant reason to maintain hope for a positive outcome. Had the raven encountered no sustenance, it would have returned to the ark. This is confirmed by the fact that the righteous man, buoyed by newfound hope, later released the dove—an innocent and sociable bird that displays unique tendencies and prefers to consume only seeds, distinguishing it as part of the pure avian lineage.

Thus, the Apostle Paul warns those who, after receiving faith, believe they can attain perfection through the law: those who seek to justify themselves by the law are separated from Christ and have fallen from grace; we, however, eagerly await righteousness through faith (Galatians 5:4-5). The raven's departure symbolizes an apostasy, reflecting how some Jews, after being justified in Christ, returned to the shadows of the law. Additionally, the Apostle John observes: They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, revealing that they were not all truly one of us (1 John 2:19). Furthermore, the Spirit makes it clear that in the latter days, some will drift away from the faith, heeding deceiving spirits (1 Tim. 4:1). This illustrates the fulfillment of the events during Noah's time.

Many lament the difficulties of this world. They sigh due to losing their possessions, enduring physical ailments, finding themselves imprisoned, bound, or lost amidst the treachery of their foes. However, their sighs lack the tenderness of a dove; they do not sigh in devotion to God, nor do they sigh through the Holy Spirit. Consequently, when they rid themselves of their troubles, they exhibit exuberance, revealing that they are more akin to crows than to doves. It is not by chance that a raven was sent from Noah's ark and did not return, while a dove was sent forth and did come back: both birds were dispatched by Noah (see Gen. 8:6-9). The ark held both species. If the ark symbolizes the Church, it is evident that within the surrounding deluge of the world, the Church must encompass both types of individuals: ravens and doves. Who are the ravens? They are those who pursue their own interests. And who are the doves? They are those who seek to honor Christ (cf. Phil. 2:21).

Conversely, the righteous person, who might stumble out of the ship of his virtue due to adversarial temptations, quickly rises up and returns to God with a heart full of sorrow, like the dove, bearing an olive branch—their confession of sins coupled with the hope of forgiveness, as expressed in the words of the Psalmist: “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid; I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (Ps. 32:5). The raven symbolizes the sinful man, just as the raven feeds on the flesh of decaying bodies, so too does he indulge in corrupt desires that are more offensive than the dead. The dove represents the virtuous individual who detests the defilement of sinful actions and shuns them, instead pursuing the good examples of righteous lives and deriving spiritual nourishment from them. Ravens, likened to heretics, stray from the ship of the church and do not return, while the dove reflects the Holy Spirit, with the olive branch symbolizing divine grace and mercy. Furthermore, the dove resembles the Holy Spirit who descended upon the Most Pure Virgin, bringing her the fulfillment of grace in the form of an olive twig. Crows, feasting on decay, symbolize evil thoughts and sinful indulgences that deepen the heart's corruptions. The moaning dove signifies the conscience, while the olive tree represents the intellect that governs and disciplines the passions.

It should be noted that Noah sent out the raven only once; sending it repeatedly wouldn't make sense while the land was already drying, especially since it failed to provide the desired indication and the dove was utilized instead. The return of the raven is distinct from that of the dove, which is described as returning to him in the ark, leading Noah to stretch out his hand, take it, and welcome it back inside. Considering these details suggests that the raven, after leaving the ark, continued to fly away and circle back until the land was fully dry; it ventured out, approached, provided no indication regarding the earth’s condition, and alternated between hiding and revealing itself. The raven sought out corpses or trees, hovering above the ark until the water completely disappeared.

St. Cyprian interprets the raven mentioned by Moses as a powerful symbol of the sinner ensnared by worldly desires. Such a person worships their passions, which become like idols, sacrificing their very soul in pursuit of fleeting pleasures. This soul, now fully ensnared in carnality, finds solace only in the decay that ultimately leads to its demise. In exchange for eternal salvation, the sinner seeks temporary and destructive gratification of their impure desires, easing their conscience through the hollow performance of outward religious duties, dictated more by social expectations and self-serving interests than true devotion.

Unfortunately, the attempt did not succeed. The raven, once set free, did not come back to Noah. It found ample sustenance amongst the floating remains rather than seeking food within the ark. It would perch on mountain summits or the ark's roof, rendering it unable to inform Noah about the condition of the plains. It is clear that the raven’s absence did not indicate that it returned once the waters subsided; if it had shown no intention of returning while floods still prevailed, it is unlikely it would have returned after the waters had receded, especially when the dove, a domesticated creature, also did not return to the ark. Through this account, the author wishes to convey that the raven did not return to the ark at any point, neither before the earth dried nor afterward.