883. 'The dove returned to him at evening time' means that these started to show themselves a little; and 'evening time' is similar to pre-morning twilight. This in like manner becomes clear from that has been stated already at verse 8, and also from the fact that here it is called 'evening time'. Concerning 'evening', see what has been stated in Genesis 1, where six times the statement is made 'there was evening and there was morning'. 'Evening' is a word that has to do with regeneration and indeed with that state when a person is still in near-darkness, or when there is still only a tiny quantity of light showing itself to him. Morning itself is described in verse 13 below by 'he removed the roof from the ark and saw out'. Because 'evening' meant the pre-morning twilight, mention of the evening is made so many times in the Jewish Church. This also is why sabbaths and festivals began from evening onwards, and why Aaron was commanded to light the sacred lamp 'in the evening', Exodus 27:21.

927. Great and wonderful. That this signifies from Divine Omnipotence and Providence, is evident from the signification of great, when said of the Lord, as denoting His Divine Omnipotence; and from the signification of wonderful, when said of the Lord, as denoting His Divine Providence. For man, when he thinks of what is great in the Lord, thinks of His Divine Omnipotence; and when he thinks of what is wonderful in the Lord, he thinks of His Divine Providence. The things also that follow, concerning the salvation of the good and the damnation of the evil, all pertain to the Divine Omnipotence and Providence.