Genesis 8:14 - New beginnings after flood's end

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Hebrew Text

וּבַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי בְּשִׁבְעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ יָבְשָׁה הָאָרֶץ׃

English Translation

And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, was the earth dried.

Transliteration

Uvachodesh hasheni bishivah ve'esrim yom lachodesh yavshah ha'aretz.

Hebrew Leining Text

וּבַחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י בְּשִׁבְעָ֧ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֛ים י֖וֹם לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ יָבְשָׁ֖ה הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {ס}

Parasha Commentary

Context in the Flood Narrative

The verse (Bereshit 8:14) marks the culmination of the flood narrative, describing the complete drying of the earth after the waters of the mabul (flood) receded. This event allowed Noach and his family to finally leave the teivah (ark). Rashi notes that the drying occurred on the 27th of Iyar, completing a full solar year (365 days) from when the flood began on the 17th of Cheshvan.

Significance of the Timeline

The Sforno explains that the extended timeline—from when the ark rested on Mount Ararat (17th of Nisan) until the earth dried (27th of Iyar)—demonstrates Hashem's mercy. Noach waited an additional 40 days after seeing mountaintops (8:5) before opening the ark's window, and then sent the raven and dove at intervals, showing deliberate caution before deeming the land habitable.

Spiritual Implications of "Yabeshah Ha'aretz"

Malbim: The term "yabeshah" (dried) implies a complete return to the earth's pre-flood state, not merely surface drying. This was essential for the earth to be spiritually receptive to human habitation again after the corruption that prompted the flood.
Midrash Tanchuma (Noach 11): The earth's drying paralleled the spiritual "drying" of humanity's wickedness. Just as the waters purified the earth, the survivors emerged with a renewed covenant (Bereshit 9:11).

Chronological Precision

Ramban emphasizes that the Torah specifies exact dates to teach that natural processes follow Hashem's ordained schedule. The 27th of Iyar was not arbitrary—it reflected the precise duration needed for the earth's rehabilitation, mirroring the 40 days of rain that initiated the flood (7:12). This symmetry underscores divine hashgacha (providence) in both judgment and renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Genesis 8:14 mean when it says 'the earth was dried'?
A: This verse marks the completion of the drying process after the Flood, when the land became fully habitable again. Rashi explains that this was the final stage of the earth's recovery, allowing Noah, his family, and the animals to finally leave the Ark (Rashi on Genesis 8:14).

Q: Why does the Torah specify the exact date when the earth dried?
A: The Torah gives precise dates to show the timeline of the Flood's aftermath. According to Ramban (Nachmanides), this teaches us that the process was divinely measured and not random. The 27th of Iyar (second month) marked exactly one solar year (365 days) from when the Flood began (Ramban on Genesis 8:13-14).

Q: What lesson can we learn from the earth drying after the Flood?
A: This teaches us about divine patience and the gradual process of renewal. The Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 33:7) compares this to how Hashem slowly rebuilds and repairs the world with mercy, giving time for proper rehabilitation rather than instant fixes.

Q: How long did it take for the earth to fully dry after the Flood?
A: From when the Ark rested on Mount Ararat (17th of Cheshvan) until the earth dried (27th of Iyar) was 190 days according to Talmudic calculations (Rosh Hashanah 11b-12a). This shows the extensive recovery period needed after the Flood's destruction.