Genesis 7
Genesis 7 is part of “The Flood” (6:1–9:29) in the outline of Genesis.
Genesis 7 summary
In this chapter we have the performance of what was foretold in the foregoing chapter, both concerning the destruction of the old world and the salvation of Noah; for we may be sure that no word of God shall fall to the ground. There we left Noah busy about his ark, and full of care to get it finished in time, while the rest of his neighbours were laughing at him for his pains. Now here we see what was the end thereof, the end of his care and of their carelessness. And this famous period of the old world gives us some idea of the state of things when the world that now is shall be destroyed by fire, as that was by water.
Read the full introduction
In this chapter we have the performance of what was foretold in the foregoing chapter, both concerning the destruction of the old world and the salvation of Noah; for we may be sure that no word of God shall fall to the ground. There we left Noah busy about his ark, and full of care to get it finished in time, while the rest of his neighbours were laughing at him for his pains. Now here we see what was the end thereof, the end of his care and of their carelessness. And this famous period of the old world gives us some idea of the state of things when the world that now is shall be destroyed by fire, as that was by water. (See Pe2 3:6, Pe2 3:7.) We have, in this chapter, I. God's gracious call to Noah to come into the ark (Gen 7:1), and to bring the creatures that were to be preserved alive along with him (Gen 7:2, Gen 7:3), in consideration of the deluge at hand (Gen 7:4). II. Noah's obedience to this heavenly vision (Gen 7:5). When he was six hundred years old, he came with his family into the ark (Gen 7:6, Gen 7:7), and brought the creatures along with him (Gen 7:8, Gen 7:9), an account of which is repeated (Gen 7:13-16), to which is added God's tender care to shut him in. III. The coming of the threatened deluge (Gen 7:10); the causes of it (Gen 7:11, Gen 7:12); the prevalency of it (Gen 7:17-20). IV. The dreadful desolations that were made by it in the death of every living creature upon earth, except those that were in the ark (Gen 7:21-23). V. The continuance of it in full sea, before it began to ebb, one hundred and fifty days (Gen 7:24).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Genesis 7 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
The Flood
1And the Lord said vnto Noah, Enter thou and all thine house into the Arke: for thee haue I seene righteous before me in this age. 2Of euery cleane beast thou shalt take to thee by seuens, the male and his female: but of vncleane beastes by couples, the male and his female. 3Of the foules also of the heauen by seuens, male and female, to keepe seede aliue vpon the whole earth. 4For seuen dayes hence I will cause it raine vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes, and all the substance that I haue made, will I destroy from off the earth. 5Noah therefore did according vnto all that the Lord commanded him. 6And Noah was sixe hundreth yeeres olde, when the flood of waters was vpon the earth. 7So Noah entred and his sonnes, and his wife, and his sonnes wiues with him into the Arke, because of the waters of the flood. 8Of the cleane beastes, and of the vncleane beastes, and of the foules, and of all that creepeth vpon the earth, 9There came two and two vnto Noah into the Arke, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. 10And so after seuen dayes the waters of the flood were vpon the earth. 11In the sixe hundreth yeere of Noahs life in the second moneth, the seuetenth day of the moneth, in the same day were all the fountaines of the great deepe broken vp, and the windowes of heauen were opened, 12And the raine was vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes. 13In the selfe same day entred Noah with Shem, and Ham and Iapheth, the sonnes of Noah, and Noahs wife, and the three wiues of his sonnes with them into the Arke. 14They and euery beast after his kinde, and all cattell after their kinde, and euery thing that creepeth and moueth vpon the earth after his kinde, and euery foule after his kinde, euen euery bird of euery fether. 15For they came to Noah into ye Arke, two and two, of all flesh wherein is ye breath of life. 16And they entring in, came male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in. 17Then ye flood was fourtie dayes vpon the earth, and the waters were increased, and bare vp the Arke, which was lift vp aboue the earth. 18The waters also waxed strong, and were increased exceedingly vpon the earth, and the Arke went vpon the waters. 19The waters preuailed so exceedingly vpon the earth, that all the high mountaines, that are vnder the whole heauen, were couered. 20Fifteene cubites vpwarde did the waters preuaile, when the mountaines were couered. 21Then all flesh perished that moued vpon the earth, both foule and cattell and beast, and euery thing that creepeth and moueth vpon the earth, and euery man. 22Euery thing in whose nostrels the spirit of life did breathe, whatsoeuer they were in the drie land, they died. 23So he destroyed euery thing that was vpon the earth, from man to beast, to ye creeping thing, and to the foule of the heauen: they were euen destroyed from the earth. And Noah onely remained; and they that were with him in ye Arke. 24And the waters preuailed vpon the earth an hundreth and fiftie dayes.