Genesis 6:20 Meaning: Why God Names Each Animal Kind
Of the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort will come to you, to keep them alive.
Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
Of the birds after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
Of the fowl after its kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort they come in unto thee, to keep alive.
Of fowl after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of each shall go in to thee, to keep [them] alive.
Meaning in one sentence
Understanding why God specifies birds, livestock, and creeping things in His command to Noah, and what it reveals about His care for every creature.
Context
Genesis 6 sits at a turning point in the early world. God sees human violence and corruption and decides to bring a flood, but He chooses one family to carry life forward. Noah has been building the ark, and now God gives specific instructions about what will go inside. In the verses right before this one, God tells Noah that He will establish a covenant with him and that Noah and his family will enter the ark. Then God explains that, from every living thing, two of every sort must come to keep them alive. The verse we are looking at breaks that into three categories: birds, livestock, and everything that creeps on the ground. The listing echoes the order of creation in Genesis 1, where God made these same groups on the fifth and sixth days. It is as if God is deliberately gathering back the variety He had scattered across the earth.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words give us the texture of this verse. First, remes (creeping thing) is used for small animals that move close to the ground: insects, reptiles, rodents. It is the same word used in Genesis 1:24 when God lets the earth produce living creatures. By including remes here, God makes room for the tiny and the overlooked. Second, the word min (kind) appears four times in this single verse. It is not a scientific term but a practical one: it means a distinct sort, the way God separated creatures in creation. Each kind gets preserved because each belongs to God’s original design. Third, the verb “to keep them alive” is chayah, which means to sustain life, to let live. It is the same heart behind God’s earlier command to be fruitful and multiply. God is not just saving individuals; He is rescuing the possibility of life itself. Notice too that God says the creatures “will come to you.” The Hebrew verb bo means they will enter on their own, as if God Himself draws them. Noah did not have to hunt them down. God provided both the command and the means.
How Christians Read This Verse
The Cambridge Bible for Schools notes that the order of animals here matches the creation account: birds first, then livestock, then creeping things. They also point out that the LXX adds “and of every wild beast,” suggesting some ancient readers felt the list was incomplete. Gill’s Exposition discusses how different commentators arranged the animals in the ark itself, with some placing creeping things on the lowest level. Matthew Henry emphasizes Noah’s obedience: he did all that God commanded, even when it seemed strange. Christians across traditions have read this passage in two main ways. Some see it as a literal instruction for building and loading the ark, showing God’s practical care for every species. Others read it as a type of the church: God gathers all kinds of people into a place of safety, preserving them through judgment. Both readings agree that God’s intention is comprehensive and gracious.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
Main takeaway: God preserves all created kinds, not just the grand, every creeping thing matters to Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told Noah to bring two of every animal into the ark. Even the tiny bugs and birds were important to God. He wanted to keep them all safe.
For ages 9, 12
When God told Noah to bring every kind of animal, He listed birds, cows, and even the little creepy-crawly things. That shows God cares about every single creature He made, not just the big or important ones. In your life, remember that God also cares about every detail about you, even the parts that seem small.
Questions People Ask
Why does God mention three different categories of animals in Genesis 6:20?
God lists birds, livestock, and creeping things to show that His salvation covers every kind of creature He made. The order echoes the creation days in Genesis 1, where God separated these groups. It is a way of saying that nothing He created is left out, not even the smallest insect.
Did Noah have to find and catch all the animals himself?
No. The verse says the creatures will come to him. The Hebrew verb implies that God brought them, perhaps by instinct or angelic guidance. Noah's job was to build the ark and prepare food, but God drew the animals to the door.
Were only two of each kind of animal saved, or were there more?
This verse says two of every sort, but later in Genesis 7:2 God tells Noah to take seven pairs of clean animals and one pair of unclean. So more of the clean animals were saved, likely for sacrifices and food. The basic pattern here is two of each kind, but the full instructions came later.
What does 'after their kind' mean in Genesis 6:20?
'After their kind' means according to their species or distinct type. It emphasizes that God preserved the variety of creation. Birds stayed birds, livestock remained livestock, and creeping things stayed as they were. The phrase is used throughout Genesis to show God's orderly design.
Why are creeping things included? They seem so small and insignificant.
Creeping things were part of God's creation in Genesis 1, and He called them good. Including them in the ark shows that God cares for all life, even creatures that seem small or unpleasant. It also reminds us that God's plan included the whole ecosystem, not just the animals people might find useful or impressive.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study