Genesis 7:18-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 7:17-20

We are here told, I. How long the flood was increasing?forty days, Gen. 7:17. The profane world, who believed not that it would come, probably when it came flattered themselves with hopes that it would soon abate and never come to extremity; but still it increased, it prevailed. Note, 1. When God judges he will overcome. If he begin, he will make an end; his way is perfect, both in judgment and mercy. 2. The gradual approaches and advances of God's judgments, which are designed to bring... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 7:18

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 7:19

And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth ,.... Yet more and more, so that the people without the ark were obliged to remove, not only from the lower to the higher rooms in their houses, and to the tops of them, but to the highest trees; and when these were bore down, to the highest hills and mountains; and to those it was in vain to fly, by what follows: and all the high hills that were under the whole heaven were covered : whence it appears there were hills before the flood,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 7:20

Fifteen cubits upwards did the waters prevail ,.... Either to such an height above the earth, upwards from that, or from the high hills; for though the words do not necessarily imply that, yet it may be allowed, since there was water enough to cover the highest of them; and fifteen cubits of water were enough to drown the tallest man, or largest beast that should be upon the top of any of them: and the mountains were covered , with water, even it may be allowed fifteen cubits high; nor... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 7:20

Fifteen cubits upward - Should any person object to the universality of the deluge because he may imagine there is not water sufficient to drown the whole globe in the manner here related, he may find a most satisfactory answer to all the objections he can raise on this ground in Mr. Ray's Physico-theological Discourses, 2d edit., 8vo., 1693. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 7:17-19

And the flood was forty days upon the earth . Referring to the forty days' and nights' rain of Genesis 7:4 ( τεσσαρα ì κοντα η ̔ με ì ρας και Ì τεσσαρα ì κοντα νυ ì κτας , 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 7:19

Was the Flood universal? I. THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT . Unquestionably the language of the historian appears to describe a complete submergence of the globe beneath a flood of waters, and is capable of being so understood, so far as exegesis can determine. Unquestionably also that this was the writer's meaning would never have been challenged had it not been for certain difficulties of a scientific nature, as well as of other kinds, which were gradually seen to attach to such hypothesis.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 7:20

Fifteen cubits upward —half the height of the ark— did the waters prevail . Literally, become strong ; above the highest mountains obviously, and not above the ground simply; as, on the latter alternative, it could scarcely have been added, and the mountains were covered. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 7:17-24

The prevalence of the waters. The forty days are now completed. And at the end of this period the ark had been afloat for a long time. It was drifted on the waters in the direction in which they were flowing, and toward what was formerly the higher ground.Genesis 7:19Upon the land. - The land is to be understood of the portion of the earth’s surface known to man. This, with an unknown margin beyond it, was covered with the waters. But this is all that Scripture warrants us to assert. Concerning... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 7:19-20

Genesis 7:19-20 . All the high hills, and the mountains were covered Therefore, there were hills and mountains before the flood. Deists, and other infidels, would persuade us that this was impossible, because of the vast height of divers hills and mountains. But, not to mention here that this fact has been established by the universal consent of all nations, that there was a general deluge which over-flowed the whole world, and that it has been demonstrated by different writers that there... read more

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