Genesis 7:17

17 And the flood came forty days and forty nights upon the earth. And the waters increased, and lifted the ark, and it rose up from the earth.

Genesis 7:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 7:17

And the flood was forty days upon the earth
This is said with respect to what follows, and the meaning is, that when and after the flood had been upon the earth so long, then the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above
the earth;
after this they were so many and so strong that they lifted up the ark from the place where it stood, and bore it up, that it touched not the earth; and Aben Ezra from hence infers, that the ark did not remove from its place after the flood began, until forty days.

Genesis 7:17 In-Context

15 And they came to Noah to the ark, {two of each}, from every living thing in which [was] the breath of life.

16 And those that came, male and female, of every living thing, came as God had commanded him. And Yahweh shut the door behind him.

17 And the flood came forty days and forty nights upon the earth. And the waters increased, and lifted the ark, and it rose up from the earth.

18 And the waters prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth. And the ark went upon the surface of the waters.

19 And the waters prevailed {overwhelmingly} upon the earth, and they covered all the high mountains which were under the entire heaven.