Genesis 7:18 kjv
And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 7:18 nkjv
The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters.
Genesis 7:18 niv
The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water.
Genesis 7:18 esv
The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters.
Genesis 7:18 nlt
As the waters rose higher and higher above the ground, the boat floated safely on the surface.
Genesis 7 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:17 | For behold, I am bringing a flood of waters upon the earth... | God's divine declaration of the coming judgment by water. |
| Gen 7:11 | ...on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of heaven were opened. | The dual origin of the floodwaters, highlighting their immense scale. |
| Gen 7:17 | The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose above the earth. | Direct parallel, initiating the description of the waters' increase and the ark's rising. |
| Gen 7:19-20 | And the waters prevailed so greatly...all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. | Further emphasizes the universal scope and depth of the flood, exceeding all landforms. |
| Gen 8:1 | But God remembered Noah...and God made a wind pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. | God's continued control, turning the waters from prevailing to subsiding. |
| Gen 8:4 | ...the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. | The ark's guided landing, demonstrating divine oversight throughout the ordeal. |
| Gen 9:11 | I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood... | God's promise to never again use a universal flood for judgment. |
| Deut 32:4 | The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. | Underscores God's righteous character in both judgment and salvation during the flood. |
| Ps 29:10 | The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as King forever. | God's sovereign reign and authority over the chaotic waters of the flood. |
| Ps 93:3-4 | The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice...Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! | Illustrates God's power transcending even the most powerful forces of nature. |
| Ps 104:6-9 | You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains...You set a boundary that they may not pass. | Reflects on God's original control over the waters during creation and setting their limits. |
| Prov 22:3 | The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. | Noah's wisdom in preparing the ark as contrasted with the world's folly. |
| Isa 54:9 | "For this is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no longer overflow the earth..." | Reiteration of the Noaic covenant, referencing the historical reality of the flood. |
| Matt 24:37-39 | For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man...and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away. | Jesus likens the sudden judgment of the flood to His own unexpected return. |
| Luke 17:26-27 | Just as it was in the days of Noah...they were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark... | Emphasizes the unpreparedness of those who perished in the flood. |
| Heb 11:7 | By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the salvation of his household. | Affirms Noah's faith and obedience in building the ark, leading to his salvation. |
| 1 Pet 3:20-21 | ...when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you... | Draws a powerful parallel between the ark saving Noah's family through water and Christian baptism as a symbol of salvation. |
| 2 Pet 2:5 | ...if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly... | Confirms the historical reality of the flood as divine judgment upon the ungodly, while preserving the righteous. |
| 2 Pet 3:5-7 | For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. | Links creation by water, the flood's destruction by water, and the future judgment by fire, highlighting God's power. |
| Jude 1:14-15 | It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all..." | Points to ancient prophecies of judgment that connect to the flood's demonstration of God's judicial nature. |
| Rev 21:1 | Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. | The ultimate purification and new creation, a reversal of the judgment of the flood. |
Genesis 7 verses
Genesis 7 18 Meaning
Genesis 7:18 depicts the unparalleled increase and prevalence of the floodwaters upon the earth, emphasizing their dominance over the land. In direct contrast to the drowning world, the verse highlights the divinely appointed safety of Noah's ark, which, due to the rising waters, lifted off the ground and moved freely upon the expansive surface, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in both judgment and preservation.Genesis 7 18 Context
Genesis chapter 7 describes the forty-day deluge, its effects, and the events leading up to the ark's journey. Verse 18 follows immediately after the beginning of the great flood in verse 17, which states the waters increased and bore up the ark, causing it to rise above the earth. Verses 18-20 collectively detail the increasing dominance of the floodwaters. This verse specifically portrays the dynamic stage where the water’s power reached new levels, lifting the ark and beginning its unprecedented voyage. It is set within the narrative of God's global judgment upon a corrupt humanity, emphasizing His divine control over creation to execute His righteous decree, while simultaneously preserving a chosen remnant through an act of specific, purposeful salvation.Genesis 7 18 Word analysis
And the waters prevailed (וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם – vayigberu hammayim):
- וַיִּגְבְּרוּ (vayigberu): From the root גָּבַר (gavar), meaning "to be strong," "to be mighty," "to prevail," "to become strong," or "to exceed." It implies the waters actively gaining strength and ascendancy. This is not passive; it suggests an overpowering force. The intensive form emphasizes their overwhelming might. This word is also used to describe God's strong hand (e.g., Ex 17:11) or the strength of an army.
- הַמַּיִם (hammayim): "The waters." A plural noun always. Points to the liquid mass of the flood.
and greatly increased (וַיִּרְבּוּ מְאֹד – vayirbu m'od):
- וַיִּרְבּוּ (vayirbu): From the root רָבָה (rabah), meaning "to be much," "to increase," "to multiply," or "to become numerous."
- מְאֹד (me'od): "Greatly," "exceedingly," "very." An adverb intensifying the previous verb.
- This phrase emphasizes the immense quantity of water, compounding the idea of its strength from "prevailed." The repetition and intensification serve to underline the extraordinary and unparalleled nature of the flood.
on the earth (עַל־הָאָרֶץ – ‘al-ha’aretz):
- עַל (‘al): "Upon," "over," "on." A preposition indicating position or direction.
- הָאָרֶץ (ha’aretz): "The earth," referring to the dry land. This signifies the global or universal scope of the flood, affecting all land. The phrase shows the land becoming completely submerged and overwhelmed.
and the ark floated (וְהָאָרֹן הָלַךְ – veha’aron halakh):
- וְהָאָרֹן (veha’aron): "And the ark." The specific vessel, uniquely designed for survival. It's identified by the definite article "the," implying its singularity and known purpose.
- הָלַךְ (halakh): "It went," "it walked," "it moved." While translated "floated," the literal meaning is "walked" or "went." This can imply purposeful, even if not self-directed, movement, or simply being carried along. Unlike "swimming," it doesn't suggest active propulsion but rather a general progression. It hints at divine direction for its journey, as an ark without a rudder could not steer itself.
on the surface of the waters (עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם – ‘al-pene hamayim):
- עַל־פְּנֵי (‘al-pene): "On the face of," "on the surface of." This is a construct phrase often meaning "on top of."
- הַמָּיִם (hamayim): "The waters."
- This phrase places the ark atop the vast, expansive body of water, making it a solitary beacon of life. The imagery harks back to Gen 1:2, where the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters before creation, suggesting a primeval, unformed watery state. Here, the flood brings a return to a similar state of water covering all, but with an element of preservation and the promise of a new beginning.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
And the waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth: This group powerfully describes the overwhelming, unstoppable force of the divine judgment. The double description of "prevailed" and "greatly increased" uses hendiadys (two words linked by "and" to express a single, intensified idea) to convey absolute domination and magnitude. It emphasizes the complete submersion of all land and life. The active verbs indicate a continuous, escalating process.
and the ark floated on the surface of the waters: This contrasting phrase highlights God's singular act of preservation amidst total destruction. The ark, passive in its movement (it "walked" or "floated," rather than "sailed"), implicitly moves under divine guidance. Its position "on the surface" shows its distinction from the submerged world below, and its secure journey through the chaos. It underscores that while the waters were executing God's judgment, they were simultaneously the means of salvation for Noah and his family, an inverse dynamic compared to normal human experience with floods.