Genesis 7:21-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 7:21-24

Here is, I. The general destruction of all flesh by the waters of the flood. Come, and see the desolations which God makes in the earth (Ps. 46:8), and how he lays heaps upon heaps. Never did death triumph, from its first entrance unto this day, as it did then. Come, and see Death upon his pale horse, and hell following with him, Rev. 6:7, 8. 1. All the cattle, fowl, and creeping things, died, except the few that were in the ark. Observe how this is repeated: All flesh died, Gen. 7:21. All in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 7:21

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth ,.... That had animal life in them, of which motion was a sign: both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth ; excepting those that were in the ark. This general destruction of the creatures, as it was for the sins of men, whose they were, and by whom they were abused, and is expressive of God's hatred of sin, and of his holiness and justice in the punishment of it; so, on the other hand, it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 7:22

All in whose nostrils was the breath of life ,.... Whether of fowls, beast, cattle, or creeping things: of all that was in the dry land, died ; by which description fishes were excepted, since they breathe not, having no lungs, and are not on the dry land, where they cannot live, but in the waters. Some pretend it to be the opinion of some Jewish writers, that the fishes did die, the waters being made hot, and scalded them; but this fable I have not met with. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 7:23

And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground ,.... Not everything, particularly trees; for after the flood was abated there was an olive tree, a leaf of which was brought to Noah by the dove, Genesis 8:11 but all animals: both men and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven, and they were destroyed from the earth ; this is repeated, partly for explanation of the preceding clause, and partly for confirmation of this general... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 7:22

Of all that was in the dry land - From this we may conclude that such animals only as could not live in the water were preserved in the ark. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 7:21-22

describe the effect of the Deluge in its destruction of all animal and human life. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth . A general expression for the animal creation, of which the particulars are then specified. Both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth. Literally, in fowl, and in cattle, &c.; (cf. Genesis 7:14 ). And every man . i.e. all the human race (with the exception of the inmates of the ark), which is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 7:23

And every living substance was destroyed —literally, wiped out (cf. Genesis 6:7 ; Genesis 7:4 )—w hich was upon the face of the ground, both man, and —literally, from, man urge— cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the hearten; and they were destroyed —wiped, out by washing (cf. Genesis 6:7 )— from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark . The straits to which the advocates of the documentary hypothesis are sometimes reduced... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 7:23

The Deluge. I. A STRIKING TESTIMONY TO THE DIVINE FAITHFULNESS . 1. In respect of threatenings against the wicked . Whether the faith of Noah ever betrayed symptoms of wavering during the long interval of waiting for the coming of the Flood it is impossible to say; it can scarcely be doubted that the men who for six score years had seen the sun rise and set with unwearied regularity, that had watched the steady and continuous movement of nature's laws and forces... 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 7:21

Genesis 7:21. All flesh died; all that was on the dry land And why so? Man only had done wickedly, and justly is God’s hand against him, but these sheep, what have they done? I answer, 1st, We are sure God did them no wrong. He is the sovereign Lord of all life; for he is the sole fountain and author of it. He that made them as he pleased, might unmake them when he pleased, and who shall say unto God, What dost thou? 2d, God did admirably serve the purposes of his own glory by their... read more

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