Verse 14 in Hebrew repeats according to its kind after each category of creature, four times, and Revised Standard Version follows this. For discussion of this expression see 1.11; 6.20. They and every beast means that Noah and his family along with the animals went into the boat.

The classification of animals in verse 14 is as in 1.25, except for the birds. Every beast according … means every kind of wild animal. All the cattle according … means every kind of domestic animal. Every creeping thing that creeps … according to its kind means every kind of small animal. Every bird according … means every kind of bird. Every bird of every sort is a repetition, adds nothing to the statement about birds, and is often not translated.

Bird in the two previous phrases translates two different Hebrew words. The former is used first in 1.20. The second term, although used frequently in the Old Testament, is used in Genesis only here and in 15.10. There is no evident distinction made in their use in this context. The Septuagint omits every bird of every sort; however, this form is in the Hebrew text and is translated in the more literal versions.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .