Verse 19 concludes the episode ending the flood report.

And every beast … earth is another variation of the formula listing the animals in the boat. Went forth translates the same verb used in verses 17-18.

By families is literally “by their families” or “according to their clans.” In this context families refers to some kind of organized grouping of the animals; this may be according to size, species, or some other arrangement. Translations vary considerably in the way they translate this expression. Revised English Bible has “one kind after another,” Good News Translation “in groups of their own kind,” New Jerusalem Bible “one species after another,” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “all the different kinds.” A translation not to be recommended in this context is “with all their children.”

The departure of Noah and the animals from the boat brings this subdivision to a close.

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 .