Genesis 8:13 · Bible study
Genesis 8:13 Commentary: Seeing Dry Ground, Waiting on God's Word
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Noah see dry ground but stay in the ark for 57 more days? A study of patience, timing, and obedience in God's unfolding plan.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The floodwaters had receded enough to reveal dry land, yet Noah remained in the ark until God commanded him to leave.
- Key words: covering (מִכְסֶה, mikhseh), dried up (חָרְבוּ, ḥārĕvû), face of the ground (פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, pĕnê hā’ădāmâ)
- Main debate: Whether the first month was Nisan (spring) or Tishri (fall), and the precise length of the flood.
- Theological theme: Patience and obedience in waiting for God's explicit direction rather than acting on sight alone.
- Best use: A sermon or small-group study on discernment, timing, and the discipline of waiting.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
In Noah’s six hundred and first year, on the first day of the first month, the waters had dried up from the earth. So Noah removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry.
WEB World English Bible 2000
In the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth. Noah removed the covering of the ship, and looked. He saw that the surface of the ground was dry.
KJV King James Version 1769
And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dried.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And it cometh to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month , in the first of the month, the waters have been dried from off the earth; and Noah turneth aside the covering of the ark, and looketh, and lo, the face of the ground hath been dried.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first [month], on the first of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Therefore in the six hundredth and first year, the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were lessened upon the earth, and Noe opening the covering of the ark, looked, and saw that the face of the earth was dried.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y sucedió que en el año seiscientos|strong="H8337, H3967" y uno de Noé, en el mes primero, al primero del mes, las aguas se enjugaron de sobre la tierra; y quitó Noé la cubierta del arca, y miró, y he aquí que la faz de la tierra estaba enjuta.
E sucedeu que no ano seiscentos e um de Noé, no mês primeiro, ao primeiro do mês, as águas se enxugaram de sobre a terra e tirou Noé a cobertura da arca, e olhou, e eis que a face da terra estava enxuta.
L’ an six cent un, le premier mois, le premier jour du mois, les eaux avaient séché sur la terre. Noé ôta la couverture de l’ arche: il regarda, et voici, la surface de la terre avait séché.
Im sechshundertundersten Jahr des Alters Noahs, am ersten Tage des ersten Monats vertrocknete das Gewässer auf Erden. Da tat Noah das Dach von dem Kasten und sah, daß der Erdboden trocken war.
En het geschiedde in het zeshonderd en eerste jaar, in de eerste maand, op den eersten derzelver maand, dat de wateren droogden van boven de aarde; toen deed Noach het deksel der ark af, en zag toe, en ziet, de aardbodem was gedroogd.
L’anno secentesimoprimo di Noè, il primo mese, il primo giorno del mese, le acque erano asciugate sulla terra; e Noè scoperchiò l’arca, guardò, ed ecco che la superficie del suolo era asciutta.
I stało się sześćsetnego i pierwszego roku, miesiąca pierwszego, dnia pierwszego, oschły wody z ziemi; i zdjął Noe przykrycie korabia, a ujrzał, że osechł wierzch ziemi.
Шестьсот первого года [жизни Ноевой] к первому [дню] первого месяца иссякла вода на земле; и открыл Ной кровлю ковчега и посмотрел, и вот, обсохла поверхность земли.
到 挪亞六 百 零一 歲，正 月 初一日，地上的 水 都乾了。挪亞 撤去 方舟 的蓋 觀看，便見 地 面上 乾了。
And in the six hundred and first year, on the first day of the first month, the waters were dry on the earth: and Noah took the cover off the ark and saw that the face of the earth was dry.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 8:13
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 this verse records the moment the floodwaters visibly receded and Noah could see dry land. Yet he did not leave the ark. Matthew Henry notes that Noah waited for God's command and that God consulted Noah's benefit rather than his desires. Gill and Wesley clarify that Noah removed only part of the covering to look out, not the entire roof. The Hebrew verb ḥārĕvû indicates the waters had dried up, but the ground remained soft and muddy. Keil and Delitzsch point out that a different Hebrew verb (yāvĕshâ) in verse 14 means the earth became thoroughly dry after another 57 days. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown emphasize that Noah "never stirred from his appointed abode till he had the express permission of God." The crucial point is clear: seeing dry ground was not the signal to exit; hearing God's word was.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Noah saw dry land but remained in the ark until God commanded him to leave, demonstrating obedient patience.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The nature of the covering | It was a removable covering on the ark that Noah partially opened to see outside. | Gill suggests it was a skin covering like the tabernacle (Ex 26:14), while others think it was part of the wooden roof structure. |
| The state of the ground | The surface appeared dry, but the earth was not yet firm enough to support walking. | Gill emphasizes soft mud requiring further drying; Ellicott notes the different Hebrew root in verse 14 indicates a thorough drying beyond what Noah saw. |
| The length of the flood | The flood lasted about a year and ten days from start (7:11) to full dryness (8:14). | Keil and Delitzsch discuss whether this was a solar year of 360/365 days or a lunar year of 354 days; the 150 days of flooding suggests a solar reckoning. |
| The reason for the delay | Noah waited for God's explicit command before leaving the ark. | Matthew Henry emphasizes God's gracious timing for Noah's benefit; Gill and Ellicott focus on the practical condition of the ground not yet being habitable. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The flood chronology anchors this verse with precision. Genesis 7:11 dates the start to Noah's 600th year, second month, seventeenth day. After 150 days of prevailing waters, the ark rested on Ararat (7:17; 8:4). Mountain tops appeared on the first day of the tenth month (8:5). Then followed the sending of raven and dove over several weeks. By the first day of the first month of Noah's 601st year, exactly one solar year after the flood began, according to Keil and Delitzsch, the waters had dried from the earth. This day marked a new beginning, as Gill observes, a "joyful" New Year's Day. The covering Noah removed may have been a skin or fabric similar to that of the tabernacle (Ex 26:14; Gill notes the same Hebrew word mikhseh). The ground was dry but not yet firm; Gill explains that the mud left by the flood was still soft and not ready for walking. The interval of fifty-seven days until the twenty-seventh day of the second month (8:14) allowed the earth to be thoroughly dried. Ellicott notes that verse 14 uses a different Hebrew root (yāvash) to mark a further stage, "was thoroughly dry." The calendar remains debated: some traditions identify the first month as Nisan (spring), others as Tishri (fall). Bishop Ussher calculated this first day as Friday, October 23, 1657 AM. In that context, the wooden structure of the ark still housed a family learning to trust God's timing.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Masoretic text is consistent across manuscripts, and the interlinear reflects a stable Hebrew tradition.
Reception History
Across church history, this verse has been seen as a model of patient obedience. Reformation-era commentators like Matthew Henry and John Gill focused on Noah's restraint, using the verse to teach that God's timing, not human sight, guides the believer's steps. In more recent exposition, the verse is often cited in discussions of discernment and waiting on God. The precise date also underscores the historical character of the flood narrative, reminding readers that God works within a real timeline.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God provides visible evidence. Noah saw the dry ground. The mercies of restoration are a gift to be seen and savored. Matthew Henry says, "mercies restored are much more affecting than mercies continued."
- God expects patient waiting. Even with evidence, Noah stayed inside until God spoke. Faith restrains us from rushing ahead of God's timing. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note, "We should watch the leading of Providence to direct us in every step."
- God gives the final word. Not until verse 15 does God command, "Go out of the ship." The timing is God's prerogative.
Five-point outline
- The precise date: God works on a timeline, recorded exactly (first month, first day). Nothing is random.
- The partial removal: Noah uncovered only what was needed to see. We may see glimpses of God's work, not the full picture.
- The dry ground: God's provision was visible, but not yet usable. The land was dry but not solid.
- The waiting: Fifty-seven days of remaining inside. Faith trusts the gap between a glimpse and a command.
- The eventual command: God speaks at the right time. Obedience begins with hearing His voice, not acting on sight alone.
Illustration hooks
- A patient receives an early test result that looks promising but waits for the official confirmation from the doctor before making any decisions.
- A farmer sees the ground dry after a spring rain but knows it needs more time to firm up before tractors can work it without getting stuck.
- A person sees a job opening and feels ready to apply, but senses a need to wait for clear direction before updating their resume or contacting anyone.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if what I see is God's signal to act or just a confirmation to wait?
- Why does God let me see the answer before He tells me to move?
- What if I miss God's timing because I'm too cautious or too impatient?
Leading a Discussion
The story of Noah seeing dry ground but waiting inside the ark invites us to reflect on how we discern God's guidance. The precision of the dates reminds us that God works with purpose. The gap between what Noah saw and when God spoke is a space for trust to grow.
Discussion questions
- Read Genesis 8:13-14 carefully. What do you notice about the timing? What emotions do you think Noah felt on that first day of the first month?
- Why do you think Noah removed the covering to look out? What did he hope to see?
- Matthew Henry commented that "mercies restored are much more affecting than mercies continued." When have you experienced something similar, appreciating something more after losing it?
- The ground was dry in verse 13, but God did not command Noah to leave until verse 15. Why do you think God made him wait another 57 days?
- In what areas of your life do you see dry ground, obvious signs that God is at work, but still feel uncertain about the next step?
- How can we balance waiting on God's timing with the risk of being passive or fearful?
- What does this passage teach us about the relationship between seeing evidence and hearing God's voice?
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 7:11 | In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the sky’s windows opened. |
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
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights the exact date the floodwaters receded: the first day of the first month in Noah's six hundred first year. At that point Noah removed the ark's covering and saw that the ground's surface was dry.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Noah saw dry ground on New Year's Day of the 601st year, a precise date he links to Bishop Ussher's calculation. He also stresses that "dry" meant only the surface looked dry, not that the ground was firm enough to walk on.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights that Noah uncovered the ark to look at the dry ground but still waited two more months inside until God gave him explicit permission to leave. This pause shows a patient reliance on Providence to direct every step rather than acting on mere sight.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch focus on the precise chronology of Noah's departure from the ark, noting the 57-day gap between removing the covering and the earth being completely dry. They calculate the flood lasted a year and ten days and suggest the 150 days of the first five months point to a solar rather than lunar year, though the exact calendar remains uncertain.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads the drying earth not as a sudden miracle but as a measured process marked by specific intervals. He highlights how Noah’s repeated bird flights served as practical tests, confirming that the waters were truly receding before God finally commanded them to leave the ark.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to the gap between when Noah saw dry ground and when God allowed him to leave the ark. Noah likely wanted out immediately, but God held him back for his own good. The delay teaches that God prioritizes what is truly beneficial for us over what we simply desire.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley clarifies that Noah did not remove the entire covering of the ark, only enough to look out and see the ground. The point is a practical one: Noah took a partial, not total, uncovering to survey the earth's condition.