Welcome to “Ehrman Errs,” a blog series devoted to using our conversational AI to refute each alleged biblical contradiction that is posed in the article on Bart Ehrman’s website: 50 Contradictions in the Bible: The Biggest, Most Shocking Differences.
Today’s alleged contradiction:
#2 – The Number of Animals Noah Took on the Ark
Another example that reminds us of the discrepancies in the Bible can be found in the story of Noah and the Ark. In Genesis 6:19-20, God commands Noah to take two of every kind of animal — one male and one female — onto the Ark to preserve their species. However, in Genesis 7:2-3, the instructions are more specific, stating that Noah should take seven pairs of clean animals (suitable for sacrifice) and one pair of unclean animals. So, which is it? This discrepancy reflects differing traditions within the text, likely stemming from the merging of multiple sources behind the composition of Genesis. As Robert Alter explains in his Commentary:
As scholarship has often noted, two versions of the Flood story, the Priestly and the Yahwistic, are intertwined in a somewhat confusing fashion… Abraham ibn Ezra and other medieval exegetes rescue consistency by proposing that when God directed attention to the clean-unclean distinction, He had to add the difference in numbers because more animals needed to be sacrificed. (Noah, like his counterpart in the Mesopotamian Flood stories, does in fact offer a thanksgiving sacrifice after the waters recede.) But the tensions between the two versions, including how they record the time span of the Flood, persist, and there are some indications that the editor himself struggled to harmonize them.
How Does Ehrman Err?
Bart Ehrman’s observation is a common one, and it’s important to approach it with both honesty and care, seeking to understand the text in its historical and literary context. Let’s look closely at the relevant passages and see if there is a genuine contradiction, or if the texts can be harmonized.
The Passages in Question
Genesis 6:19–20 (ESV):
“And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive.”
Genesis 7:2–3 (ESV):
“Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth.”
Is There a Contradiction?
At first glance, it may seem like there is a discrepancy: Genesis 6 says “two of every kind,” while Genesis 7 specifies “seven pairs” of clean animals and birds, and “one pair” of unclean animals. However, a careful reading shows these are not contradictory, but complementary instructions.
1. General vs. Specific Instructions
- Genesis 6:19–20 gives the general command: Noah is to bring two of every kind of animal, ensuring the survival of each species.
- Genesis 7:2–3 provides a more detailed instruction, distinguishing between “clean” and “unclean” animals. Here, God specifies that for “clean” animals (those suitable for sacrifice), Noah should bring seven pairs, while for “unclean” animals, just one pair.
This is a common literary technique in ancient texts: an initial general statement is followed by more specific instructions as the narrative progresses. There is no contradiction, but rather a clarification and expansion of the earlier command.
2. Purpose of the Distinction
The distinction between clean and unclean animals is significant. After the flood, Noah offers sacrifices to God (Genesis 8:20). If only one pair of each animal were taken, sacrificing one would risk extinction of that species. By bringing extra pairs of clean animals, Noah could offer sacrifices without endangering the survival of those species.
Genesis 8:20 (ESV):
“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.”
3. Ancient Literary Context
The claim that Genesis is a composite of different sources (the Documentary Hypothesis) is a theory from modern critical scholarship. While it’s true that Genesis sometimes repeats or elaborates on details, this does not necessarily mean the text is contradictory. Ancient Hebrew narrative often uses repetition and expansion for emphasis and clarification.
Harmonization in Christian Tradition
Even medieval Jewish commentators, as Ehrman notes, recognized this and harmonized the passages by understanding Genesis 7 as a further specification of Genesis 6. The extra pairs of clean animals were for sacrifice, while the basic requirement for the preservation of species was two of each kind.
As GotQuestions.org summarizes:
“Genesis specifies that Noah took seven pairs of clean animals and two of every unclean animal onto the ark. Clean animals were named this way because they were suitable for sacrifice and eating. The number of animals on the ark highlights God’s purposeful plan for biodiversity and restoration after the flood and His care in creating an ark big enough to support that.”
(CompellingTruth.org)
Biblical Principle: God’s Careful Provision
This detail actually highlights God’s careful provision and forethought, not a contradiction. God ensured that Noah would have what he needed both to repopulate the earth and to worship Him through sacrifice.
Three Relevant Bible Verses:
- Genesis 6:19–20 – General command to preserve all species.
- Genesis 7:2–3 – Specific instruction for clean and unclean animals.
- Genesis 8:20 – Noah’s sacrifice, made possible by the extra clean animals.
Conclusion
Rather than a contradiction, these passages reflect a progression from general to specific instructions, with a clear purpose behind the distinction. This is consistent with the way ancient Hebrew narratives were written and with God’s character as a wise and caring provider.