Genesis 7:21 kjv

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

Genesis 7:21 nkjv

And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man.

Genesis 7:21 niv

Every living thing that moved on land perished?birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind.

Genesis 7:21 esv

And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind.

Genesis 7:21 nlt

All the living things on earth died ? birds, domestic animals, wild animals, small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people.

Genesis 7 verses

Genesis 7 21 Meaning

Genesis 7:21 details the profound and sweeping outcome of God's judgment during the Great Flood, stating that every living being "that moved upon the earth" perished. This included all categories of land-dwelling life—fowl (birds), cattle (domesticated animals), beasts (wild animals), and every creeping thing—culminating in the explicit inclusion of "every man." The verse underscores the absolute totality and comprehensive nature of the destruction, fulfilling God's earlier declaration to blot out life from the face of the earth due to the pervasive wickedness of humanity. It is a stark testament to divine justice against sin.

Genesis 7 21 Context

Genesis 7:21 is a pivotal verse within the extensive Flood narrative (Genesis 6-9). Preceding this verse, God has clearly articulated His dismay at humanity's pervasive wickedness (Gen 6:5-7, 11-13) and His resolve to destroy all living creatures on earth, preserving only Noah and his family within the ark (Gen 6:17-18). Chapter 7 meticulously details the ark's construction, the entry of Noah, his family, and the animals, and then the onset and rising of the waters. Verses 17-20 describe the increasing depth of the floodwaters, culminating in all high mountains being covered. Genesis 7:21, therefore, serves as the devastating conclusion and confirmation of the Flood's destructive power, verifying that the divine judgment announced previously has been fully executed. It depicts the precise outcome of the cosmic judgment, setting the stage for the narrative's turning point when God remembers Noah (Gen 8:1). This universal destruction highlights the severity of God's holy wrath against a thoroughly corrupted world.

Genesis 7 21 Word analysis

• And all flesh (וְכָל-בָּשָׂר, wə-ḵol-bāśār):

  • And: A simple conjunction connecting to the previous verses describing the rising waters.
  • all (כָּל, kol): Hebrew term signifying "the whole," "every," "complete," "total." Emphasizes absolute universality without exception for the specified categories. It reinforces the scale of God's judgment, directly counteracting any notion of partial destruction.
  • flesh (בָּשָׂר, bāśār): In this context, "flesh" refers broadly to living creatures, particularly land-dwelling, blood-possessing beings. It often encompasses humanity and animals, distinct from spirits or God Himself. Here, it denotes all animate physical life, explicitly encompassing the categories that follow.

• died (גָּוַע, gā·va‘):

  • A strong, definitive Hebrew verb meaning "expired," "perished," or "breathed one's last." It is not merely "passed away" but indicates a final, complete cessation of life. The past tense here emphasizes that the event was an accomplished, finished fact.

• that moved upon the earth (הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל-הָאָרֶץ, hā·rō·mêś ‘al-hā·’ā·reṣ):

  • moved (רָמַשׂ, rā·maś): This verb describes anything that swarms, creeps, or teems. It signifies creatures that move widely over the ground, often in abundance, from reptiles to small mammals.
  • upon the earth (עַל-הָאָרֶץ, ‘al-hā·’ā·reṣ): Specifies the terrestrial domain, distinct from aquatic life. This phrase consistently delineates the scope of the Flood's destructive reach—everything inhabiting the land surface. It explicitly limits the judgment to those directly affected by the terrestrial inundation.

• both of fowl (בָּעוֹף, bā·‘ōwph):

  • fowl (עוֹף, ‘ōwph): Refers to all winged creatures—birds of all kinds, including domestic and wild varieties. This broad category ensures that aerial life, which might otherwise escape a simple "upon the earth" designation, is included in the destruction.

• and of cattle (וּבַבְּהֵמָּה, wə·babbəhēmāh):

  • cattle (בְּהֵמָה, bəhēmāh): Denotes domesticated livestock, such as oxen, sheep, goats, which were valuable assets in ancient agrarian societies. Their inclusion highlights the comprehensive loss even of human-tamed creatures.

• and of beast (וּבַחַיָּה, wə·baḥayyāh):

  • beast (חַיָּה, ḥay·yāh): Refers to wild animals, beasts of the field. This distinguishes them from domesticated cattle and ensures all non-human land animals are accounted for.

• and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (וּבְכָל-שֶׁרֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵץ עַל-הָאָרֶץ, wə·ḵol-šereṣ haššōrēṣ ‘al-hā’āreṣ):

  • every (כָּל, kol): Again, emphasizing totality within this specific category.
  • creeping thing (שֶׁרֶץ, šereṣ): Refers to small, swarming creatures that "creep" or "swarm," often insects, reptiles, or amphibians. This category often refers to abundant, teeming life.
  • that creepeth (שֹׁרֵץ, šōrēṣ): Repetition of the root verb (šāraṣ) from "creeping thing" serves as an intensifier, emphasizing the very nature of these low-lying, often small, life forms.
  • upon the earth (עַל-הָאָרֶץ, ‘al-hā’āreṣ): Reiteration for clarity, focusing the impact on ground-dwelling creatures. This detailed phrase ensures even the smallest, most ubiquitous forms of life on land were not spared.

• and every man (וְכָל הָאָדָם, wə·ḵol hā·’ā·ḏām):

  • and every (וְכָל, wə·ḵol): Once more, the emphatic "every" to denote totality.
  • man (אָדָם, ’āḏām): Signifies humankind, male and female. This is the crucial climax of the list, identifying humanity as the primary object of God's righteous judgment, reflecting the corruption and violence that had filled the earth (Gen 6:11-13). It highlights that even those created in God's image were subject to this profound justice.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And all flesh died that moved upon the earth": This opening phrase sets the scene for universal devastation targeting all forms of life occupying the terrestrial realm. It is a sweeping declaration of mortality across an entire ecosystem. The phrase emphasizes the completion of divine decree concerning physical life on the planet.
• "both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth": This detailed list functions as an exhaustive inventory, demonstrating the meticulousness of the judgment. It systematically covers every major category of land-dwelling animals (winged, domesticated large, wild large, and small low-lying creatures), leaving no room for misinterpretation or exception among them. The repetition of "upon the earth" reinforces the scope of the flood to land-based life, distinguishing it from aquatic life.
• "and every man": This final and climactic addition underscores the primary target and reason for the judgment. While the animals were destroyed alongside humanity, it was humanity's corruption that precipitated the Flood. The emphasis on "every man" highlights the universal guilt and the comprehensive divine response to sin across all humanity of that age, with the sole exception of Noah and his family.

Genesis 7 21 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on "all" and "every" throughout Genesis 6 and 7 (e.g., Gen 6:5, "every intent"; 6:11-12, "all flesh"; 7:4, "every living thing"; 7:23, "every living substance") is a key rhetorical device. It powerfully conveys the biblical author's intention to describe a judgment of universal scope from the perspective of the then-known world, encompassing all areas inhabited by the categories of life mentioned. This intentional repetition addresses questions about the totality of the Flood and serves to underscore the enormity of God's justice against a completely corrupted world, leaving only those preserved by His grace in the ark. It points to a unique, once-in-history intervention of God to cleanse the earth.

Genesis 7 21 Commentary

Genesis 7:21 presents the chilling culmination of God’s judgment upon a fallen world, marking the peak of the destructive phase of the Flood. The concise declaration, "And all flesh died," powerfully conveys the total and comprehensive nature of this divine act. The immediate follow-up, specifying "that moved upon the earth," delineates the scope—not all life per se, but all life specifically connected to the corrupted land. This detail clarifies that the judgment primarily concerned the terrestrial realm where humanity's pervasive wickedness flourished.

The subsequent exhaustive list of creature types (fowl, cattle, beast, creeping thing) is not merely a literary flourish; it meticulously removes any ambiguity about the Flood's extent, ensuring that no class of land animal is exempted. The final, critical phrase, "and every man," explicitly includes humanity as the ultimate focus of the judgment. While animals perished as part of the devastated ecosystem, it was the widespread moral corruption of humankind that provoked God’s righteous wrath. This verse underscores a profound biblical truth: sin has dire, universal consequences. It serves as a stark reminder of God's holiness, justice, and sovereign power, affirming that His word, whether in judgment or salvation, is unfailingly carried out. The flood event, and specifically this verse, also serves as a poignant theological type, foreshadowing future eschatological judgments and the comprehensive reckoning that awaits humanity before a holy God.