After forty daysThe period of forty days is significant throughout the Bible, often symbolizing a period of testing, trial, or judgment. For example, Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai (
Exodus 24:18), the Israelites wandered for forty years in the desert (
Numbers 14:33-34), and Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness (
Matthew 4:2). In this context, the forty days follow the cessation of the rain, marking a time of waiting and preparation for the next phase of God's plan for Noah and his family.
Noah opened the window
The act of opening the window signifies a transition from confinement to exploration and renewal. The window, likely a small opening for ventilation and light, becomes a means for Noah to assess the world outside. This action reflects a step of faith and obedience, as Noah seeks to understand God's timing for leaving the ark. The window also symbolizes hope and the anticipation of a new beginning after the judgment of the flood.
he had made in the ark
The phrase emphasizes Noah's role in the construction of the ark, highlighting his obedience to God's instructions (Genesis 6:14-16). The ark itself is a type of Christ, providing salvation and refuge from judgment. Just as Noah followed God's detailed plans for the ark, believers are called to follow Christ, who is the ultimate provision for salvation. The ark's construction and Noah's actions demonstrate the importance of faith and obedience in the face of divine judgment and deliverance.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
NoahA righteous man chosen by God to survive the flood and preserve life on earth. He is obedient and faithful, following God's instructions to build the ark.
2.
The ArkA large vessel constructed by Noah under God's guidance to save his family and pairs of every living creature from the floodwaters.
3.
The FloodA divine judgment sent by God to cleanse the earth of its widespread wickedness, sparing only Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark.
4.
The WindowAn opening in the ark that Noah uses to observe the receding floodwaters and eventually release birds to check for dry land.
5.
Forty DaysA significant period in biblical accounts, often associated with testing, judgment, and renewal.
Teaching Points
Obedience and FaithfulnessNoah's actions demonstrate the importance of obedience to God's commands, even when the outcome is uncertain. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's plan and timing.
Patience in WaitingThe forty days Noah waited before opening the window teaches us about patience and the importance of waiting on God's timing for deliverance and new beginnings.
Hope and RenewalThe act of opening the window symbolizes hope and the anticipation of renewal. In our lives, we should look for signs of God's renewal and be ready to embrace new opportunities.
Divine TimingGod's timing is perfect, and His plans unfold according to His divine schedule. We are reminded to align our expectations with His timing.
Stewardship and ResponsibilityNoah's care for the ark and its inhabitants highlights the responsibility we have to steward God's creation and care for those entrusted to us.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Genesis 8:6?
2.How does Noah's patience in Genesis 8:6 inspire our own spiritual waiting?
3.What can we learn from Noah's actions about trusting God's timing?
4.How does Genesis 8:6 connect to other biblical themes of faith and obedience?
5.In what ways can we practice discernment like Noah when seeking God's guidance?
6.How can Noah's example in Genesis 8:6 strengthen our daily walk with God?
7.How does Genesis 8:6 align with historical and archaeological evidence of a global flood?
8.What theological significance does Noah's action in Genesis 8:6 hold for understanding divine patience?
9.How does Genesis 8:6 contribute to the overall narrative of God's covenant with humanity?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 8?
11.What was Noah's place of residence?
12.Is Noah's Ark discovery confirmed?
13.What is the flood story in the Epic of Gilgamesh?
14.What do the birds symbolize in Noah's flood story?What Does Genesis 8:6 Mean
After forty days- “After forty days” (Genesis 8:6) marks a measured, literal period following the ark’s coming to rest on the mountains of Ararat (Genesis 8:4). God’s timetable is exact; every day counted.
- Forty in Scripture often signals testing and transition: the rain itself fell forty days (Genesis 7:12), Moses fasted forty days on Sinai (Exodus 24:18), Elijah journeyed forty days to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8), and Jesus was tempted forty days in the wilderness (Mark 1:13). Each instance moves God’s plan forward after a divinely set wait.
- For Noah, this span allowed the floodwaters to continue receding (Genesis 8:5). The verse quietly underlines faith-filled patience: he waited until God’s timing indicated the next step, mirroringPsalm 27:14, “Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous, wait patiently for the LORD.”
Noah opened the window- Action follows waiting.Genesis 6:16 shows God had instructed Noah to build this window; now Noah actively uses what obedience had already prepared.
- Opening the window is a deliberate act of faith. Though the waters were still present (Genesis 8:5), Noah sought fresh evidence of God’s deliverance. Like the lepers who moved toward the priests “as they went” and were cleansed (Luke 17:14), obedience preceded visible change.
- This step illustrates partnership with God: the same hands that built under command now open in expectation (James 2:22, faith working with works). Noah’s reliance stays rooted in God’s word, yet he does what he can, echoingProverbs 16:9—“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.”
he had made in the ark- The phrase recalls Noah’s meticulous obedience to every specification God gave (Genesis 6:22). The window existed only because Noah trusted God enough to build exactly as told (Hebrews 11:7).
- Practical provision: the ark was fully sealed (Genesis 7:16), yet God ensured ventilation and visibility through this window. His commands never lack foresight; likewise, Noah’s obedience earlier now becomes a means of blessing. CompareExodus 25:9, where Moses is told to build the tabernacle “exactly according to the pattern.”
- The location “in the ark” reminds us salvation is found inside God’s provision. Just as the ark preserved Noah’s family (1 Peter 3:20), Christ now shelters believers (Colossians 3:3). The window offered perspective while keeping Noah safely within God’s appointed refuge.
summaryGenesis 8:6 records a simple, literal moment loaded with meaning: after God-determined waiting, Noah exercises obedient faith by opening the very window he had earlier built at God’s command. The verse highlights patient trust, active partnership with the Lord, and the wisdom of precise obedience. Waiting in God’s timing, walking by faith, and working according to His instructions remain inseparable realities for every believer today.
(6)
Noah opened the window.--Not the
zoharof
Genesis 6:16, but an aperture. He had waited forty days after seeing the heights around him rising clearly into the air, and then, impatient of the slow subsidence of the waters, Noah at last sent forth a raven to bring him some news of the state of the earth. This bird was chosen as one strong of flight, and also, perhaps, because anciently regarded as prophetic of the weather; besides this, it is easily tamed, and as Noah retained its mate he had security for its return. And so it seems to have done, for it is described as going "forth to and fro." Each night it returned to the ark, and probably to its old perch near the female. The
Chaldean Genesisagrees with many commentators and the ancient versions in supposing that the raven did not return, finding abundant food in the floating dead bodies (
Chaldean Genesis,p. 286); but this is contrary to the Hebrew. The versions must have had a negative in their copies, and have read, "which went forth, going, and not returning." The present Hebrew text is, however, consistent with itself; for it adds, "until the waters," &c. This must mean that as soon as the earth was dry this going to and fro ceased.
Verses 6, 7. -
And it came to pass, literally,
it was -
at the end of forty days. Delaying through combined fear and sorrow on account of the Divine judgment (Calvin); to allow sufficient space to undo the effect of the forty days' rain (Murphy); probably just to be assured that the Deluge would not return.
That Noah opened the window -
chalon, a window, "so called from being perforated, from
chalal, to bore or pierce" (Gesenius); used of the window of Rahab's house (
Joshua 2:18); not the window (
tsohar) of
Genesis 6:16, q.v. -
of the ark which ha had made:
and he sent forth a raven. Literally, the
orev, so called from its black color' (Gesenius; cf.
Song of Solomon 5:11), Latin,
corvus, a raven or crow; the article being used either
(1) because the species of bird is intended to be indicated (Kalisch), or
(2) because there was only one male raven in the ark, the raven being among the unclean birds (Leviticus 11:15;Deuteronomy 14:14; Lunge); but against this is "the dove" (per. 8); or
(3) because it had come to be well known from this particular circumstance (Keil). Its peculiar fitness for the mission imposed on it lay in its being a bird of prey, and therefore able to sustain itself by feeding on carrion (Proverbs 30:17). To the incident here recorded is doubtless to be traced the prophetic character which in the ancient heathen world, and among the Arabians in particular, was supposed to attach to this ominous bird.Which went to and fro. Literally,and it went forth going and returning, i.e. flying backwards and forwards, from the ark and to the ark, perhaps resting on it, but not entering into it (Calvin, Willet, Ainsworth, Keil, Kalisch, Lunge, Bush, 'Speaker's Commentary'); though some have conceived that it no more returned to the ark, but kept flying to and fro throughout the earth (LXX., "καὶ ἐξελθὼν οὐκ ἀνέστρεψεν;" Vulgate, "qui egrediebatur et non revertebatur;" Alford, "it is hardly probable that it returned;" Murphy, "it did not need to return").Until the waters were dried up from off the earth. When of course its return was unnecessary. Cf. for a similar form of expression2 Samuel 6:23. Whether it entirely disappeared at the first, or continued hovering round the ark, Noah was unable from its movements to arrive at any certain conclusion as to the condition of the earth, and accordingly required to adopt another expedient, which he did in the mission of the dove.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Afterמִקֵּ֖ץ(miq·qêṣ)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7093:An extremity, afterfortyאַרְבָּעִ֣ים(’ar·bā·‘îm)Number - common plural
Strong's 705:Fortydaysי֑וֹם(yō·wm)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117:A dayNoahנֹ֔חַ(nō·aḥ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5146:Noah -- 'rest', patriarch who survived the floodopenedוַיִּפְתַּ֣ח(way·yip̄·taḥ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6605:To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carvethe windowחַלּ֥וֹן(ḥal·lō·wn)Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 2474:A windowhe had madeעָשָֽׂה׃(‘ā·śāh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, makein the arkהַתֵּבָ֖ה(hat·tê·ḇāh)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8392:A box, chest
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OT Law: Genesis 8:6 It happened at the end of forty (Gen. Ge Gn)