John Calvin Commentary Genesis 8:6

"And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:" — Genesis 8:6 (ASV)

At the end of forty days. From this, we may conjecture with what great anxiety the holy man's heart was oppressed. After he had perceived the ark to be resting on solid ground, he still did not dare to open the window until the fortieth day. This was not because he was stunned and numb, but because such a formidable example of God's vengeance had affected him with such combined fear and sorrow that, deprived of all judgment, he silently remained in the chamber of his ark.

At last, he sent out a raven, from which he hoped to receive a more certain indication of the earth's dryness. But the raven, perceiving nothing but muddy marshes, hovered around and immediately sought to be readmitted. I have no doubt that Noah purposely selected the raven, knowing that this kind of bird might be allured by the odor of carcasses to fly further if the earth, with the animals upon it, was already exposed to view. However, the raven, flying around, did not go far.

I wonder how a negation, which Moses does not have in the Hebrew text, has crept into the Greek and Latin versions, as it entirely changes the meaning. This is how the fable originated that the raven, having found carcasses, was kept away from the ark and abandoned its protector. Afterwards, futile allegories followed, just as human curiosity is always eager for trivialities.

But the dove, in its first departure, imitated the raven by flying back to the ark. Afterwards, it brought an olive branch in its bill. At the third time, as if liberated, it enjoyed the open air and the open earth.

Some writers speculate ingeniously about the olive branch, because among the ancients it was a symbol of peace, as the laurel was of victory.

However, I am more inclined to think that, as the olive tree does not grow on mountains and is not a very tall tree, the Lord had given His servant a token from which he might infer that pleasant regions, productive of good fruit, were now free from the waters.

Because Jerome's version says that it was a branch with green leaves, those who have thought that the deluge began in September take this as confirmation of their opinion.

But the words of Moses have no such meaning. And it might be that the Lord, wanting to revive Noah's spirit, offered a branch to the dove that had not yet completely withered under the waters.