Genesis 8:20 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird, and offered them as burnt sacrifices on the altar.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is showing that Noah's first act after leaving the ark was to worship God and offer sacrifices in gratitude for their rescue from the flood.

📚 Historical Context

This verse comes immediately after Noah, his family, and the animals left the ark following the great flood. In ancient Near Eastern culture, building altars and offering animal sacrifices was the standard way to worship God and express thanksgiving. The distinction between 'clean' and 'unclean' animals was already established by God before the flood, with clean animals being acceptable for sacrifice.

Explore Similar Verses

Acts 7:42

So God basically said 'fine, have it your way' and let them go worship the stars and planets instead. Just like the prophets wrote about it: 'Israel, did you really think those animal sacrifices in the desert for forty years were actually for me?'

Amos 5:22

Even if you bring me all your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I'm not accepting them. I won't even look at those peace offerings from your best animals.

2 Chronicles 5:6

King Solomon and all the people of Israel who had gathered with him stood before the ark and sacrificed so many sheep and cattle that they couldn't be counted because there were too many.

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📚 Historical Context

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