Genesis 7:4

4 For yet and after seven days, I shall rain on [the] earth forty days and forty nights, and I shall do away all substance which I made, from the face of [the] earth. (For in seven days, I shall send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I shall do away all the substance which I made, from off the face of the earth.)

Genesis 7:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 7:4

For yet seven days
Or one week more, after the above orders were given, which, the Jews say, were for the mourning at Methuselah's death; others, that they were an additional space to the one hundred and twenty given to the old world for repentance; in which time some might truly repent, finding that the destruction of the world was very near, and who might be saved from everlasting damnation, though not from perishing in the flood: but it rather was a space of time proper for Noah to have, to settle himself and family, and all the creatures in the ark, and dispose of everything there, in the best manner, for their sustenance and safety: and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty
nights:
this was not an ordinary but an extraordinary rain, in which the power and providence of God were eminently concerned, both with respect to the continuance of it, and the quantity of water that fell: and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off
the face of the earth:
not every substance that has a vegetative life, as plants, herbs, and trees, which were not destroyed, see ( Genesis 8:11 ) but every substance that has animal life, as fowls, cattle, creeping things, and men.

Genesis 7:4 In-Context

2 Of all clean living beasts, thou shalt take (with thee) by seven and by seven, male and female; forsooth of unclean living beasts, thou shalt take by twain and by twain, male and female; (Of all clean beasts, thou shalt take with thee seven pairs, male and female; but of all unclean beasts, thou shalt take only one pair, male and female;)

3 and also of [the] volatiles of (the) heaven(s), thou shalt take, by seven and by seven, male and female, that their seed be saved on the face of all (the) earth. (and also of the birds of the air, thou shalt take seven pairs, male and female, so that their descendants will continue to live on the face of the earth.)

4 For yet and after seven days, I shall rain on [the] earth forty days and forty nights, and I shall do away all substance which I made, from the face of [the] earth. (For in seven days, I shall send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I shall do away all the substance which I made, from off the face of the earth.)

5 Therefore Noe did all things which the Lord commanded to him.

6 And he was six hundred years (old), when the waters of the great flood flowed on [the] earth.