Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
Parallel translations
- WEB The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the earth.
- KJV 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.
- BSB For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth.
- NASB 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.
- NLT For forty days the floodwaters grew deeper, covering the ground and lifting the boat high above the earth.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The flood prevailed forty days, lifting the ark above the earth. The waters that judged the world bore up the vessel of salvation.
Overview
The same waters that destroy the rebellious world lift and carry the ark to safety. This striking contrast shows that God's judgment and salvation operate together. The ark rising above the flood pictures how those sheltered in God's provision are borne safely through the very judgment that overwhelms others.
Cross-references & the web
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 7:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.