Genesis 7:18

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

Genesis 7:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 7:18

And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon
the earth
Still they became greater and more powerful, as to bear up the ark, so to cast down houses, trees by the continual rains that fell, though perhaps they were not so violent as before, and by the constant eruptions of water out of the earth: and the ark went upon the face of the waters;
it floated about upon them, in an easy gentle manner; for there were no storms of wind or tempests raised, which might endanger it. (If much of the water came from volcanic activity, and if earthquakes accompanied the breaking forth of the fountains of the deep, many tidal waves would result. This would completely destroy and remains of the old civilisation and as well give the ark a rough sea to drift in. The ark's dimensions would give make it almost impossible to upset. Ed.)

Genesis 7:18 In-Context

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.
20 {The waters swelled fifteen cubits above the mountains, covering them}.

Footnotes 1

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.