Genesis 7:18
in Genesis 7So the waters continued to surge and rise greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the waters.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
KJV
And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
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This verse in Genesis 7
Commentary
5 notes on this verseAnd the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth,.... Still they became greater and more powerful, as to bear up the ark, so to cast down houses, trees, &c. by the continual rains that fell, though perhaps they were not so violent as before, and by the constant eruptions of water out of the earth: and the ark went upon the face of the waters; it floated about upon them, in an easy gentle manner; for there were no storms of wind or tempests raised, which might endanger it.
This site's exposition
the waters rose and lifted the ark
on Genesis 7:17-18
For forty days the flood keeps coming, and the same water that drowns the world lifts the ark high above it. Genesis gives the ark no rudder, no sail and no oars, and it floats on the surface of the waters where they carry it. Noah steers nothing.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
That which to unbelievers is a savour of death unto death is to the faithful a savour of life unto life. The more the waters increased the higher the ark was lifted up towards heaven. Thus sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions; and as troubles abound consolations much more abound.
And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth,.... Still they became greater and more powerful, as to bear up the ark, so to cast down houses, trees, &c. by the continual rains that fell, though perhaps they were not so violent as before, and by the constant eruptions of water out of the earth: and the ark went upon the face of the waters; it floated about upon them, in an easy gentle manner; for there were no storms of wind or tempests raised, which might endanger it.
That which to unbelievers is a savour of death unto death is to the faithful a savour of life unto life. The more the waters increased the higher the ark was lifted up towards heaven. Thus sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions; and as troubles abound consolations much more abound.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ | vaiyigberu | and they increased | H1396 → | 25 times |
| הַמַּ֛יִם | hamayim | the waters | H4325 → | 581 times |
| וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ | vaiyirbu | and they increased | H7235 → | 227 times |
| מְאֹ֖ד | meod | exceedingly | H3966 → | 300 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הָאָ֑רֶץ | haaretz | the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ | vatelekh | and it went | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| הַתֵּבָ֖ה | hatevah | the ark | H8392 → | 28 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| פְּנֵ֥י | penei | [the] surface of | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| הַמָּֽיִם׃ | hamayim | the waters | H4325 → | 581 times |
וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּand they increased
vaiyigberuH1396 →25 times
הַמַּ֛יִםthe waters
hamayimH4325 →581 times
וַיִּרְבּ֥וּand they increased
vaiyirbuH7235 →227 times
מְאֹ֖דexceedingly
meodH3966 →300 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הָאָ֑רֶץthe earth
haaretzH776 →2504 times
וַתֵּ֥לֶךְand it went
vatelekhH1980 →1546 times
הַתֵּבָ֖הthe ark
hatevahH8392 →28 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
פְּנֵ֥י[the] surface of
peneiH6440 →2123 times
הַמָּֽיִם׃the waters
hamayimH4325 →581 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Job 22:16They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
it leads to
- Job 15:32
It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
- Genesis 7:17–24
For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth.
- Job 15:32
Through
Exodus 14:28The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
it leads to
- Psalms 78:53
He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies.
- Psalms 106:9–11
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert.
- Psalms 78:53
Through
Psalms 69:15Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.
it leads to
- Revelation 12:15–16
Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.
- Psalms 16:10
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
- Acts 2:24
But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.
- Revelation 12:15–16
Through
Psalms 104:26There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.
it leads to
- Psalms 107:23
Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters.
- Psalms 107:23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.