“From every kind of bird.” Every kind of bird and animal was to be kept alive. None were to perish. The wording of the REV is similar to the wording of other versions. For example, the NAB (revised edition) says, “Of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal, and of every kind of thing that crawls on the ground, two of each will come to you, that you may keep them alive.”

[For more on the translation “every kind,” see commentary on Genesis 1:11.]

“pairs” See commentary on Genesis 6:19.

“will come to you.” Noah did not have to engage in a huge animal hunt to round up all the animals to put on the ark. God brought the animals He wanted on the ark to Noah. This assured that the animals on the ark were healthy and genetically sound, with as much potential for genetic diversification as possible. We must also remember that before the Flood, all the animals ate plants (Gen. 1:30), so they were not dangerous to Noah and his family.