How Many of Each Clean Animal Did Noah Take into the Ark?
The story of Noah’s Ark in Genesis provides one of the earliest biblical distinctions between clean and unclean animals. While many people remember the phrase “two of every kind,” a closer reading of Scripture reveals that this was not true for all creatures. Clean animals were taken in larger numbers—and for very important reasons.
1. The Biblical Instruction
The key verse is found in:
Genesis 7:2–3
“Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female…”
This means:
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Clean animals: Seven (literally “seven and seven,” understood as seven pairs)
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Unclean animals: One pair
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Birds: Seven pairs
So, Noah took more clean animals than unclean ones.
2. What Does “Seven” Mean—Seven Total or Seven Pairs?
Scholars interpret “by sevens” in two main ways:
Interpretation 1: Seven pairs (14 animals)
This is the most widely accepted view because:
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The Hebrew phrase “seven and seven” suggests pairs.
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Birds are explicitly described as “seven and seven.”
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It makes practical sense (explained below).
Interpretation 2: Seven total (three pairs + 1 extra)
A smaller group of commentators hold this view, though it fits less well with the Hebrew wording.
Given the linguistic and contextual evidence, seven pairs is the stronger interpretation.
3. Why Did God Tell Noah to Bring More Clean Animals?
Bringing additional clean animals had three major purposes:
1. For Sacrifice After the Flood
The first thing Noah did after leaving the ark was:
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Build an altar
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Offer clean animals as burnt offerings
(Genesis 8:20)
If Noah had only taken one pair of each, sacrificing even one would risk extinction—thus, extra clean animals were necessary.
2. For Food After the Flood
Although humans originally ate plants (Genesis 1:29), after the flood God permitted:
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you…”
—Genesis 9:3
Clean animals were the preferred source of food for worship and daily living, so having greater numbers ensured survival and sustainability.
3. For Preserving Ritual Purity
Clean animals played a major role in later Israelite worship and sacrificial laws. While these laws were introduced later through Moses, God was already preserving the animals needed for future sacred purposes.
4. What Animals Were Considered “Clean”?
The category of “clean animals” was formally defined in Leviticus 11, but Noah already understood the concept.
Clean animals typically included:
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Animals with split hooves and chew cud (e.g., cows, sheep, goats)
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Certain birds used for sacrifice (doves, pigeons)
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Certain clean wild animals (deer, gazelles)
Unclean animals included:
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Predators and scavengers
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Pigs
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Reptiles
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Many insects
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Birds of prey
Noah knew which animals were appropriate for worship and acceptable to God.
5. How Many Animals in Total?
A simplified breakdown:
Clean Animals
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7 pairs of each clean species
= 14 individuals per species
Unclean Animals
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1 pair of each unclean species
= 2 individuals per species
Birds
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7 pairs of each type of bird
= 14 individuals per bird species
This resulted in a far larger number of animals than commonly depicted, though still manageable given the ark’s immense size.
6. The Significance of Clean Animals in the Narrative
Bringing more clean animals highlights several truths:
1. God Values Worship
The sacrificial system—symbolizing obedience, thanksgiving, and atonement—was already central to human devotion.
2. God Plans Ahead
God ensured that sacrifice, food, and future rituals were possible immediately after the flood.
3. Obedience Matters
Noah’s careful attention to detail reflects the faithfulness that defined his life:
“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
—Genesis 6:22
Conclusion
While many imagine Noah taking only “two of every kind,” Scripture reveals that God commanded him to take seven pairs of every clean animal and seven pairs of every bird, but one pair of unclean animals. This distinction had deep spiritual, practical, and theological meaning—ensuring that worship could continue, food would be available, and life could flourish on the earth after the flood.