Genesis 7:17-24

17 For forty days the floodwaters grew deeper, covering the ground and lifting the boat high above the earth.

18 As the waters rose higher and higher above the ground, the boat floated safely on the surface.

19 Finally, the water covered even the highest mountains on the earth,

20 rising more than twenty-two feet above the highest peaks.

21 All the living things on earth died—birds, domestic animals, wild animals, small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people.

22 Everything that breathed and lived on dry land died.

23 God wiped out every living thing on the earth—people, livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and the birds of the sky. All were destroyed. The only people who survived were Noah and those with him in the boat.

24 And the floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days.

Genesis 7:17-24 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew 15 cubits [6.9 meters].