Genesis 6:21 · Bible study
Genesis 6:21 Commentary: Food for the Ark and the Pre-Flood Diet
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Scholars agree this verse points to a plant-based diet for the ark, consistent with Genesis 1:29-30. Explores Noah's obedient provision and God's faithful care.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God commands Noah to gather food for all on the ark, ensuring survival during the flood.
- Key words: ma’akhal (food), asaph (gather), akhal (eat), all pointing to sustenance and active collection.
- Main debate: Whether the diet included meat or was exclusively plant-based; the supplied commentators agree it was plant-based, per Genesis 1:29-30.
- Theological theme: God’s faithful providence and care for all creation, even in judgment.
- Best use: A sermon or Bible study on God’s provision, Noah’s obedience, or the pre-flood world.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You are also to take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten and gather it as food for yourselves and for the animals.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Take with you some of all food that is eaten, and gather it to yourself; and it will be for food for you, and for them.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And thou, take to thyself of all food that is eaten; and thou hast gathered unto thyself, and it hath been to thee and to them for food.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And take thou of all food that is eaten, and gather [it] to thee, that it may be for food for thee and for them.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou shalt take unto thee of all food that may be eaten, and thou shalt lay it up with thee: and it shall be food for thee and them.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y toma contigo de toda vianda que se come, y allégala á ti; servirá de alimento para ti y para ellos.
E toma contigo de toda comida que se come, e traga-a a ti; servirá de alimento para ti e para eles.
Et toi, prends de tous les aliments que l’ on mange, et fais-en une provision auprès de toi, afin qu’ ils te servent de nourriture ainsi qu’ à eux.
Und du sollst allerlei Speise zu dir nehmen, die man ißt, und sollst sie bei dir sammeln, daß sie dir und ihnen zur Nahrung da sei.
En gij, neem voor u van alle spijze, die gegeten wordt, en verzamel ze tot u, opdat zij u en hun tot spijze zij.
E tu prenditi d’ogni cibo che si mangia, e fattene provvista, perché serva di nutrimento a te e a loro”.
A ty weźmiesz z sobą wszelkiego pokarmu, który się jeść godzi, a zbierzesz do siebie, i będzie tobie i onym na pokarm.
Ты же возьми себе всякой пищи, какою питаются, и собери к себе; и будет она для тебя и для них пищею.
你 要拿 各樣 食物 積蓄起來，好作 你 和牠們 的食物。」
And make a store of every sort of food for yourself and them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 6:21
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that the food Noah was commanded to gather was plant-based. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges states it was “presumably vegetables, cereals, and fruit” and connects the verse directly to Genesis 1:29. Adam Clarke notes that “of all food that is eaten” means “food proper for every species of animals,” but in context this refers to the fruits and herbs given at creation. John Gill also references Genesis 1:29, and Matthew Henry implies the same through his emphasis on God’s gracious provision. The Hebrew word ma’akhal (“food”) is generic, but the cross-reference to Genesis 1:29-30, where God gives every seed-bearing plant and fruit tree to humans and every green herb to animals, establishes the baseline. No supplied commentator suggests that Noah needed to stock meat; the pre-flood world appears to have followed the original vegetarian diet found in creation. The consensus is that the command demonstrates God’s faithful provision, ensuring the survival of all creatures through the judgment.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God commanded Noah to gather food for the survival of all creatures on the ark, and Noah obeyed.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Type of food gathered | The supplied commentators agree the food was plant-based, vegetables, fruits, and cereals, consistent with Genesis 1:29-30. | Some interpreters note the text does not explicitly exclude meat, but the cross-references to the creation diet make a plant-based reading the nearly universal view among these sources. |
| Noah's obedience | All traditions affirm that Noah carried out the command exactly as given (v. 22). | No significant debate; this is a straightforward point. |
| Covenant context | The food provision is part of God's covenant with Noah (v. 18), showing God's commitment to preserve life. | Traditions differ on how to read the ark typologically: as a type of the church, a type of Christ, or primarily a historical account. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits within the flood narrative (Genesis 6:9, 8:19), a section some commentators call “the genesis of the world’s judgment and of the world’s renewing.” God has just announced the flood and spoken of his covenant with Noah (v. 18). The detailed instructions for the ark (vv. 14, 16) are followed by commands about the animals (vv. 19, 20) and then the food (v. 21). The scale of the provision is immense: hundreds of animal species, eight human beings, and a stay of over a year. John Gill cites the calculations of “learned men well versed in mathematics” that there was ample room in the ark to store food for the entire duration.
The pre-flood dietary context matters. In Genesis 1:29-30, God gives every seed-bearing plant and fruit tree for food to humans and every green herb to animals. Animal flesh is not permitted until after the flood (Genesis 9:3). So verse 21 aligns with the creation order: Noah collects the kinds of food proper for each species under the original diet. The command “take with you” and “gather it to yourself” uses Hebrew verbs that imply active, careful collection (laqach and asaph). Noah is not passive; he is asked to work for the preservation of all life. The wider literary frame highlights that God’s judgment is not destructive for its own sake. It is paired with meticulous provision, and verse 22 shows Noah’s complete obedience: “Thus did Noah. He did all that God commanded him.”
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant variant readings for Genesis 6:21. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the verse presents no text-critical issues.
Reception History
Early church fathers saw the ark as a type of the church and the food as spiritual nourishment for believers. Medieval commentators allegorized the specific foods as the Word of God and the sacraments. Reformation-era interpreters emphasized the literal command and Noah's obedient response, seeing it as an example of faith in God's provision during judgment. Modern scholarship focuses on the verse's contribution to the pre-flood dietary picture, often citing it in discussions of the original creation order in Genesis 1. The verse has also been read in lectionaries across traditions during Lent and baptismal liturgies, where the flood and ark prefigure salvation through Christ.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s precise care in judgment. Before the flood comes, God provides detailed instructions for food. Judgment and preservation go together.
- Noah’s active obedience. The verbs are action words: take, gather. Noah must plan, collect, and store. Faith works.
- Provision for all creatures. The food is for “them” as well as for Noah. God’s care extends beyond humanity to every living thing.
Five-point outline
- The covenant frame. Food provision is part of God’s covenant with Noah (v. 18).
- Diet and creation order. The food matches Genesis 1:29-30, plant-based, before meat is permitted.
- Scale of the task. Enough food for a year for thousands of animals and eight people.
- God’s faithful character. The same God who judges also supplies.
- Noah’s model response. Verses 21-22 form a seamless pair: command and obedience.
Illustration hooks
- A family preparing for a long evacuation: packing the car with food, water, and supplies for every member, including pets.
- A community food drive: collecting cans, sorting by type, trusting that the goods will reach those who need them.
- A hospital stay planned in advance: a family brings meals for the patient and the caregivers, anticipating needs.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Did Noah really have to gather that much food? How could he manage the logistics?
- What does this verse say about God’s care for animals? Does it matter for how we treat them today?
- How does this pre-figure Christ, who provides spiritual food for his people through judgment?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows God’s attention to practical details in the midst of a world-changing judgment. Noah is not told simply to board the ark; he must also gather food for everyone aboard. The command connects back to Genesis 1:29-30 and forward to Noah’s obedience in verse 22. As you discuss, consider what this reveals about God’s character and Noah’s faith.
Discussion questions
- What does “all food that is eaten” include? How do the cross-references in Genesis 1 help answer that?
- Why do you think God gave such specific instructions about food, rather than just telling Noah to bring whatever he could find?
- How does the food provision relate to the covenant God says he will establish with Noah (v. 18)?
- What does Noah’s role in gathering the food tell us about human responsibility in God’s plan of salvation?
- How does this verse challenge or confirm your understanding of God’s provision during seasons of difficulty?
- In what ways does the ark with its provisions point forward to Christ’s care for the church?
- How might this passage shape your prayers for God’s provision, both physical and spiritual?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 1:29 | God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. |
| Genesis 1:30 | To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so. |
| Job 38:41 | Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food? |
| Job 40:20 | Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play. |
| Psalms 35:6 | Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh’s angel pursuing them. |
| Psalms 104:27 | These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season. |
| Psalms 104:28 | You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good. |
| Psalms 136:25 | who gives food to every creature, for his loving kindness endures forever. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke clarifies that the verse refers not to every possible edible item but only to the food suitable for each species of animal. He emphasizes that God provides a diet proper to each creature's nature, not a universal food supply for all.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible School notes that the phrase "all food that is eaten" likely refers only to plant-based items such as vegetables, cereals, and fruit, drawing a connection to the original diet given in Eden. This interpretation highlights a restriction to non-animal food at this point.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva notes highlight Noah’s active role in gathering food, emphasizing that survival required deliberate human effort alongside divine instruction. This detail underscores the practical reality of the ark’s provisions, showing that God’s command included specific logistical steps for sustaining both the family and the animals during the flood.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the food brought into the ark was for both people and animals, and he addresses the practical question of space. He reports that skilled mathematicians calculated the ark had ample room to store enough provisions for everyone throughout the entire flood.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that Noah’s righteousness was comparative rather than absolute, meaning he stood out only within his corrupt generation. He highlights how violence permeated every aspect of life, forcing God to intervene not merely as a judge but as a preserver of humanity through the ark. This view frames the flood as a remedial act to save a remnant from total dehumanization.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that God's favor toward Noah shows first in how the Holy Spirit repeats his name five times in five lines, taking delight in his memory. The greater grace appears in the detailed instructions and covenant promises God personally gives him, making Noah a partner in the plan of salvation.