Teks -- Genesis 8:7 (NET)

8:7 and sent out a raven; it kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up on the earth.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Gen 8:7

Noah sent forth a raven through the window of the ark, which went forth, as the Hebrew phrase is, going forth and returning, that is, flying about, but returning to the ark for rest; probably not in it, but upon it. This gave Noah little satisfaction: therefore,

JFB: Gen 8:7 - And he sent forth a raven

The smell of carrion would allure it to remain if the earth were in a habitable state. But it kept hovering about the spot, and, being a solitary bird, probably perched on the covering.

Clarke: Gen 8:7 - He sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro

He sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro - It is generally supposed that the raven flew off, and was seen no more, but this meaning the Hebrew text will not bear; ויצא יצוא ושוב vaiyetse yatso vashob , and it went forth, going forth and returning. From which it is evident that she did return, but was not taken into the ark. She made frequent excursions, and continued on the wing as long as she could, having picked up such aliment as she found floating on the waters; and then, to rest herself, regained the ark, where she might perch, though she was not admitted. Indeed this must be allowed, as it is impossible she could have continued twenty one days upon the wing, which she must have done had she not returned. But the text itself is sufficiently determinate.

Defender: Gen 8:7 - raven

The raven, a hardy flier and carrion eater, could survive indefinitely even before there was much dry land. The dove, however, required fresh plant material and dry ground."

TSK: Gen 8:7 - a raven // went forth to and fro

a raven : Lev 11:15; 1Ki 17:4, 1Ki 17:6; Job 38:41; Psa 147:9

went forth to and fro : Heb. in going forth and returning

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Gen 8:7 - He sent forth a raven // To and fro

He sent forth a raven a fit messenger for that purpose, because it smells dead carcasses at a great distance, and flies far, and then returneth to its former habitation with something in its bill.

To and fro Heb. going and returning; i.e. went forth hither and thither; now forward, then backward; sometimes going from the ark, and sometimes returning to the ark, though never entering into it again. Not as if she returned afterwards; the phrase implies that she never returned. And so the word until is often used, as 2Sa 6:23 , Michal had no child until the day of her death, i.e. never had a child. See also Psa 110:1 Mat 1:25 .

Haydock: Gen 8:7 - Did not return // Till

Did not return. The negotiation Not, is not to be found in any Hebrew copy now extant; though it is still retained by the Septuagint, and several Latin manuscripts, according to the testimony of Liranus. If we add here, therefore, to the Hebrew text, we must translate it with St. Jerome, thus; It went forth, going and returning, ( Egredicbatur exiens et revertens ,) sometimes repairing to the mountains, where it found carcasses to feed on, and at other times returning not unto the ark, but to rest upon the top of it. (Estius) (Challoner) ---

Or receded farther from it; as the Hebrew may be explained, agreeably to the Vulgate, Septuagint, Syriac, &c. which admit the negation. (Calmet) ---

Till, as long as the waters covered the earth, not that it returned to the ark afterwards. (Menochius)

Gill: Gen 8:7 - And he sent forth a raven // which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from the earth

And he sent forth a raven,.... That by it he might make his observation, how high or low the waters were upon the earth; and the rather he sent out the raven, a bird of prey, which feeds on carrion, that if the earth had been dry, the smell of the dead carcasses would have invited it to go far off from the ark, and not return; but if not, he would see it again:

which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from the earth; or, "and it went forth, going forth and returning" ^l; it went forth out of the ark, and returned, but might not go into it, but went forth again, and then returned; and thus it continued going backwards and forwards, until the waters were dried up, when it returned no more: the Septuagint version is, "and it returned not"; and so some Jewish writers ^m say, it found the carcass of a man on the top of the mountains, and sat upon it for food, and returned not: hence came the fable of Apollo's sending a raven to fetch water, while he was sacrificing, which lighting on a large corn field, yet green, and being willing to enjoy some grains of it, waited till it was ripe, and neglected its orders ⁿ; and hence is the proverb, "corvus nuntius". Some make this creature to be an emblem of the law, first sent forth, but brought no good tidings of the waters of God's wrath being assuaged, but worketh wrath, and is the ministration of condemnation and death: rather it is an emblem of unregenerate men, who are, like it, black through original sin and actual transgressions; are unclean and polluted in all the powers and faculties of their souls; are hateful, hating one another, and live in carnal and sensual lusts pleasures.