Genesis 7:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.

NIV: For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth.

NASB: Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth.

CSB: The flood continued for forty days on the earth; the water increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth.

NLT: For forty days the floodwaters grew deeper, covering the ground and lifting the boat high above the earth.

KJV: And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

NKJV: Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.

In the previous verse, God shut Noah and his family and the animals into the ark. Then the torrential rains began. Verse 11 described it as the windows of heaven being opened. Just as God said (Genesis 7:4), that intense downpour lasted for 40 days on the earth. The floodwaters increased, and the huge ark floated, rising high above its initial resting place on the earth. Noah had followed God's instructions well; the great craft proved to be seaworthy.

As with other verses in this chapter, Genesis uses the term 'erets for "earth," rather than other terms such as tebel. The Hebrew word 'erets is often used in a regional or symbolic sense, while tebel is a specific reference to the entire planet. This is part of the ongoing debate over whether or not the flood is a planetary event, or something confined to the regions populated by men. In any case, the waters accomplish their intended task: wiping out sinful mankind, and sparing only Noah and his family.

Genesis 7:11–24 describes the greatest disaster in world history: the flood. For forty days and nights, rain falls from above, and underground water rushes from below. As a result, floodwaters fully cover the surface of the land for another 110 days. The ark, built as God has instructed Noah, is able to float and survive the deluge. Every land-dwelling, air-breathing human and creature dies, except for those aboard the ark.

Genesis 7 tells the story of the actual flood itself. God again commends Noah for his righteousness. The animals of every kind come to the ark. God shuts Noah and his family and the animals in, and it begins to rain. Water pours from above and bursts forth from below with incredible intensity. This outpouring of water lasts for 40 days, and covers the surface of the earth for another 110 days. The ark floats, rises, moves across the surface of the water. Outside of it, every land-dwelling, air-breathing thing dies. God wipes it all out, including every human being other than Noah and his family.

In chapter 6, God saw the wickedness and violence of humanity and resolved to wipe it all out. He revealed that plan to Noah, and He commanded Noah to build the ark. In chapter 7, the ark is finished, the animals arrive, the door is shut, and the rain begins on a specific date in the history of the world. All life aboard the ark is saved; all land-dwelling, air-breathing life outside of it is ended. The waters burst from below the earth and pour from above with great intensity for 40 days and then covered the earth for another 110. In the following chapter, the ark will come to rest, and the remade earth will begin to dry out.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/9/2024 5:36:07 AM