In Genesis, how many clean animals of each kind did Noah take onto the Ark?

In Genesis, Noah took seven pairs of each kind of clean animal onto the Ark.

Genesis 7:2 distinguishes clean animals from animals that were not clean. It instructs Noah to take seven pairs of the clean animals, while the wording for unclean animals specifies one pair. Genesis 7:3 similarly mentions seven pairs of birds.

This passage is often remembered incorrectly as saying that every animal entered in exactly one pair. That simplified version overlooks the distinction made by the biblical text between clean and unclean animals.

The passage also connects the extra clean animals with later sacrifice: after leaving the Ark, Noah builds an altar and offers burnt offerings from clean animals and clean birds. The classification is therefore important to the story’s ritual context.