Genesis 7

Commentary

Entering the Ark

(Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21; 2 Peter 3:1-9)

1And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 3Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. 4For 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. 5And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

The Floodwaters Arrive

6And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 7And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. 8Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, 9There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. 10And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. 11In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

13In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; 14They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. 15And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

The Duration of the Flood

17And 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. 18And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 21And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: 22All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 23And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. 24And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

The Great Flood
(2 Peter 3:1–7)

1 Yahweh said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. 2 You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female. 3 Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth. 4 In seven days, I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. Every living thing that I have made, I will destroy from the surface of the ground.” 5 Noah did everything that Yahweh commanded him.

6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth. 7 Noah went into the ship with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, because of the waters of the flood. 8 Clean animals, animals that are not clean, birds, and everything that creeps on the ground 9 went by pairs to Noah into the ship, male and female, as God commanded Noah. 10 It happened after the seven days, that the waters of the flood came on the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep were burst open, and the sky’s windows were opened. 12 The rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.

13 In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ship; 14 they, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. 15 They went to Noah into the ship, by pairs of all flesh with the breath of life in them. 16 Those who went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him; and Yahweh shut him in.

17 The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed, and increased greatly on the earth; and the ship floated on the surface of the waters. 19 The waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered. 20 The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. 21 All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. 23 Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and birds of the sky. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ship. 24 The waters prevailed on the earth one hundred fifty days.

The Great Flood
(2 Peter 3:1–7)

1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2 You are to take with you seven pairs of a every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate; a pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate; 3 and seven pairs of every kind of bird of the air, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of all the earth. 4 For seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living thing I have made.”

5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.

6 Now Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his wife, with his sons and their wives, entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 The clean and unclean animals, the birds, and everything that crawls along the ground 9 came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.

10 And after seven days the floodwaters came upon the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. 12 And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

13 On that very day Noah entered the ark, along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and his wife, and the three wives of his sons— 14 they and every kind of wild animal, livestock, crawling creature, bird, and winged creature. 15 They came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two of every creature b with the breath of life. 16 And they entered, the male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.

17 For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth. 18 So the waters continued to surge and rise greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the waters. 19 Finally, the waters completely inundated the earth, so that all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered.

20 The waters rose and covered the mountaintops to a depth of fifteen cubits. c 21 And every living thing that moved upon the earth perished—birds, livestock, animals, every creature that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind. 22 Of all that was on dry land, everything that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. 23 And every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained.

24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth for 150 days.

 

Footnotes:

2 a Or by sevens ; also in verse 3
15 b Literally of all flesh ; similarly in verses 16 and 21
20 c 15 cubits  is approximately 22.5 feet or 6.9 meters.

Entering the Ark

(Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21; 2 Peter 3:1-9)

1And Jehovah saith to Noah, 'Come in, thou and all thy house, unto the ark, for thee I have seen righteous before Me in this generation; 2of all the clean beasts thou dost take to thee seven pairs, a male and its female; and of the beasts which are not clean two, a male and its female; 3also, of fowl of the heavens seven pairs, a male and a female, to keep alive seed on the face of all the earth; 4for after other seven days I am sending rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and have wiped away all the substance that I have made from off the face of the ground.' 5And Noah doth according to all that Jehovah hath commanded him:

The Floodwaters Arrive

6and Noah is a son of six hundred years, and the deluge of waters hath been upon the earth. 7And Noah goeth in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, unto the ark, from the presence of the waters of the deluge; 8of the clean beasts and of the beasts that are not clean, and of the fowl, and of every thing that is creeping upon the ground, 9two by two they have come in unto Noah, unto the ark, a male and a female, as God hath commanded Noah. 10And it cometh to pass, after the seventh of the days, that waters of the deluge have been on the earth. 11In the six hundredth year of the life of Noah, in the second month, in the seventeenth day of the month, in this day have been broken up all fountains of the great deep, and the net-work of the heavens hath been opened, 12and the shower is on the earth forty days and forty nights.

13In this self-same day went in Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, sons of Noah, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, unto the ark; 14they, and every living creature after its kind, and every beast after its kind, and every creeping thing that is creeping on the earth after its kind, and every fowl after its kind, every bird -- every wing. 15And they come in unto Noah, unto the ark, two by two of all the flesh in which is a living spirit; 16and they that are coming in, male and female of all flesh, have come in as God hath commanded him, and Jehovah doth close it for him.

The Duration of the Flood

17And 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; 18and the waters are mighty, and multiply exceedingly upon the earth; and the ark goeth on the face of the waters. 19And the waters have been very very mighty on the earth, and covered are all the high mountains which are under the whole heavens; 20fifteen cubits upwards have the waters become mighty, and the mountains are covered; 21and expire doth all flesh that is moving on the earth, among fowl, and among cattle, and among beasts, and among all the teeming things which are teeming on the earth, and all mankind; 22all in whose nostrils is breath of a living spirit -- of all that is in the dry land -- have died. 23And wiped away is all the substance that is on the face of the ground, from man unto beast, unto creeping thing, and unto fowl of the heavens; yea, they are wiped away from the earth, and only Noah is left, and those who are with him in the ark; 24and the waters are mighty on the earth a hundred and fifty days.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Genesis 7?
2Introduction to Genesis 7
3Context of Genesis 7
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Genesis 7 Unique Insights
7Genesis 7 Connections to Yeshua
8Genesis 7 Scriptural Echoes
9Genesis 7 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Genesis 7?

Introduction to Genesis 7

Genesis 7 marks a pivotal moment in human history where God’s judgment and mercy intersect in the dramatic account of the Great Flood. This chapter documents the fulfillment of God’s declaration of judgment against the corruption of all flesh, while simultaneously demonstrating His faithful preservation of righteous Noah and the means for Earth’s renewal. The narrative serves as both a sobering reminder of divine justice and an encouraging testimony to God’s provision for those who walk with Him in faith.

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The chapter’s significance extends beyond its historical account, serving as a foundational text for understanding God’s character, His view of sin, and His commitment to preservation through judgment. It establishes patterns that echo throughout Scripture, pointing toward greater redemptive themes that find their ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah.

Context of Genesis 7

The immediate context of Genesis 7 follows the deterioration of human society described in Genesis 6, where the thoughts of humanity had become continuously evil. This degradation reached such a level that God determined to bring judgment through a flood, while extending grace to Noah, who “found favor in the eyes of יהוה” (Genesis 6:8). Genesis 7 represents the execution phase of God’s plan, moving from the preparation and instruction period to the actual implementation of both judgment and salvation.

Within the broader narrative of Genesis, this chapter serves as a crucial turning point in God’s dealings with humanity. It stands as the third major divine intervention in human affairs, following creation and the fall. The flood account bridges the gap between the initial creation and the post-flood world, serving as both an end and a beginning. This dual nature of judgment and renewal establishes a pattern that becomes central to God’s redemptive work throughout Scripture.

In the larger biblical context, Genesis 7 establishes several theological principles that resonate throughout the entire Bible: God’s holiness demands judgment against sin, His mercy provides a way of salvation, and His faithfulness ensures the preservation of His people. These themes find their ultimate expression in the Messiah, who, like the ark, becomes the means of salvation through judgment.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • תֵּבָה (tebah) – “ark”: This unique Hebrew word appears only in the flood narrative and in Exodus 2:3-5, describing Moses’ basket. Its Egyptian origin suggests a vessel designed for preservation through water, pointing to God’s salvation through judgment. The word’s limited usage creates a deliberate connection between Noah’s and Moses’ deliverances.
  • מַבּוּל (mabbul) – “flood”: This term is exclusively used for Noah’s flood in Hebrew Scripture, distinguishing it from regular floods. Its unique usage emphasizes the supernatural and unprecedented nature of this judgment, marking it as a singular event in history that God promised never to repeat.
  • צַדִּיק (tsaddiq) – “righteous”: Applied to Noah, this term indicates not mere moral perfection but a right standing before God based on faith and obedience. The New Testament confirms this understanding in Hebrews 11:7, where Noah’s righteousness is explicitly connected to his faith.
  • טָהוֹר (tahor) – “clean”: The distinction between clean and unclean animals appears here before the Mosaic Law, suggesting an early understanding of ritual purity and sacrifice. This anticipates the later sacrificial system and points to the importance of approaching God according to His standards.
  • שְׁנַיִם שְׁנַיִם (shnayim shnayim) – “two by two”: The repetition emphasizes the orderly nature of God’s preservation plan. This phrase appears multiple times, stressing both the comprehensive nature of preservation and the future possibility of reproduction.
  • מָחָה (machah) – “blot out”: This powerful verb conveys complete erasure or obliteration. The same word is used in Exodus 32:32-33 regarding the Book of Life, linking divine judgment with eternal consequences.
  • אֲרֻבֹּת הַשָּׁמַיִם (arubot hashamayim) – “windows of heaven”: This metaphorical phrase suggests divine control over cosmic forces. It appears elsewhere in Scripture to describe God’s supernatural provision or judgment, emphasizing His sovereign power over creation.
  • גָּבַר (gabar) – “prevailed”: The word implies strength and victory, used multiple times to describe the flood waters. It portrays the flood as a military conquest, emphasizing divine power in judgment.
  • כָּל-בָּשָׂר (kol-basar) – “all flesh”: This comprehensive term encompasses all living creatures, emphasizing the universal scope of both judgment and preservation.

Compare & Contrast

  • Genesis 7:1: “Come into the ark” (בֹּא) rather than “Go into the ark” (לֵךְ) suggests God’s presence inside the ark, making it not merely a vessel of escape but a place of divine presence and protection.
  • Genesis 7:2: The specification of “seven pairs” of clean animals rather than just pairs indicates divine foresight for both preservation and future sacrifice, anticipating worship needs.
  • Genesis 7:4: The use of “seven days” before the flood suggests a period of grace, echoing the seven days of creation and establishing a pattern of divine patience before judgment.
  • Genesis 7:11: The phrase “fountains of the great deep burst forth” uses military terminology (בָּקַע – baqa), portraying creation itself as participating in divine judgment.
  • Genesis 7:15: The animals “came to Noah” rather than Noah gathering them emphasizes divine sovereignty in salvation.
  • Genesis 7:16: “יהוה shut him in” uses the verb סָגַר (sagar), emphasizing divine protection rather than mere closing.
  • Genesis 7:19: The repetition of “all the high mountains” with “under the whole heaven” emphasizes the universal scope of the judgment.
  • Genesis 7:22: The phrase “breath of life” (נִשְׁמַת־רוּחַ חַיִּים) links back to creation, showing the reversal of God’s life-giving work through judgment.

Genesis 7 Unique Insights

The Hebrew text contains a fascinating numerical pattern throughout the flood narrative. The number seven appears repeatedly: seven days of waiting, seven pairs of clean animals, and the seventh month when the ark rested. This emphasizes divine completeness and perfection in both judgment and salvation. The Rabbinical tradition in Bereishit Rabbah notes that these sevens correspond to the seven days of creation, suggesting a thematic connection between creation and re-creation.

Early church father Origen observed that the ark’s dimensions form a perfect ratio for stability in water, a fact only confirmed by modern naval architecture. This detail suggests divine wisdom in the ark’s design, transcending the ancient world’s shipbuilding knowledge. The Jewish mystical tradition sees in the ark’s three levels a picture of the three worlds: the physical realm, the spiritual realm, and the divine realm, all preserved through the flood.

The timing of the flood in Noah’s 600th year carries significance in Jewish numerology. The number six represents incompletion or imperfection, while 600 suggests a culmination of this imperfect state before a new beginning. This timing reinforces the flood’s role as both an ending and a new beginning in God’s dealings with humanity.

The text’s careful attention to dates and times (marking the 17th day of the second month, the 40 days and nights, etc.) serves not only historical accuracy but also liturgical purposes. These precise chronological markers were later used in Jewish tradition to commemorate God’s faithfulness in judgment and salvation, particularly during the month of Cheshvan when the flood began.

Genesis 7 Connections to Yeshua

The flood narrative presents powerful typological connections to the Messiah’s work of salvation. Just as Noah’s ark provided the only means of salvation through the waters of judgment, so Yeshua provides the only way of salvation through God’s final judgment. The Messiah Himself drew this parallel in Matthew 24:37-39, comparing His second coming to the days of Noah.

The apostle Peter develops this connection further in 1 Peter 3:20-21, where he explicitly links the flood waters to baptism, showing how both point to salvation through death and resurrection in the Messiah. The ark, lifted up by the waters of judgment, foreshadows how Yeshua was lifted up on the cross, bearing God’s judgment to provide salvation for those who enter into Him by faith.

The divine initiative in bringing the animals to the ark parallels the Father’s work in drawing people to the Messiah (John 6:44). Furthermore, just as God shut Noah in the ark, securing his salvation, so those who are in the Messiah are eternally secure in Him (John 10:28-29).

Genesis 7 Scriptural Echoes

The flood narrative establishes patterns that resonate throughout Scripture. The waters of judgment find echo in the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), where again water serves as both judgment on God’s enemies and salvation for His people. The prophet Isaiah references the flood when discussing God’s covenant faithfulness (Isaiah 54:9).

The concept of a righteous remnant preserved through judgment becomes a recurring theme in Scripture, from Lot’s rescue from Sodom to the preservation of a faithful remnant through the Babylonian exile. The prophets frequently draw on flood imagery when describing both judgment and salvation (Isaiah 28:2, Daniel 9:26).

Peter uses the flood as a paradigm for understanding the final judgment, noting that just as the ancient world was destroyed by water, the present heavens and earth are reserved for judgment by fire (2 Peter 3:5-7). This connection helps us understand both the reality of divine judgment and the certainty of salvation for those who take refuge in God’s provision.

Genesis 7 Devotional

Genesis 7 challenges us to consider our own standing before God and the reality of divine judgment. Noah’s faith, demonstrated through decades of ark-building despite no visible threat, encourages us to trust God’s word even when circumstances seem to contradict it. His example calls us to faithful obedience in our own generation, even when swimming against the cultural tide.

The chapter reminds us that God’s judgment is real and comprehensive, but His mercy always provides a way of escape for those who trust in Him. Just as Noah found grace in God’s eyes and received detailed instructions for salvation, we too have received God’s gracious provision of salvation in the Messiah. The question is whether we, like Noah, will respond in faith and obedience.

For believers, the flood account provides comfort in knowing that God can preserve His people through any judgment. When facing personal floods of trials or opposition, we can trust that the God who shut Noah in the ark is the same God who holds us securely in His hand today.

Did You Know

  • The dimensions of Noah’s ark (300 x 50 x 30 cubits) create a ratio of 30:5:3, which naval architects have confirmed is ideal for stability in rough seas. Modern ship builders use similar proportions for large vessels.
  • The Hebrew word for “pitch” used to waterproof the ark (כֹּפֶר – kopher) shares the same root as the word for “atonement,” suggesting a theological connection between covering and salvation.
  • Ancient Babylonian flood accounts exist, but uniquely, the biblical account emphasizes moral causes and purposes rather than capricious divine behavior.
  • The 40-day duration of the flood rains becomes a significant biblical pattern, appearing in Moses’ time on Sinai, Elijah’s journey to Horeb, and Yeshua’s wilderness testing.
  • The phrase “God remembered Noah” uses a Hebrew word (זָכַר – zakar) that implies not merely mental recall but active intervention on behalf of the remembered one.
  • The flood account contains the first mention of the distinction between clean and unclean animals in Scripture, predating the Mosaic Law by centuries.
  • The internal measurements and chronology of the flood account follow a precise literary structure that forms a palindrome, with the center point being “God remembered Noah.”
  • Archaeological evidence suggests that flood stories appear in over 200 different cultures worldwide, though none match the theological sophistication of the biblical account.
  • The waters covered the mountains by 15 cubits, the exact half-height of the ark, suggesting the precise amount needed to float the ark over the highest peaks.
  • Jewish tradition holds that the raven Noah sent out kept returning to the ark because it suspected Noah might be interested in its mate, providing an interesting insight into ancient interpretations of the text.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

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