Genesis 7:23

23 And every living being was destroyed that was on the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and fowl of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth. And Noah alone remained, and what was with him in the ark.

Genesis 7:23 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 7:23

And every living substance was destroyed which was upon
the face of the ground
Not everything, particularly trees; for after the flood was abated there was an olive tree, a leaf of which was brought to Noah by the dove, ( Genesis 8:11 ) but all animals,

both men and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the
heaven, and they were destroyed from the earth;
this is repeated, partly for explanation of the preceding clause, and partly for confirmation of this general destruction, which might seem almost incredible; there never was such a destruction of creatures before, or since, nor never will be till the general conflagration; and is a proof of the sovereignty of God, his almighty power, the purity and holiness of his nature, and the strictness and severity of his justice, and shows what a fearful thing it is to fail into his hands:

and Noah only remained [alive], and they that [were] with him in
the ark;
besides those, of the millions of mankind that were upon the earth, not one was left, the flood came and destroyed them all, ( Luke 17:27 ) the fable some Jewish writers relate of Og being found alive, and which they gather from ( Deuteronomy 3:11 ) by sitting upon a piece of wood of one of the ladders of the ark, to whom Noah reached out food every day, and so he remained alive ^F17, deserves no regard; though perhaps from hence arose the Grecian fable of the flood of Ogyges, which seems to be the same with this of Noah.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Pirke Eliezer, c. 23. fol. 23. 1, 2.

Genesis 7:23 In-Context

21 And all flesh that moved on the earth expired, fowl as well as cattle, and beasts, and all crawling things which crawl on the earth, and all mankind:

22 everything which had in its nostrils the breath of life, of all that was on the dry [land], died.

23 And every living being was destroyed that was on the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and fowl of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth. And Noah alone remained, and what was with him in the ark.

24 And the waters prevailed on the earth a hundred and fifty days.