Genesis 8:5 kjv
And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
Genesis 8:5 nkjv
And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.
Genesis 8:5 niv
The waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible.
Genesis 8:5 esv
And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.
Genesis 8:5 nlt
Two and a half months later, as the waters continued to go down, other mountain peaks became visible.
Genesis 8 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 7:11 | In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day... all the fountains... burst forth. | Establishes the flood's starting date for chronological context. |
| Gen 7:24 | And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days. | Details the initial duration of the flood's dominance. |
| Gen 8:1 | But God remembered Noah... And God made a wind pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. | Precedes the verse, showing God's active role in ending the flood. |
| Gen 8:3 | The waters receded continually from the earth... | Reiterates the continuous recession of waters, consistent with v.5. |
| Gen 8:4 | Then the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. | Gives the previous key timeline marker for the ark's resting point. |
| Gen 1:9 | Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together... and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. | Echoes God's original creation act of separating water and dry land. |
| Ps 104:6-9 | The mountains rose, the valleys sank... You set a boundary that they may not pass over. | Illustrates God's power over waters and their boundaries, as seen in creation and flood's recession. |
| Job 38:8-11 | Or who enclosed the sea with doors... And said, 'Thus far you may come, but no farther...' | Affirms God's sovereign control over the extent and boundaries of the seas. |
| Ps 29:10 | The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. | Highlights God's absolute sovereignty and kingship over the natural catastrophe. |
| Ps 30:5 | Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. | Metaphorically reflects the transition from judgment/gloom to hope/restoration. |
| Ps 121:1 | I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? | Connects with mountains as points of looking for divine help and stability. |
| Isa 2:2 | Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established... | Symbolism of mountains as places of divine revelation, stability, and God's dwelling. |
| Isa 54:9 | "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth..." | God references the Noahic flood as a past judgment, connecting His covenant with His control over waters. |
| Jer 5:22 | Do you not fear Me?" says the LORD. "Will you not tremble at My presence, Who has placed the sand as the bound of the sea...? | Emphasizes God's fearful power demonstrated through His control of natural elements. |
| Amos 9:6 | It is He who builds His upper chambers in the heavens... who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out... | Affirms God's ultimate authority and control over the very source of water. |
| Hab 2:3 | For the vision is yet for an appointed time... Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come. | Underscores divine timing and the necessity of patience while awaiting God's unfolding plan. |
| Rom 8:25 | But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. | Relates to the ark occupants' need for perseverance during the waiting period. |
| Gal 6:9 | And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. | Applies the principle of patience and perseverance in times of waiting. |
| Heb 10:36 | For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. | Reinforces the theme of enduring patiently for God's promises to materialize. |
| 2 Pet 3:5-7 | By the word of God the heavens were of old... and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished... | Recalls the flood event, emphasizing divine power in creation and judgment, highlighting God's faithfulness to His word. |
| Luke 21:28 | Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. | Analogous to "seeing" the signs of restoration after a period of distress. |
| Rev 21:1 | Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. | Presents a final state of creation, free from a chaotic sea, mirroring the dry land emerging in Gen 8. |
Genesis 8 verses
Genesis 8 5 Meaning
Genesis 8:5 describes the ongoing and steady recession of the floodwaters for several months after the ark came to rest. This gradual decrease culminated in the clear visibility of the mountaintops by the tenth month, marking a significant turning point and offering a tangible sign that the earth was beginning to emerge from the deluge and become habitable again. It highlights God's continued superintendence over the natural world and the precise unfolding of His redemptive plan after the period of judgment.Genesis 8 5 Context
Genesis 8:5 is situated within the latter half of the Genesis flood narrative. The preceding verses establish that God "remembered" Noah and initiated the drying process by sending a wind over the earth (Gen 8:1). The waters have already subsided rapidly for 150 days (Gen 7:24), and the ark has come to rest on the mountains of Ararat (Gen 8:4). Verse 5 then describes the subsequent, more gradual phase of the water's recession. The detailed chronological markers (specific months and days throughout Gen 7-8) are characteristic of the biblical account, highlighting its emphasis on historical accuracy and precise divine orchestration. This careful narrative structure implicitly contrasts with contemporary polytheistic flood myths which often depicted chaotic divine actions; instead, Genesis portrays God as supremely in control of nature and time, patiently guiding the earth toward restoration after a period of righteous judgment.Genesis 8 5 Word analysis
- And: (Hebrew: וְ - *ve*) This conjunction connects the current action with the preceding narrative, indicating a continuation of God's work of subsiding the waters and the subsequent unfolding events within the ark's timeline.
- the waters: (Hebrew: הַמַּיִם - *hammayim*) Refers to the vast, destructive deluge that had covered the entire earth, symbolizing chaos and judgment. Their specific mention highlights that the subject of divine intervention is the flood itself.
- decreased: (Hebrew: וְחָסוֹר - *vechasor*, from *chasar* meaning 'to decrease', 'to be lacking') Signifies a steady reduction in the volume and height of the floodwaters. This is not a sudden disappearance but a deliberate, continuous process of abatement.
- continually: (Hebrew: הָלוֹךְ וְחָסוֹר - *halokh vechasor*, lit. 'going and decreasing') This unique Hebrew construction, utilizing the infinitive absolute, powerfully emphasizes the persistent, ongoing, and sustained nature of the water's recession. It communicates a gradual, progressive action, highlighting God's patience and precise control over the natural phenomenon rather than a chaotic or instantaneous withdrawal.
- until the tenth month: (Hebrew: עַד הַחֹדֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִי - *'ad hachodesh ha'asiri*) This precise chronological detail indicates the extent of time over which the continuous decrease took place. The specific month underlines the systematic and orderly progression of events, demonstrating divine precision in managing the restoration timeline.
- in the tenth month, on the first day of the month: (Hebrew: בָּעֲשִׂירִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ - *ba'asiri be'echad lachodesh*) This exact dating specifies the particular point within the overall duration when the next significant milestone was reached. It serves to authenticate the historical narrative and underscore the deliberate scheduling of divine providence throughout the flood account.
- were seen: (Hebrew: נִרְאוּ - *nir'u*, a passive verb form of *ra'ah* meaning 'to see') The passive voice implies that the mountain tops were revealed, made visible by a power external to human observation. It suggests divine orchestration or the natural outcome of God's process, rather than Noah actively seeking or discovering them. It's a divinely presented sign of hope.
- the tops of the mountains: (Hebrew: רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים - *rashei heharim*, lit. 'heads of the mountains') Refers to the highest elevations of the landmasses. Their visibility marked a clear, undeniable sign of significant water reduction, offering the first tangible evidence of dry land and new beginnings after months of being confined to the ark. It symbolizes stability and renewed foundations.
Words-group analysis
- "the waters decreased continually": This phrase captures the sustained, purposeful retreat of the global deluge. It conveys God's unwavering control over the forces of nature, ensuring that the judgment would end and life could resume. It paints a picture of divine providence actively governing the physical world, emphasizing that the cessation of the flood was a precise, controlled act of God, not merely a natural dissipation.
- "until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month": The remarkable chronological precision employed here establishes a meticulously documented timeline for the flood's progression. It speaks to the historical nature of the account and the purposeful timing of God's plan. This detailed timing contrasts with less precise mythical accounts, underscoring the biblical narrative's claim to verifiable reality and God's sovereign scheduling.
- "were the tops of the mountains seen": This climatic revelation provides the first visual evidence of significant progress toward dry land, offering a profound sense of hope and a tangible milestone for Noah and those in the ark. The passive construction implies divine unveiling, signifying that this was a divinely orchestrated sign marking the transition from an all-encompassing watery world to one where habitable land was re-emerging, signaling the imminence of a new covenantal order.
Genesis 8 5 Bonus section
- The interval between the ark resting on Ararat (7th month, 17th day) and the tops of the mountains being seen (10th month, 1st day) is approximately 73 days (13 days in month 7 + 30 days in month 8 + 30 days in month 9 + 1 day in month 10). This contrasts with the earlier, rapid decline in the first 150 days, suggesting a different, slower phase of drying, essential for making the earth habitable again.
- The reappearance of the "tops of the mountains" subtly points towards the reversal of the cosmic judgment. The very high peaks that were first covered, signaling the flood's dominance (Gen 7:20), are now the first to emerge, signifying the earth's reclamation by God. This foreshadows the renewed relationship between God, humanity, and creation.
- In some theological interpretations, the "seeing of the mountains" can be viewed as a 'proto-revelation,' where God gradually unveils His work of new creation and hope. Mountains in scripture often serve as sites of divine encounter and revelation, and their emergence here signals a new chapter in God's interaction with humanity.
Genesis 8 5 Commentary
Genesis 8:5 serves as a pivotal verse within the flood narrative, illustrating God's methodical and patient restoration of the earth after judgment. It portrays a divine architect working deliberately, not chaotically, emphasizing that His processes unfold according to a precise timetable. The detailed chronology (the "tenth month, on the first day") provides a concrete anchor to the historicity of the event, showcasing God's complete mastery over the elements and His unwavering commitment to His covenantal purposes. The gradual receding of the waters, climaxing in the visibility of the mountain peaks, is a profound symbol of hope emerging from desolation, a divine promise quietly but certainly manifesting. This period of waiting within the ark reflects a larger biblical theme: God’s timing is perfect, and perseverance is required as His will unfolds. It reminds believers that even in times of seeming dormancy or prolonged difficulty, God is at work, guiding events toward their intended glorious conclusion.For example, this verse teaches:
- Patience in Waiting: Just as Noah waited months for dry land to appear, believers often experience seasons where God's promises seem delayed, requiring faith and patient endurance.
- God's Unseen Work: Much of God's restorative work happened beneath the surface; likewise, often His greatest work in our lives occurs when we don't immediately see results.
- Signs of Hope: The sight of mountain tops was a critical sign. God provides progressive signs of His faithfulness to sustain hope during long waits.