Blog Thirteen, October 31, 2025
The number four signifies Creation – the created Earth – in Scripture. Creation is the fourth revelation after the Triune God (“In the beginning God created…”). Most appearances of four in Scripture can be further subdivided into three plus one, which magnifies both meaning and purpose. In the Flood account (Genesis 8), an interesting sequence occurs as the rains cease and the waters subside. Noah performs a series of tests to verify that the waters are receding and dry land emerging (earth is being restored for man, in other words). How many tests? Why, four, of course.
The table summarizes four bird releases from the Ark by Noah. These track the recession of the flood waters, but more symbolically reveals the work of God after water judgment to restore habitability of earth for human life. Note the three-plus-one arrangement, three birds which are clean (doves) and one unclean (the raven), according to standards set in Leviticus.
Four Bird Releases by Noah during the Flood
#1 Genesis 8:6 A Raven (unclean) - It did not return but kept flying around until the waters dried up on the earth. The earth is unclean, that is, uninhabitable except for ravens, who can alight on debris and eat dead animal tissue. (The raven is unclean according to listings of clean and unclean animals in Leviticus 11. See verse 15.)
#2 Genesis 8:7 A Dove (clean) - It had no place to alight and returned to the Ark. The earth is unclean, and the dove (clean) cannot survive there yet.
#3 Genesis 8:10 A Dove (clean) - Sent out seven days after the first dove, it returned with an olive leaf in its beak. The waters are receding and plant life emerging, but earth is still uninhabitable. The olive leaf is symbolic of Holy Spirit activity – restoring earth for human life.
#4 Genesis 8:12 A Dove (clean) - Sent out seven days after the second dove, it does not return. The earth is now habitable for animal life, and the dove alights upon the earth to establish his home there.
The symbolism is rich here. The four tests model scientific investigation. Moses is attempting to determine if the land is accessible and ready to sustain human life again. With each test, gradual improvement in habitability is observed, the last test revealing that the earth is once again suitable for mankind.
The first test uses a raven, which is unclean for human consumption according to the Law of Moses. But it is an appropriate specimen for the opening experiment – a bird that eats dead flesh and is able to light upon floating debris. Earth has been judged, with all flesh destroyed by the Flood.
The final three tests use a dove which is symbolic in Scripture of the Holy Spirit who hovered over the unformed Earth (Genesis 1:2) as it was made habitable the first time. The dove is declared clean in Leviticus. The first dove test finds Earth without a place for animals to stand on dry ground. The second dove reveals that trees are again functioning – the olive branch, a symbol of Kingdom presence, means God is restoring Earth. Moses determines after the final test that Earth is renewed and open for business. The picture of God’s restoration and Earth’s resilience is easy to see.
The four tests reveal the work of God to restore earth and to affirm once again His Creation as a place for man. This quartet shows that Creation, the fourth revelation of Scripture, is the locus of His activity on our behalf. Earth is still suitable for mankind, and will be until God decrees the end of time.
D. E.