Genesis 7:17

17 For 40 days the flood kept coming on the earth. As the waters rose higher, they lifted the ark high above 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 Pairs of all living creatures that breathe came to Noah and entered the ark.

16 The animals going in were male and female of every living thing. Everything happened exactly as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.

17 For 40 days the flood kept coming on the earth. As the waters rose higher, they lifted the ark high above the earth.

18 The waters rose higher and higher on the earth. And the ark floated on the water.

19 The waters rose on the earth until all of the high mountains under the entire sky were covered.