Which animals came in sevens on Noah’s Ark?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

According to Holy Scripture in the Book of Genesis, God commanded Noah to bring seven pairs (or by sevens, male and female) of:

1. Every clean animal (Genesis 7:2): "You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female."
2. The birds of the air (Genesis 7:3): "Also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth."

Why Were There Seven of the Clean Animals?

While unclean animals entered the Ark in single pairs (two by two) strictly to preserve their species from extinction, the clean animals and birds were taken in sevens for two primary reasons:

1. Sacrifice to God: Immediately after the waters receded and Noah departed the Ark, he built an altar to God and offered burnt offerings:

"Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar." (Genesis 8:20)

If there had only been one pair of these clean animals, offering one in sacrifice would have driven that species to extinction.

1. Sustenance and Propagation: Having a greater number of clean animals ensured that after the sacrifice was offered, sufficient pairs remained to reproduce quickly upon the earth.