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Selected Verse: Genesis 8:21 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ge 8:21	Strong Concordance	And the LORD [03068] smelled [07306] a sweet [05207] savour [07381]; and the LORD [03068] said [0559] in [0413] his heart [03820], I will not again [03254] curse [07043] the ground [0127] any more for man's [0120] sake [05668]; for the imagination [03336] of man's [0120] heart [03820] is evil [07451] from his youth [05271]; neither will I again [03254] smite [05221] any more every thing living [02416], as I have done [06213].
	King James	And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
And the Lord smelled a sweet savour--The sacrifice offered by a righteous man like Noah in faith was acceptable as the most fragrant incense. Lord said in his heart--same as "I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth" (Isa 54:9). for--that is, "though the imagination is evil"; instead of inflicting another destructive flood, I shall spare them--to enjoy the blessings of grace, through a Saviour.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

And the Lord smelled a sweet savour--The sacrifice offered by a righteous man like Noah in faith was acceptable as the most fragrant incense.

Lord said in his heart--same as "I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth" (Isa 54:9).

for--that is, "though the imagination is evil"; instead of inflicting another destructive flood, I shall spare them--to enjoy the blessings of grace, through a Saviour.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
the Lord said in heart The Third Dispensation: Human Government. Under Conscience, as in Innocency, man utterly failed, and the judgment of the Flood marks the end of the second dispensation and the beginning of the third. The declaration of the Noahic Covenant subjects humanity to a new test. Its distinctive feature is the institution, for the first time, of human government -- the government of man by man. The highest function of government is the judicial taking of life. All other governmental powers are implied in that. It follows that the third dispensation is distinctively that of human government. Man is responsible to govern the world for God. That responsibility rested upon the whole race, Jew and Gentile, until the failure of Israel under the Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy 28 - (Deu 30:1-10)) brought the judgment of the Captivities, when "the times of the Gentiles" (See); (Luk 21:24); (Rev 16:14) began, and the government of the world passed exclusively into Gentile hands; (Dan 2:36-45); (Luk 21:24); (Act 15:14-17). That both Israel and the Gentiles have governed for self, not God, is sadly apparent. The judgment of the confusion of tongues ended the racial testing; that of the captivities the Jewish; while the Gentile testing will end in the smiting of the Image (Da 2.) and the judgment of the nations (Mat 25:31-46). See, for the other six dispensations: INNOCENCE (See Scofield) - (Gen 1:28) CONSCIENCE (See Scofield) - (Gen 3:23) PROMISE (See Scofield) - (Gen 12:1) LAW (See Scofield) - (Exo 19:8) GRACE (See Scofield) - (Joh 1:17) KINGDOM (See Scofield) - (Eph 1:10).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And God smelled a sweet savour - Or a savour of rest from it, as it is in the Hebrew. He was well pleased with Noah's pious zeal, and these hopeful beginnings of the new world, as men are with fragrant and agreeable smells. I will not again curse the ground, Heb. I will not add to curse the ground any more - God had cursed the ground upon the first entrance of sin, Gen 3:17, when he drowned it he added to that curse: but now he determines not to add to it any more. Neither will I again smite any more every living thing - That is, it was determined that whatever ruin God might bring upon particular persons, families or countries, he would never again destroy the whole world, 'till the day when time shall be no more. But the reason of this resolve is surprising; for it seems the same with the reason given for the destruction of the world, Gen 6:5. Because the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. But there is this difference: there it is said, the imagination of man's heart is evil continually, that is, his actual transgressions continually cry against him; here it is said, that it is evil from his youth or childhood; he brought it into the world with him, he was shapen and conceived in it. Now one would think it should follow, therefore that guilty race shall be wholly extinguished: No; therefore I will no more take this severe method; for he is rather to be pitied: and it is but what might be expected from such a degenerate race. So that if he be dealt with according to his deserts, one flood must succeed another 'till all be destroyed. God also promises, that the course of nature should never be discontinued. While the earth remaineth, and man upon it, there shall be summer and winter, not all winter, as had been this last year; day and night, not all night, as probably it was while the rain was descending. Here it is plainly intimated that this earth is not to remain always; it and all the works therein must shortly be burnt up. But as long as it doth remain, God's providence will carefully preserve the regular succession of times and seasons. To this we owe it, that the world stands, and the wheel of nature keeps its tack. See here how changeable the times are, and yet how unchangeable! 1. The course of nature always changing. As it is with the times, so it is with the events of time, they are subject to vicissitudes, day and night, summer and winter counterchanged. In heaven and hell it is not so; but on earth God hath set the one over against the other. 2. Yet never changed; it is constant in this inconstancy; these seasons have never ceased, nor shall cease while the sun continues such a steady measurer of time, and the moon such a faithful witness in heaven. This is God's covenant of the day and of the night, the stability of which is mentioned for the confirming our faith in the covenant of grace, which is no less inviolable, Jer 33:20. We see God's promises to the creatures made good, and thence may infer that his promises to believers shall be so.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

And God smelled a sweet savour - Or a savour of rest from it, as it is in the Hebrew. He was well pleased with Noah's pious zeal, and these hopeful beginnings of the new world, as men are with fragrant and agreeable smells. I will not again curse the ground, Heb. I will not add to curse the ground any more - God had cursed the ground upon the first entrance of sin, Gen 3:17, when he drowned it he added to that curse: but now he determines not to add to it any more. Neither will I again smite any more every living thing - That is, it was determined that whatever ruin God might bring upon particular persons, families or countries, he would never again destroy the whole world, 'till the day when time shall be no more. But the reason of this resolve is surprising; for it seems the same with the reason given for the destruction of the world, Gen 6:5. Because the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. But there is this difference: there it is said, the imagination of man's heart is evil continually, that is, his actual transgressions continually cry against him; here it is said, that it is evil from his youth or childhood; he brought it into the world with him, he was shapen and conceived in it. Now one would think it should follow, therefore that guilty race shall be wholly extinguished: No; therefore I will no more take this severe method; for he is rather to be pitied: and it is but what might be expected from such a degenerate race. So that if he be dealt with according to his deserts, one flood must succeed another 'till all be destroyed. God also promises, that the course of nature should never be discontinued. While the earth remaineth, and man upon it, there shall be summer and winter, not all winter, as had been this last year; day and night, not all night, as probably it was while the rain was descending. Here it is plainly intimated that this earth is not to remain always; it and all the works therein must shortly be burnt up. But as long as it doth remain, God's providence will carefully preserve the regular succession of times and seasons. To this we owe it, that the world stands, and the wheel of nature keeps its tack. See here how changeable the times are, and yet how unchangeable! 1. The course of nature always changing. As it is with the times, so it is with the events of time, they are subject to vicissitudes, day and night, summer and winter counterchanged. In heaven and hell it is not so; but on earth God hath set the one over against the other. 2. Yet never changed; it is constant in this inconstancy; these seasons have never ceased, nor shall cease while the sun continues such a steady measurer of time, and the moon such a faithful witness in heaven. This is God's covenant of the day and of the night, the stability of which is mentioned for the confirming our faith in the covenant of grace, which is no less inviolable, Jer 33:20. We see God's promises to the creatures made good, and thence may infer that his promises to believers shall be so.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The Lord smelled a sweet savor - That is, he was well pleased with this religious act, performed in obedience to his own appointment, and in faith of the promised Savior. That this sacrifice prefigured that which was offered by our blessed Redeemer in behalf of the world, is sufficiently evident from the words of St. Paul, Eph 5:2 : Christ hath loved us, and given himself for its an offering and a sacrifice to God for a Sweet-Smelling Savor; where the words οσμην ευωδιας of the apostle are the very words used by the Septuagint in this place. I will not again curse the ground - לא אסף lo osiph, I will not add to curse the ground - there shall not be another deluge to destroy the whole earth: for the imagination of man's heart, כי ki, Although the imagination of man's heart should be evil, i.e. should they become afterwards as evil as they have been before, I will not destroy the earth by a Flood. God has other means of destruction; and the next time he visits by a general judgment, Fire is to be the agent. Pe2 3:7.

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⁹ For this is as the waters [04325] of Noah [05146] unto me: for as I have sworn [07650] that the waters [04325] of Noah [05146] should no more go over [05674] the earth [0776]; so have I sworn [07650] that I would not be wroth [07107] with thee, nor rebuke [01605] thee.

¹⁰ That in [1519] the dispensation [3622] of the fulness [4138] of times [2540] he might gather together in one [346] all things [3956] in [1722] Christ [5547], both [5037] which [3588] are in [1722] heaven [3772], and [2532] which [3588] are on [1909] earth [1093]; even in [1722] him [846]:

¹⁷ For [3754] the law [3551] was given [1325] by [1223] Moses [3475], but grace [5485] and [2532] truth [225] came [1096] by [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].

⁸ And all the people [05971] answered [06030] together [03162], and said [0559], All that the LORD [03068] hath spoken [01696] we will do [06213]. And Moses [04872] returned [07725] the words [01697] of the people [05971] unto the LORD [03068].

¹ Now the LORD [03068] had said [0559] unto Abram [087], Get thee out [03212] of thy country [0776], and from thy kindred [04138], and from thy father's [01] house [01004], unto a land [0776] that I will shew [07200] thee:

²³ Therefore the LORD [03068] God [0430] sent him forth [07971] from the garden [01588] of Eden [05731], to till [05647] the ground [0127] from whence he was taken [03947].

²⁸ And God [0430] blessed [01288] them, and God [0430] said [0559] unto them, Be fruitful [06509], and multiply [07235], and replenish [04390] the earth [0776], and subdue it [03533]: and have dominion [07287] over the fish [01710] of the sea [03220], and over the fowl [05775] of the air [08064], and over every living thing [02416] that moveth [07430] upon the earth [0776].

³¹ When [1161] [3752] the Son [5207] of man [444] shall come [2064] in [1722] his [846] glory [1391], and [2532] all [3956] the holy [40] angels [32] with [3326] him [846], then [5119] shall he sit [2523] upon [1909] the throne [2362] of his [846] glory [1391]:
³² And [2532] before [1715] him [846] shall be gathered [4863] all [3956] nations [1484]: and [2532] he shall separate [873] them [846] one [240] from [575] another [240], as [5618] a shepherd [4166] divideth [873] his sheep [4263] from [575] the goats [2056]:
³³ And [2532] he shall set [2476] [3303] the sheep [4263] on [1537] his [846] right hand [1188], but [1161] the goats [2055] on [1537] the left [2176].
³⁴ Then [5119] shall the King [935] say [2046] unto them on [1537] his [846] right hand [1188], Come [1205], ye blessed [2127] of my [3450] Father [3962], inherit [2816] the kingdom [932] prepared [2090] for you [5213] from [575] the foundation [2602] of the world [2889]:
³⁵ For [1063] I was an hungred [3983], and [2532] ye gave [1325] me [3427] meat [5315]: I was thirsty [1372], and [2532] ye gave [4222] me [3165] drink [4222]: I was [2252] a stranger [3581], and [2532] ye took [4863] me [3165] in [4863]:
³⁶ Naked [1131], and [2532] ye clothed [4016] me [3165]: I was sick [770], and [2532] ye visited [1980] me [3165]: I was [2252] in [1722] prison [5438], and [2532] ye came [2064] unto [4314] me [3165].
³⁷ Then [5119] shall the righteous [1342] answer [611] him [846], saying [3004], Lord [2962], when [4219] saw we [1492] thee [4571] an hungred [3983], and [2532] fed [5142] thee? or [2228] thirsty [1372], and [2532] gave thee drink [4222]?
³⁸ [1161] When [4219] saw we [1492] thee [4571] a stranger [3581], and [2532] took thee in [4863]? or [2228] naked [1131], and [2532] clothed [4016] thee?
³⁹ [1161] Or when [4219] saw we [1492] thee [4571] sick [772], or [2228] in [1722] prison [5438], and [2532] came [2064] unto [4314] thee [4571]?
⁴⁰ And [2532] the King [935] shall answer [611] and say [2046] unto them [846], Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], Inasmuch [1909] as [3745] ye have done [4160] it unto one [1520] of the least [1646] of these [5130] my [3450] brethren [80], ye have done [4160] it unto me [1698].
⁴¹ Then [5119] shall he say [2046] also [2532] unto them on [1537] the left hand [2176], Depart [4198] from [575] me [1700], ye cursed [2672], into [1519] everlasting [166] fire [4442], prepared [2090] for the devil [1228] and [2532] his [846] angels [32]:
⁴² For [1063] I was an hungred [3983], and [2532] ye gave [1325] me [3427] no [3756] meat [5315]: I was thirsty [1372], and [2532] ye gave [4222] me [3165] no [3756] drink [4222]:
⁴³ I was [2252] a stranger [3581], and [2532] ye took [4863] me [3165] not [3756] in [4863]: naked [1131], and [2532] ye clothed [4016] me [3165] not [3756]: sick [772], and [2532] in [1722] prison [5438], and [2532] ye visited [1980] me [3165] not [3756].
⁴⁴ Then [5119] shall they [846] also [2532] answer [611] him [846], saying [3004], Lord [2962], when [4219] saw we [1492] thee [4571] an hungred [3983], or [2228] athirst [1372], or [2228] a stranger [3581], or [2228] naked [1131], or [2228] sick [772], or [2228] in [1722] prison [5438], and [2532] did [1247] not [3756] minister [1247] unto thee [4671]?
⁴⁵ Then [5119] shall he answer [611] them [846], saying [3004], Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], Inasmuch [1909] as [3745] ye did [4160] it not [3756] to one [1520] of the least [1646] of these [5130], ye did [4160] it not [3761] to me [1698].
⁴⁶ And [2532] these [3778] shall go away [565] into [1519] everlasting [166] punishment [2851]: but [1161] the righteous [1342] into [1519] life [2222] eternal [166].

¹⁴ Simeon [4826] hath declared [1834] how [2531] God [2316] at the first [4412] did visit [1980] the Gentiles [1484], to take [2983] out of [1537] them a people [2992] for [1909] his [846] name [3686].
¹⁵ And [2532] to this [5129] agree [4856] the words [3056] of the prophets [4396]; as [2531] it is written [1125],
¹⁶ After [3326] this [5023] I will return [390], and [2532] will build again [456] the tabernacle [4633] of David [1138], which [3588] is fallen down [4098]; and [2532] I will build again [456] the ruins [2679] thereof [846], and [2532] I will set [461] it [846] up [461]:
¹⁷ That [3704] [302] the residue [2645] of men [444] might seek after [1567] the Lord [2962], and [2532] all [3956] the Gentiles [1484], upon [1909] whom [3739] my [3450] name [3686] is called [1941] [1909] [846], saith [3004] the Lord [2962], who [3588] doeth [4160] all [3956] these things [5023].

²⁴ And [2532] they shall fall [4098] by the edge [4750] of the sword [3162], and [2532] shall be led away captive [163] into [1519] all [3956] nations [1484]: and [2532] Jerusalem [2419] shall be [2071] trodden down [3961] of [5259] the Gentiles [1484], until [891] the times [2540] of the Gentiles [1484] be fulfilled [4137].

³⁶ This [01836] is the dream [02493]; and we will tell [0560] the interpretation [06591] thereof before [06925] the king [04430].
³⁷ Thou [0607], O king [04430], art a king [04430] of kings [04430]: for the God [0426] of heaven [08065] hath given [03052] thee a kingdom [04437], power [02632], and strength [08632], and glory [03367].
³⁸ And wheresoever [03606] the children [01123] of men [0606] dwell [01753], the beasts [02423] of the field [01251] and the fowls [05776] of the heaven [08065] hath he given [03052] into thine hand [03028], and hath made thee ruler [07981] over them all [03606]. Thou [0607] art this head [07217] of gold [01722].
³⁹ And after [0870] thee shall arise [06966] another [0317] kingdom [04437] inferior [0772] to thee [04481], and another [0317] third [08523] kingdom [04437] of brass [05174], which shall bear rule [07981] over all [03606] the earth [0772].
⁴⁰ And the fourth [07244] kingdom [04437] shall be [01934] strong [08624] as iron [06523]: forasmuch as iron [06523] breaketh in pieces [01855] and subdueth [02827] all [03606] things: and as [06903] iron [06523] that breaketh [07490] all [03606] these [0459], shall it break in pieces [01855] and bruise [07490].
⁴¹ And whereas thou sawest [02370] the feet [07271] and toes [0677], part [04481] of potters [06353]' clay [02635], and part [04481] of iron [06523], the kingdom [04437] shall be [01934] divided [06386]; but [04481] there shall be [01934] in it of [04481] the strength [05326] of the iron [06523], forasmuch as [03606] [06903] thou sawest [02370] the iron [06523] mixed [06151] with miry [02917] clay [02635].
⁴² And as the toes [0677] of the feet [07271] were part [04481] of iron [06523], and part [04481] of clay [02635], so the kingdom [04437] shall be [01934] partly [04481] [07118] strong [08624], and partly [04481] [07118] broken [08406].
⁴³ And whereas [01768] thou sawest [02370] iron [06523] mixed [06151] with miry [02917] clay [02635], they shall mingle themselves [01934] [06151] with the seed [02234] of men [0606]: but they shall [01934] not [03809] cleave [01693] one [01836] to [05974] another [01836], even [01888] as iron [06523] is not [03809] mixed [06151] with clay [02635].
⁴⁴ And in the days [03118] of these [0581] kings [04430] shall the God [0426] of heaven [08065] set up [06966] a kingdom [04437], which shall never [05957] [03809] be destroyed [02255]: and the kingdom [04437] shall not [03809] be left [07662] to other [0321] people [05972], but it shall break in pieces [01855] and consume [05487] all [03606] these [0459] kingdoms [04437], and it [01932] shall stand [06966] for ever [05957].
⁴⁵ Forasmuch as [03606] [06903] thou sawest [02370] that the stone [069] was cut out [01505] of the mountain [02906] without [03809] hands [03028], and that it brake in pieces [01855] the iron [06523], the brass [05174], the clay [02635], the silver [03702], and the gold [01722]; the great [07229] God [0426] hath made known [03046] to the king [04430] what [04101] shall come to pass [01934] hereafter [0311] [01836]: and the dream [02493] is certain [03330], and the interpretation [06591] thereof sure [0540].

¹⁴ For [1063] they are [1526] the spirits [4151] of devils [1142], working [4160] miracles [4592], which go forth [1607] [3739] [1607] unto [1909] the kings [935] of the earth [1093] and [2532] of the whole [3650] world [3625], to gather [4863] them [846] to [1519] the battle [4171] of that [1565] great [3173] day [2250] of God [2316] Almighty [3841].

¹ And it shall come to pass, when all these things [01697] are come [0935] upon thee, the blessing [01293] and the curse [07045], which I have set [05414] before [06440] thee, and thou shalt call [07725] them to mind [03824] among all the nations [01471], whither the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] hath driven [05080] thee,
² And shalt return [07725] unto the LORD [03068] thy God [0430], and shalt obey [08085] his voice [06963] according to all that I command [06680] thee this day [03117], thou and thy children [01121], with all thine heart [03824], and with all thy soul [05315];
³ That then the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] will turn [07725] thy captivity [07622], and have compassion [07355] upon thee, and will return [07725] and gather [06908] thee from all the nations [05971], whither the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] hath scattered [06327] thee.
⁴ If any of thine be driven out [05080] unto the outmost [07097] parts of heaven [08064], from thence will the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] gather [06908] thee, and from thence will he fetch [03947] thee:
⁵ And the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] will bring [0935] thee into the land [0776] which thy fathers [01] possessed [03423], and thou shalt possess [03423] it; and he will do thee good [03190], and multiply [07235] thee above thy fathers [01].
⁶ And the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] will circumcise [04135] thine heart [03824], and the heart [03824] of thy seed [02233], to love [0157] the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] with all thine heart [03824], and with all thy soul [05315], that thou mayest live [02416].
⁷ And the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] will put [05414] all these curses [0423] upon thine enemies [0341], and on them that hate [08130] thee, which persecuted [07291] thee.
⁸ And thou shalt return [07725] and obey [08085] the voice [06963] of the LORD [03068], and do [06213] all his commandments [04687] which I command [06680] thee this day [03117].
⁹ And the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] will make thee plenteous [03498] in every work [04639] of thine hand [03027], in the fruit [06529] of thy body [0990], and in the fruit [06529] of thy cattle [0929], and in the fruit [06529] of thy land [0127], for good [02896]: for the LORD [03068] will again [07725] rejoice [07797] over thee for good [02896], as he rejoiced [07797] over thy fathers [01]:
¹⁰ If thou shalt hearken [08085] unto the voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] thy God [0430], to keep [08104] his commandments [04687] and his statutes [02708] which are written [03789] in this book [05612] of the law [08451], and if thou turn [07725] unto the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] with all thine heart [03824], and with all thy soul [05315].

²⁰ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; If ye can break [06565] my covenant [01285] of the day [03117], and my covenant [01285] of the night [03915], and that there should not be day [03119] and night [03915] in their season [06256];

⁵ And GOD [03068] saw [07200] that the wickedness [07451] of man [0120] was great [07227] in the earth [0776], and that every imagination [03336] of the thoughts [04284] of his heart [03820] was only [07535] evil [07451] continually [03117].

¹⁷ And unto Adam [0121] he said [0559], Because thou hast hearkened [08085] unto the voice [06963] of thy wife [0802], and hast eaten [0398] of the tree [06086], of which [0834] I commanded thee [06680], saying [0559], Thou shalt not eat [0398] of it: cursed [0779] is the ground [0127] for thy sake; in sorrow [06093] shalt thou eat [0398] of it all [03605] the days [03117] of thy life [02416];

⁷ But [1161] the heavens [3772] and [2532] the earth [1093], which are now [3568], by the same [846] word [3056] are [1526] kept in store [2343], reserved [5083] unto fire [4442] against [1519] the day [2250] of judgment [2920] and [2532] perdition [684] of ungodly [765] men [444].

² And [2532] walk [4043] in [1722] love [26], as [2531] Christ [5547] also [2532] hath loved [25] us [2248], and [2532] hath given [3860] himself [1438] for [5228] us [2257] an offering [4376] and [2532] a sacrifice [2378] to God [2316] for [1519] a sweetsmelling [2175] savour [3744].