What does Genesis 7:9 mean?
Verses 8 and 9 explain that what God has commanded to Noah, Noah does (Genesis 6:22; Genesis 7:5). This is a distinguishing aspect of Noah's character: his willingness to obey God (Genesis 6:9, 22). And, what God has told Noah will happen has happened. Genesis 6:20 indicated that God would send pairs of animals to Noah, in order to keep their species alive after the flood. After a week of last-minute preparation (Genesis 7:13), pairs of animals, both clean and unclean, along with the birds and insects ("creeping things"), entered the ark with Noah and his family. God's plan was under way. Life would be preserved in the midst of the destruction to come.Humanity, on the other hand, was doomed, other than Noah and his wife, and his sons and their wives (Genesis 7:7). The following verse is the fulfillment of God's dire prediction: a massive flood of water to purge earth of mankind's horrific sin (Genesis 6:5; 11–12).