Genesis 7:17
New International Version
For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth.

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

English Standard Version
The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.

Berean Standard Bible
For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth.

King James Bible
And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

New King James Version
Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.

New American Standard Bible
Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth.

NASB 1995
Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth.

NASB 1977
Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days; and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water multiplied and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth.

Amplified Bible
The flood [the great downpour of rain] was forty days and nights on the earth; and the waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it floated [high] above the land.

Christian Standard Bible
The flood continued for forty days on the earth; the water increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The flood continued for 40 days on the earth; the waters increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth.

American Standard Version
And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth.

English Revised Version
And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The flood continued for 40 days on the earth. The water increased and lifted the ship so that it rose high above the ground.

Good News Translation
The flood continued for forty days, and the water became deep enough for the boat to float.

International Standard Version
The flood continued throughout the earth for 40 days, while the flood waters increased, lifting the ark so that it rose above the surface of the earth.

Majority Standard Bible
For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth.

NET Bible
The flood engulfed the earth for forty days. As the waters increased, they lifted the ark and raised it above the earth.

New Heart English Bible
The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the vessel, and it was lifted up above the earth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the flood was forty days upon the earth: and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it was lifted above the earth.

World English Bible
The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the earth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the flood is on the earth [for] forty days, and the waters multiply and lift up the Ark, and it is raised up from off the earth;

Young's Literal Translation
And the deluge is forty days on the earth, and the waters multiply, and lift up the ark, and it is raised up from off the earth;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the flood shall be forty days upon the earth, and the waters shall multiply, and shall take up the ark, and it shall be lifted up from above the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the flood was forty days upon the earth, and the waters increased, and lifted up the ark on high from earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the great flood occurred for forty days upon the earth. And the waters were increased, and they lifted the ark high above the land.

New American Bible
The flood continued upon the earth for forty days. As the waters increased, they lifted the ark, so that it rose above the earth.

New Revised Standard Version
The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the flood lasted forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased and bore up the ark so that it was lifted up above the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the flood was forty days on the Earth, and the waters increased, and they lifted the ark and it was lifted up from the Earth.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the flood was upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and the water abounded greatly and bore up the ark, and it was lifted on high from off the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Duration of the Flood
17For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth. 18So the waters continued to surge and rise greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the waters.…

Cross References
Matthew 24:38-39
For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Luke 17:26-27
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: / People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

1 Peter 3:20
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

2 Peter 2:5
if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;

2 Peter 3:6
through which the world of that time perished in the flood.

Genesis 6:17
And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish.

Genesis 8:1
But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside.

Genesis 8:3-4
The waters receded steadily from the earth, and after 150 days the waters had gone down. / On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

Genesis 9:11
And I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Job 22:16
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

Psalm 29:10
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

Isaiah 54:9
“For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.

Ezekiel 26:19
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I make you a desolate city like other deserted cities, and when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you,

Matthew 24:37
As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.


Treasury of Scripture

And the flood was forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

Genesis 7:4,12
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth…

Jump to Previous
Ark Bare Bore Continued Deluge Earth Flood Forty High Increased Kept Lifted Multiply Raised Rose Ship Water Waters
Jump to Next
Ark Bare Bore Continued Deluge Earth Flood Forty High Increased Kept Lifted Multiply Raised Rose Ship Water Waters
Genesis 7
1. Noah, his family and the living creatures enter the ark.
6. The flood begins.
17. The increase of the flood for forty days.
21. All flesh is destroyed by it.
24. Its duration of 150 days.














For forty days
The phrase "for forty days" is significant throughout the Bible, often symbolizing a period of testing, trial, or judgment. In Hebrew, the number forty (אַרְבָּעִים, arba'im) is frequently associated with times of significant change or transformation. For instance, Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai, and Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness. Here, the forty days of rain represent a divine judgment and purification of the earth, a period during which God cleanses the world of its corruption.

the flood kept coming
The Hebrew word for "flood" (מַבּוּל, mabbul) is unique to the Genesis flood narrative, emphasizing the cataclysmic nature of this event. The phrase "kept coming" suggests a relentless, overwhelming force, indicative of God's power and the seriousness of His judgment. This continuous deluge serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the extent to which God will go to restore righteousness.

on the earth
The term "earth" (אֶרֶץ, erets) in Hebrew can refer to the entire world or a specific land. In this context, it underscores the universality of the flood's impact, affecting all of creation. This global scope highlights the severity of humanity's sin and the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, as well as His sovereignty over all the earth.

and the waters rose
The rising waters symbolize the increasing intensity of God's judgment. The Hebrew verb for "rose" (גָּבַר, gabar) conveys the idea of prevailing or becoming mighty. This imagery of the waters gaining strength serves as a powerful reminder of God's might and the inescapable nature of His decrees. It also foreshadows the eventual triumph of God's will over human rebellion.

and lifted the ark
The ark, a vessel of salvation, is "lifted" by the very waters that bring judgment. The Hebrew verb for "lifted" (נָשָׂא, nasa) can also mean to carry or bear up. This duality illustrates God's provision and protection for those who are faithful, even amidst judgment. The ark's elevation signifies the separation of the righteous from the wicked, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture.

high above the earth
The phrase "high above the earth" emphasizes the ark's safety and the divine protection afforded to Noah and his family. The Hebrew word for "high" (מְאֹד, me'od) suggests an exceeding or great height, reinforcing the idea of God's deliverance. This imagery of elevation not only signifies physical safety but also spiritual elevation, as those who trust in God are lifted above the trials and tribulations of the world. This serves as an inspirational reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises and His ability to save those who are righteous in His sight.

(17-19) The waters increased . . . --The swelling of the flood is told with great power in these verses but every stage and detail has reference to the ark, as if the author of the narrative was one of those on board. First, the "waters increased," and raised up the ark till it floated. Next, "they became strong and increased exceedingly"--the word rendered "prevailed" really signifying the setting in of mighty currents (see on Genesis 8:1), as the waters sought the lower ground--and at this stage the ark began to move. Finally, they "became strong exceedingly, exceedingly," rushing along with ever-increasing force, and carrying the ark high above every hill in its course. Of these it is said--

All the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.--Interpreting this by the English Version, many regard it as a proof of the deluge having been universal. But omitting the well-known fact that in the Bible the word "all" means much less than with us, we must also remember that the Hebrew language has a very small vocabulary, and "the whole heaven" means simply the whole shy. We with our composite language borrow a word for it from the Greek, and say "the whole horizon," that is, the whole heaven, bounded by the line of the spectators vision. So then here. Far and wide, in every direction, to the utmost reach of the beholder's gaze, no mountain was in sight. All was a surging waste of flood. But there is no idea here of the mountains of Auvergne, with the ashes of old-world volcanoes still reposing upon their craters, extinct from a time probably long anterior to the creation even of man. The mountains were those of the Noachian world, as limited as the Roman world of Luke 2:1, or even more so.

Verses 17-19. - And the flood was forty days upon the earth. Referring to the forty days' and nights' rain of ver. 4 (τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας καὶ τεσσαράκοντα νύκτας, LXX.), during which the augmentation of the waters is described in a threefold degree. And the waters increased. Literally, grew great. The first degree of increase, marked by the floating of the ark. And bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. Literally, it was high from upon the earth, i.e. it rose above it. And the waters prevailed. Literally, were strong; from גָּבַר, to be strong; whence the Gibborim of Genesis 6:4. And were increased greatly on the earth. Literally, became great, greatly. The second degree of increase, marked by the going of the ark. And the ark went - i.e. floated along; καὶ ἐπεφέρετο, LXX. (Psalm 104:26) - upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly. Literally, and the waters became strong, exceedingly. The third degree of increase, marked by the submergence of the mountains. And all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. A clear assertion of the universality of the Flood (Keil, Kalisch, Alford, Bush, Wordsworth); but the language does not necessarily imply more than that all the high hills beneath the spectator s heaven were submerged (cf. Genesis 41:57; Exodus 9:25; Exodus 10:15; Deuteronomy 2:25; 1 Kings 10:24; Acts 2:5; Colossians 1:25, for instances in which the universal terms all and every must be taken with a limited signification); while it is almost certain that, had the narrator even designed to record only the fact that all the heights within the visible horizon had disappeared beneath the rising waters, he would have done so by saying that "all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered." While, then, it is admitted that the words may depict a complete submergence of the globe, it is maintained by many competent scholars that the necessities of exegesis only demand a partial inundation (Peele, Murphy, Taylor Lewis, 'Speaker's Commentary,' Inglis).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For forty
אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

days
י֖וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

the flood
הַמַּבּ֛וּל (ham·mab·būl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3999: Flood -- a deluge

kept coming
וַֽיְהִ֧י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the earth,
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and the waters
הַמַּ֗יִם (ham·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

rose
וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ (way·yir·bū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

and lifted
וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ (way·yiś·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the ark
הַתֵּבָ֔ה (hat·tê·ḇāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8392: A box, chest

high above
מֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the earth.
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


Links
Genesis 7:17 NIV
Genesis 7:17 NLT
Genesis 7:17 ESV
Genesis 7:17 NASB
Genesis 7:17 KJV

Genesis 7:17 BibleApps.com
Genesis 7:17 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 7:17 Chinese Bible
Genesis 7:17 French Bible
Genesis 7:17 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 7:17 The flood was forty days (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 7:16
Top of Page
Top of Page