Genesis 7:11-24

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the 1fountains of the great deep burst forth, and 2the windows of the heavens were opened.
12 And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
13 On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark,
14 they and every beast, according to its kind, and all the livestock according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind, and every bird, according to its kind, every winged creature.
15 They 3went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life.
16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in 4as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in.
17 The flood 5continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
18 The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters.
19 And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.
20 The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits[a] deep.
21 And 6all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind.
22 Everything on the dry land 7in whose nostrils was the breath of life died.
23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only 8Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.
24 And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.

Genesis 7:11-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 7

This chapter begins with an order to Noah to come with his family and all the creatures into the ark, that they might be safe from the flood, which would quickly be upon the earth, Ge 7:1-4 and then gives an account of Noah's obedience to the divine command in every particular, Ge 7:5-9 and of the time of the beginning of the flood, and its prevalence, Ge 7:10-12 then follows a repetition of Noah, his family, and the creatures entering into the ark, Ge 7:13-16 and next a relation is given of the increase of the waters, and of the height they arrived unto, Ge 7:17-20 and of the consequences of the flood, the death and destruction of every living creature, except those in the ark, fowl, cattle, beast, creeping things, and men, Ge 7:21-23 and the chapter is closed with an account how long the waters continued before they began to ebb, even one hundred and fifty days, Ge 7:24.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Genesis 8:2; Proverbs 8:28; [Amos 9:6]
  • 2. Genesis 8:2; 2 Kings 7:19; Isaiah 24:18; Malachi 3:10; [Psalms 78:23]
  • 3. Genesis 6:20
  • 4. ver. 2, 3
  • 5. ver. 4, 12
  • 6. ver. 4; Genesis 6:13, 17; 2 Peter 3:6
  • 7. Genesis 2:7
  • 8. 2 Peter 2:5

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.