Genesis 8:21

“And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, etc.] Or a “savour of rest” f474 ; he was delighted and well pleased with his sacrifice, which was offered up in the faith of the sacrifice of Christ; the apostle says, “is for a sweetsmelling savour”, (<490502>Ephesians 5:2) referring to this passage; that being a satisfaction to the justice of God, an appeasing of his wrath, and a propitiation for the sins of men: and the Lord said in his heart; within himself; it was awhile a secret there, but Noah being a prophet, as Aben Ezra observes, he revealed it to him, or “to his heart” f475, that is, to the heart of Noah, as some interpret it, he spoke comfortably to him, as follows, when the Jewish writers…”

“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.”

“- XXVII. The Ark Was Evacuated 19. משׁפחה mı̂shpāchah, “kind, clan, family.” שׁפחה shı̂pchâh, “maid-servant; related: spread.” 20. מזבח mı̂zbēach, “altar; related: slay animals, sacrifice.” 21. עלה 'olâh, “whole burnt-offering.” That which goes up. “Step; related: go up.” Genesis 8:15-19 The command to leave the ark is given and obeyed. As Noah did not enter, so neither does he leave the ark, without divine direction. “The fowl, the cattle, and the creeper.” Here, again, these three classes are specified under the general head of every living tiring. They are again to multiply on the earth. “Every living thing.” This evidently takes the place of the cattle mentioned before. “After their…”

“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…”

“8:21 pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice (literally smelled the sweet aroma): The narrator uses anthropomorphic language (i.e., he describes God’s activity in human terms) to show God’s acceptance of Noah’s offering (see also Exod 29:18; Lev 1:9; Num 15:3). The common ancient Near Eastern notion that the gods ate the sacrifices offered to them is notably absent. • to himself (literally in his heart): The phrase echoes “broke his heart” (6:6), just as think or imagine echoes “everything they thought or imagined” (6:5). God’s commitment to a new order replaced his grief over the old. • I will never again curse . . . destroy: The old curse was not lifted (5:29), but God promised not to add…”

“smelled: Lev 1:9, Lev 1:13, Lev 1:17, Lev 26:31; Sol 4:10, Sol 4:11; Isa 65:6; Eze 20:41; Amo 5:21, Amo 5:22; Co2 2:15; Eph 5:2; Phi 4:18 sweet savour: Heb. savour of rest curse: Gen 3:17, Gen 4:12, Gen 5:29, Gen 6:17 for: or, though the imagination: Gen 6:5; Job 14:4, Job 15:14-16; Psa 51:5, Psa 58:3; Pro 20:9; Ecc 7:20; Isa 47:12; Isa 47:15, Isa 48:8, Isa 53:6; Jer 8:6, Jer 17:9, Jer 18:12; Mat 15:19; Joh 3:6; Rom 1:21, Rom 3:23, Rom 8:7, Rom 8:8; Eph 2:1-3; Jam 1:14, Jam 1:15, Jam 4:1, Jam 4:2; Jo1 5:19 neither: Gen 9:11-15; Isa 54:9, Isa 54:10 as I: Pe2 3:6, Pe2 3:7 Genesis 8:22”