Genesis 8 in the early church

161 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 8, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 18 · 20 · 21 · 22

Genesis 8:1

But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:1Letters to Serapion 1.7 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 357–360
Gen 8:1On Noah 56 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:1On Noah 57 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:1On Noah 58 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:1Hexameron (Exameron) 3.9 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 8:1–3Book 2, lines 468–492 · Claudius Marius Victorallusion, high confidenceca. 425-430

Genesis 8:2

The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:2–3Demonstration 14.36 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
Gen 8:2On Noah 59 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384

Genesis 8:3

The waters receded steadily from the earth, and after 150 days the waters had gone down.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:3Arabic Pentateuch fragment IV (on Gen 8:1) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Gen 8:3On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384

Genesis 8:4

On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:4Arabic Pentateuch fragment IV (on Gen 8:1) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Gen 8:4Fragment 7 · Julius Africanusallusion, high confidenceafter 221
Gen 8:4Refutation of All Heresies 10.30.7 · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceca. 222–235
Gen 8:4Preparation for the Gospel 9.11.2 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 313–324
Gen 8:4Book of Rules 5 · Tyconiusallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Gen 8:4Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 2.1.1 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, high confidence374-377
Gen 8:4Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 18.3.3 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, medium confidence374-377
Gen 8:4On Noah 60 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:4Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.19 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 8:4–5City of God 15.14 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence413–426
Gen 8:4–12Book 2, lines 493–515 · Claudius Marius Victorallusion, high confidenceca. 425-430
Gen 8:4Instructions 2.5 · Eucherius of Lyonallusion, high confidenceca. 428-434

Genesis 8:5

And the waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:5Book of Rules 5 · Tyconiusallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Gen 8:5On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384

Genesis 8:6

After forty days Noah opened the window he had made in the ark

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:6–12Against Novatian 2 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceafter 251 (disputed)
Gen 8:6On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:6On Noah 61 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:6–12Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.20 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400

Genesis 8:7

and sent out a raven. It kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:7Against Celsus 4.42 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 248
Gen 8:7Homilies 2.16 · Anonymousallusion, high confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Gen 8:7Preparation for the Gospel 9.12.3 · Eusebius of Caesareaecho, medium confidenceca. 313–324
Gen 8:7Treatise on the Mysteries 1.12.4 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–366
Gen 8:7Tractates on the Psalms 146.12 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–367
Gen 8:7Letter 69.6 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Gen 8:7On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:7On Noah 62 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:7On Noah 63 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:7On the Duties of the Clergy 1.25 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386–390
Gen 8:7Letter 108.20 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430
Gen 8:7–8Letter 248.1 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430
Gen 8:7Homilies on Matthew 5.3 · John Chrysostomquotation, high confidenceca. 390
Gen 8:7On the Mysteries 3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387–391
Gen 8:7Sermon 224.4 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
Gen 8:7Letters 23.28 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413
Gen 8:7Tractates on the Gospel of John 6.2 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420
Gen 8:7Tractates on the Gospel of John 6.5 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420
Gen 8:7Tractates on the Gospel of John 6.19 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420
Gen 8:7Book 1, lines 163–187 · Seduliusallusion, medium confidenceca. 425-450
Gen 8:7–12Hymn 1 (108 lines) · Seduliusallusion, medium confidenceca. 425-450
Gen 8:7Book 1, section 14 · Seduliusallusion, medium confidenceca. 425-450
Gen 8:7–8Part 1, chapter 7 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450
Gen 8:7–9Part 2, chapter 6 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Genesis 8:8

Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the waters had receded from the surface of the ground.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:8Against Celsus 4.41 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 248
Gen 8:8Against Celsus 4.42 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 248
Gen 8:8–12Against Novatian 3 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceafter 251 (disputed)
Gen 8:8–12Oration to the Assembly of the Saints 11.9 · Constantine the Greatallusion, medium confidenceca. 325 (dated variously 317–325)
Gen 8:8Treatise on the Mysteries 1.12.4 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–366
Gen 8:8On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:8On Noah 64 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:8On the Duties of the Clergy 1.25 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386–390
Gen 8:8On the Mysteries 4 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387–391
Gen 8:8–21Genesis, lines 303–328 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Gen 8:8Tractates on the Gospel of John 6.2 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420

Genesis 8:9

But the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him in the ark, because the waters were still covering the surface of all the earth. So he reached out his hand and brought her back inside the ark.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:9Treatise on the Mysteries 1.14.3 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–366
Gen 8:9Tractates on the Psalms 146.12 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–367
Gen 8:9On Noah 64 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:9On Noah 65 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:9Tractates on the Gospel of John 6.19 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420

Genesis 8:10

Noah waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:10–11Against Novatian 6 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceafter 251 (disputed)
Gen 8:10On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:10On Noah 66 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384

Genesis 8:11

And behold, the dove returned to him in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in her beak. So Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:11On Baptism 8 · Tertullianallusion, high confidenceca. 198–206
Gen 8:11On the Holy Theophany 6 · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceca. 200–235
Gen 8:11Against the Valentinians 2 · Tertullianecho, low confidenceca. 206–208
Gen 8:11Catechetical Lecture 17.9 · Cyril of Jerusalemallusion, high confidenceca. 350
Gen 8:11Treatise on the Mysteries 1.14.2 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–366
Gen 8:11Oration 39.16 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Gen 8:11Against Parmenian the Donatist 5.1 · Optatus of Milevisallusion, medium confidenceca. 366–385
Gen 8:11Letter 69.6 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Gen 8:11On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:11On Noah 67 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:11On Noah 68 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:11Homilies on Matthew 12.3 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
Gen 8:11On the Mysteries 3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387–391
Gen 8:11Letters 26.1 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413
Gen 8:11Letters 49.10 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413
Gen 8:11On Christian Doctrine 2.16 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceBooks 1–3 ca. 396–397; completed 426–427
Gen 8:11Tractates on the Gospel of John 6.19 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420
Gen 8:11Tractates on the Gospel of John 7.3 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420
Gen 8:11Sermon 160 · Peter Chrysologusallusion, high confidenceca. 425-450
Gen 8:11Poem on Genesis 181–192 · Hilary of Arlesallusion, high confidenceca. 440-449
Gen 8:11Part 3, chapter 11 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Genesis 8:12

And Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove again, but this time she did not return to him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:12Treatise on the Mysteries 1.13.5 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, medium confidenceca. 360–366
Gen 8:12Treatise on the Mysteries 1.14.3 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–366
Gen 8:12On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:12On Noah 70 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384

Genesis 8:13

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:13–14Demonstration 13.7 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
Gen 8:13Book of Rules 5 · Tyconiusallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Gen 8:13On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:13On Noah 71 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:13On Noah 72 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:13–14Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.21 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 8:13Part 1, chapter 7 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Genesis 8:14

By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was fully dry.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:14Arabic Pentateuch fragment IV (on Gen 8:1) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceunknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Gen 8:14Book of Rules 5 · Tyconiusallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Gen 8:14On Noah 60 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:14On Noah 71 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384

Genesis 8:15

Then God said to Noah,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:15Treatise on the Mysteries 1.13.4 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–366
Gen 8:15Ancoratus 29.4 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, high confidence374
Gen 8:15–19Book 2, lines 516–539 · Claudius Marius Victorallusion, high confidenceca. 425-430

Genesis 8:16

“Come out of the ark, you and your wife, along with your sons and their wives.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:16Fragments on Genesis, column 105 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 8:16Treatise on the Mysteries 1.13.5 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–366
Gen 8:16On Noah 75 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:16Against Jovinianus 1.17 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence393

Genesis 8:18

So Noah came out, along with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:18Fragments on Genesis, column 105 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 8:18On Noah 76 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:18Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.21 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400

Genesis 8:20

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:20Didascalia 6.16 (Latin) · Anonymousallusion, high confidencefirst half of the third century
Gen 8:20–21Letter 78.3 · Cyprian of Carthageallusion, high confidence249/250–258
Gen 8:20–21Demonstration of the Gospel 1.10.5 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Gen 8:20–21Demonstration 18.2 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
Gen 8:20Letter 73.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Gen 8:20Letter 123.11 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Gen 8:20Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 18.3.4 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, high confidence374-377
Gen 8:20Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.3.1 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, medium confidence374-377
Gen 8:20Apostolic Constitutions 6.20.4 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Gen 8:20Apostolic Constitutions 7.37.2 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Gen 8:20On Noah 78 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:20On Noah 79 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:20Letter 108.20 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430
Gen 8:20Sermon 264.8 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
Gen 8:20Against Jovinianus 1.16 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence393
Gen 8:20Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.21 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 8:20–21Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 82–88 · Anonymousallusion, high confidence5th century (disputed)
Gen 8:20City of God 15.16 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426
Gen 8:20–21Book 3, lines 1–24 · Claudius Marius Victorallusion, high confidenceca. 425-430

Genesis 8:21

When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:21Against Marcion 2.22 · Tertullianallusion, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Gen 8:21Fragments on Genesis, column 93 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 8:21Fragments on Genesis, column 109 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 8:21Fragments on Luke, column 361 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 8:21On the Trinity 6 · Novatianquotation, high confidenceca. 240–250
Gen 8:21Commentary on Matthew 15.33 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 246–248
Gen 8:21Homilies 2.44 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Gen 8:21Homilies 3.39 · Anonymousquotation, high confidence4th century (reworking earlier material)
Gen 8:21Prophetic Extracts 3.3 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, high confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Gen 8:21Letter 259 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, medium confidenceca. 360–390
Gen 8:21Letter 79.9 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Gen 8:21On Noah 80 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:21On Noah 81 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:21Apology of the Prophet David 53 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 384-390
Gen 8:21Homily 9 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 390–394
Gen 8:21Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 6–12 · Anonymousquotation, high confidence5th century (disputed)
Gen 8:21Apology against Jerome 1.38 · Rufinus of Aquileiaallusion, high confidenceca. 401
Gen 8:21Commentary on Jeremiah 3.74 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 414-419
Gen 8:21The Conferences 23.1 · John Cassianallusion, high confidenceca. 426–429

Genesis 8:22

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 8:22Oration 6.15 · Gregory of Nazianzusecho, medium confidenceca. 362–383
Gen 8:22On Noah 82 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:22On Noah 83 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:22On Noah 85 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 378-384
Gen 8:22–9:23Genesis, lines 329–353 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Gen 8:22Book 3, lines 25–48 · Claudius Marius Victorallusion, high confidenceca. 425-430