In Genesis, how many pairs of clean animals enter Noah’s Ark?

In Genesis, seven pairs of clean animals enter Noah’s Ark.

Genesis 7:2 instructs Noah to take seven pairs of every clean animal, specifically a male and its female, while taking one pair of animals that are not clean. Genesis 7:3 gives a similar instruction for birds, using seven pairs as well.

This detail is sometimes reduced in popular retellings to the phrase “two of every kind.” That phrase reflects the ark story’s general image, but Genesis also includes a distinction between clean and unclean animals and assigns them different numbers.

The reason for the larger number of clean animals becomes relevant immediately after the flood. Genesis 8:20 says Noah uses clean animals and clean birds for offerings. The passage therefore links the animal counts with the ritual action that follows the ark’s landing.