Genesis 8:8 Study Bible: He sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from the surface of the ground,

◄ Genesis 8:8 ►

Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the waters had receded from the surface of the ground.

Then Noah sent out a dove
Noah's action of sending out a dove follows his earlier release of a raven. The dove, unlike the raven, is a symbol of peace and purity throughout Scripture. Doves are often associated with the Holy Spirit, as seen in the New Testament during Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:16). The choice of a dove may reflect Noah's hope for a sign of peace and renewal after the judgment of the flood.

to see if the waters had receded
This phrase indicates Noah's desire to assess the condition of the earth post-flood. The receding waters symbolize the end of God's judgment and the beginning of restoration. The flood narrative echoes the creation account, where God separates waters to create dry land (Genesis 1:9). Here, Noah is seeking confirmation that the earth is being restored to a habitable state.

from the surface of the ground
The focus on the "surface of the ground" highlights the importance of dry land for human habitation and the continuation of life. This phrase connects to the promise of God to never again destroy all living creatures as He did with the flood (Genesis 8:21). The ground, once cursed due to Adam's sin (Genesis 3:17), is now being renewed, pointing to God's redemptive plan for creation.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Noah
The central human figure in this account, Noah is a righteous man chosen by God to survive the flood and repopulate the earth. He is obedient and faithful, following God's instructions meticulously.

2. Dove
A bird sent out by Noah to determine if the floodwaters had receded. The dove is often seen as a symbol of peace and the Holy Spirit in Christian theology.

3. Ark
The large vessel built by Noah under God's command to save his family and pairs of every kind of animal from the flood.

4. Flood
A cataclysmic event sent by God to cleanse the earth of its widespread wickedness, sparing only Noah, his family, and the animals aboard the ark.

5. Earth
The ground that was submerged under the floodwaters, which Noah is checking to see if it has become habitable again.

Teaching Points

Obedience and Faithfulness
Noah'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.

Symbolism of the Dove
The dove represents peace, hope, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Christians are called to be bearers of peace and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

New Beginnings
Just as the floodwaters receded to reveal a renewed earth, God offers new beginnings and redemption through Christ. Believers can find hope in God's promise of renewal.

Patience in God's Timing
Noah's patience in waiting for the waters to recede teaches the value of waiting on God's timing. Christians are reminded to be patient and trust that God is working even when they cannot see it.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Noah's sending out of the dove reflect his faith and trust in God's promises?

2. In what ways can the symbolism of the dove be applied to our daily walk with Christ?

3. How does the account of the flood and the receding waters parallel the concept of baptism and new life in the New Testament?

4. What lessons can we learn from Noah's patience and obedience during the time he spent on the ark?

5. How can we apply the concept of new beginnings in our own lives, especially in times of personal "floods" or challenges?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 1:2
The Spirit of God hovering over the waters during creation can be connected to the dove hovering over the waters, symbolizing a new beginning.

Matthew 3:16
The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as seen during Jesus' baptism when the Spirit descends like a dove.

Psalm 55:6
The dove is a symbol of peace and rest, reflecting Noah's search for a place of rest after the flood.

Isaiah 54:9
God's promise not to flood the earth again is a continuation of the covenant established with Noah.

Sermons

Lessons	G. Hughes, B. D.	Genesis 8:6-8
Noah's Messengers	J. C. Gray.	Genesis 8:6-8
Raven and Dove	M. Dods, D. D.	Genesis 8:6-8
The Bird on the Mast	Wilmott.	Genesis 8:6-8
The Judicious Conduct of a Good Man in Seeking to Ascertain the Facts of Life and His Relation Thereto	J. S. Exell, M. A.	Genesis 8:6-8
The Dispensations of Righteousness and Love	R.A. Redford	Genesis 8:6-12

People

Noah

Places

Mount Ararat

Topics

Abated, Dove, Face, Forth, Ground, Lightened, Low, Receded, Subsided, Surface, Waters, Whether

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Genesis 8:1-11

4819 dryness

Genesis 8:1-19

7203 ark, Noah's

Genesis 8:8-12

4636 dove
4975 week

Library

December 27. "He Sent Forth the Dove which Returned not Again unto Him" (Gen. viii. 12).
"He sent forth the dove which returned not again unto him" (Gen. viii. 12). First, we have the dove going forth from the ark, and finding no rest upon the wild and drifting waste of sin and judgment. This represents the Old Testament period, perhaps, when the Holy Ghost visited this sinful world, but could find no resting-place, and went back to the bosom of God. Next, we have the dove going forth and returning with the olive leaf in her mouth, the symbol and the pledge of peace and reconciliation, …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

'Clear Shining after Rain'
'And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Sermon of the Seasons
"Oh, the long and dreary Winter! Oh, the cold and cruel Winter!" We say to ourselves, Will spring-time never come? In addition to this, trade and commerce continue in a state of stagnation; crowds are out of employment, and where business is carried on, it yields little profit. Our watchmen are asked if they discern any signs of returning day, and they answer, "No." Thus we bow our heads in a common affliction, and ask each man comfort of his fellow; for as yet we see not our signs, neither does …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

The Best of the Best
"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys."--Song of Solomon 2:1. THE time of flowers has come, and as they are in some faint degree emblems of our Lord, it is well, when God thus calls, that we should seek to learn what he desires to teach us by them. If nature now spreads out her roses and her lilies, or prepares to do so, let us try, not only to see them, but to see Christ as he is shadowed forth in them. "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." If these are the words …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 42: 1896

The Unchangeable One
Psalm cxix. 89-96. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons

On Gen. viii. I
On Gen. viii. I Hippolytus, the expositor of the Targum, and my master, Jacobus Rohaviensis, have said: On the twenty-seventh day of the month Jiar, which is the second Hebrew month, the ark rose from the base of the holy mount; and already the waters bore it, and it was carried upon them round about towards the four cardinal points of the world. The ark accordingly held off from the holy mount towards the east, then returned towards the west, then turned to the south, and finally, bearing off eastwards, …
Hippolytus—The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus

The Song of the Three Children
DANIEL iii. 16, 17, 18. O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. We read this morning, instead of the Te Deum, the Song of the Three Children, beginning, 'Oh all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

That it is Profitable to Communicate Often
The Voice of the Disciple Behold I come unto Thee, O Lord, that I may be blessed through Thy gift, and be made joyful in Thy holy feast which Thou, O God, of Thy goodness hast prepared for the poor.(1) Behold in Thee is all that I can and ought to desire, Thou art my salvation and redemption, my hope and strength, my honour and glory. Therefore rejoice the soul of Thy servant this day, for unto Thee, O Lord Jesus, do I lift up my soul.(2) I long now to receive Thee devoutly and reverently, I desire …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a covenant people, various signs were in sovereignty vouchsafed. The lights in the firmament of heaven were appointed to be for signs, affording direction to the mariner, the husbandman, and others. Miracles wrought on memorable occasions, were constituted signs or tokens of God's universal government. The gracious grant of covenant signs was made in order to proclaim the truth of the existence of God's covenant with his people, to urge the performance …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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