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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 7:20 The waters rose and covered the mountaintops to a depth of fifteen cubits.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/7-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/01_Gen_07_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 7:20 - The Duration of the Flood" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The waters rose and covered the mountaintops to a depth of fifteen cubits." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/7.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/7.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />[In fact] the waters became fifteen cubits higher [than the highest ground], and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The mountains were covered as the water surged above them more than twenty feet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The mountains were covered as the waters surged above them more than 20 feet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/7.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/7.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />It rose 23 feet above the mountaintops.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/7.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />it went on rising until it was about twenty-five feet above the tops of the mountains. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/7.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The flood waters rose 15 cubits above the mountains. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/7.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The waters rose more than twenty feet above the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The waters rose and covered the highest mountains to a depth of more than twenty-six feet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail: and the mountains were covered.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The waters rose and covered the mountaintops to a depth of fifteen cubits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/7.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The waters rose fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />the waters prevailed from above the mountains, and cover [them] fifteen cubits;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> fifteen cubits upwards have the waters become mighty, and the mountains are covered;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Fifteen cubits from upward, the waters prevailed: and will cover the mountains.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The water was fifteen cubits higher than the mountains which it covered. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The water was fifteen cubits higher than the mountains which it covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/7.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The waters swelled fifteen cubits higher than the submerged mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />the waters swelled above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Fifteen cubits above the mountains did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/7.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The waters exceeded fifteen cubits higher and covered the mountains.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/7.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/7.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Fifteen cubits upwards was the water raised, and it covered all the high mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/7-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=1603" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/7.htm">The Duration of the Flood</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>Finally, the waters completely inundated the earth, so that all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: ham·mā·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">The waters</a> <a href="/hebrew/1396.htm" title="1396: gā·ḇə·rū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To be strong, mighty. A primitive root; to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently.">rose</a> <a href="/hebrew/3680.htm" title="3680: way·ḵus·sū (Conj-w:: V-Pual-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To cover. A primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. Fill up hollows; by implication, to cover.">and covered</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: he·hā·rîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">the mountaintops</a> <a href="/hebrew/4605.htm" title="4605: mil·ma‘·lāh (Prep-m, Prep-l:: Adv:: 3fs) -- From alah; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.">to a depth</a> <a href="/hebrew/2568.htm" title="2568: ḥă·mêš (Number-fsc) -- Five. Masculine chamishshah; a primitive numeral; five.">of fifteen</a> <a href="/hebrew/6240.htm" title="6240: ‘eś·rêh (Number-fsc) -- Ten. For eser; ten, i.e. -teen; also -teenth."></a> <a href="/hebrew/520.htm" title="520: ’am·māh (N-fs) -- Prolonged from 'em; properly, a mother (below the elbow), i.e. A cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance).">cubits.</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>And every living thing that moved upon the earth perished—birds, livestock, animals, every creature that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">Genesis 1:6-7</a></span><br />And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.” / So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/6-17.htm">Genesis 6:17</a></span><br />And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/8-1.htm">Genesis 8:1-2</a></span><br />But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside. / The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/12-15.htm">Job 12:15</a></span><br />If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/104-6.htm">Psalm 104:6-9</a></span><br />You covered it with the deep like a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. / At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away— / the mountains rose and the valleys sank to the place You assigned for them— ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/54-9.htm">Isaiah 54:9</a></span><br />“For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-22.htm">Jeremiah 5:22</a></span><br />Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an enduring barrier it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot cross it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/26-19.htm">Ezekiel 26:19</a></span><br />For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I make you a desolate city like other deserted cities, and when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-38.htm">Matthew 24:38-39</a></span><br />For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/17-26.htm">Luke 17:26-27</a></span><br />Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: / People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-7.htm">Hebrews 11:7</a></span><br />By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-20.htm">1 Peter 3:20</a></span><br />who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-5.htm">2 Peter 2:5</a></span><br />if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/3-6.htm">2 Peter 3:6</a></span><br />through which the world of that time perished in the flood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/7-1.htm">Revelation 7:1-3</a></span><br />After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. / And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: / “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.</p><p class="hdg">and the mountains.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/104-6.htm">Psalm 104:6</a></b></br> Thou coveredst it with the deep as <i>with</i> a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/3-23.htm">Jeremiah 3:23</a></b></br> Truly in vain <i>is salvation hoped for</i> from the hills, <i>and from</i> the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God <i>is</i> the salvation of Israel.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/7-19.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/revelation/6-16.htm">Covering</a> <a href="/genesis/6-15.htm">Cubits</a> <a href="/genesis/7-11.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/philippians/1-9.htm">Depth</a> <a href="/genesis/6-15.htm">Feet</a> <a href="/genesis/5-10.htm">Fifteen</a> <a href="/james/1-9.htm">Higher</a> <a href="/genesis/7-19.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/genesis/7-19.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/revelation/12-8.htm">Prevail</a> <a href="/genesis/7-19.htm">Prevailed</a> <a href="/genesis/7-19.htm">Rose</a> <a href="/genesis/6-3.htm">Twenty</a> <a href="/genesis/6-16.htm">Upward</a> <a href="/acts/26-4.htm">Upwards</a> <a href="/genesis/7-19.htm">Water</a> <a href="/genesis/7-19.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/9-23.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/genesis/8-13.htm">Covering</a> <a href="/exodus/25-10.htm">Cubits</a> <a href="/genesis/8-2.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/1_kings/6-3.htm">Depth</a> <a href="/genesis/8-9.htm">Feet</a> <a href="/genesis/25-7.htm">Fifteen</a> <a href="/numbers/22-15.htm">Higher</a> <a href="/genesis/7-24.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/genesis/8-4.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/genesis/32-25.htm">Prevail</a> <a href="/genesis/7-24.htm">Prevailed</a> <a href="/genesis/18-16.htm">Rose</a> <a href="/genesis/11-24.htm">Twenty</a> <a href="/exodus/25-20.htm">Upward</a> <a href="/exodus/30-14.htm">Upwards</a> <a href="/genesis/7-24.htm">Water</a> <a href="/genesis/7-24.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 7</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/7-1.htm">Noah, his family and the living creatures enter the ark.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/7-6.htm">The flood begins.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/7-17.htm">The increase of the flood for forty days.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/7-21.htm">All flesh is destroyed by it.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/7-24.htm">Its duration of 150 days.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/7.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/7.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The waters rose</b><br>This phrase indicates the increasing intensity of the floodwaters, emphasizing the totality of the deluge. The rising waters symbolize God's judgment on a corrupt world, as described earlier in <a href="/genesis/6-5.htm">Genesis 6:5-7</a>. The flood serves as a divine reset, purging the earth of widespread wickedness. This event foreshadows future judgments, such as those described in Revelation, where water is often a symbol of chaos and divine wrath.<p><b>and covered the mountaintops</b><br>The covering of the mountaintops signifies the completeness of the flood, leaving no part of the earth untouched. This detail underscores the universality of the flood, as even the highest geographical points were submerged. The mountains, often seen as symbols of stability and permanence, being covered, highlights the overwhelming power of God's judgment. This can be compared to other biblical instances where mountains are significant, such as Mount Sinai (Exodus 19) and Mount Zion (<a href="/psalms/125.htm">Psalm 125:1</a>), representing God's presence and protection.<p><b>to a depth of fifteen cubits</b><br>A cubit is an ancient measurement roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 45 centimeters, making fifteen cubits approximately 22.5 feet or 6.75 meters. This specific measurement indicates that the waters were deep enough to ensure the complete destruction of all life outside the ark, as described in <a href="/genesis/7-21.htm">Genesis 7:21-23</a>. The precision of this detail reflects the thoroughness of God's judgment. The number fifteen, while not as symbolically significant as other biblical numbers, still emphasizes the sufficiency of the floodwaters to accomplish God's purpose.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/n/noah.htm">Noah</a></b><br>A righteous man chosen by God to build the ark and preserve life during the flood.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_ark.htm">The Ark</a></b><br>A large vessel constructed by Noah under God's instructions to save his family and pairs of every living creature.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_flood.htm">The Flood</a></b><br>A divine judgment sent by God to cleanse the earth of its widespread wickedness.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/mountains.htm">Mountains</a></b><br>The highest geographical points on earth, symbolizing the totality of the flood's coverage.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign Creator who judges sin but also provides a means of salvation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_judgment.htm">God's Sovereignty and Judgment</a></b><br>The flood demonstrates God's absolute control over creation and His righteous judgment against sin.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_totality_of_god's_judgment.htm">The Totality of God's Judgment</a></b><br>The waters covering the mountains signify the completeness of God's judgment, leaving no place untouched by His decree.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/salvation_through_obedience.htm">Salvation Through Obedience</a></b><br>Noah's obedience in building the ark is a model of faith and trust in God's word, leading to salvation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_divine_warnings.htm">The Reality of Divine Warnings</a></b><br>Just as God warned Noah of the coming flood, He warns us today through Scripture about the consequences of sin and the need for repentance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_promises.htm">Hope in God's Promises</a></b><br>Despite the severity of the flood, God's promise to preserve Noah and his family offers hope and assurance of His faithfulness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 7</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_the_genesis_flood_proven.htm">Is the Genesis flood scientifically proven?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_the_flood_destroy_all_animals.htm">Did the Flood destroy all animals?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_a_genesis_flood_cover_mountains.htm">How could a global flood, as described in Genesis, have covered all the mountains on Earth?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_matthew_24_21's_disaster_recorded.htm">Is the global disaster described in Matthew 24:21 supported by any record from history or science?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Fifteen cubits upward.</span>--This apparently was the draught of the ark, computed after it had settled. in the region of Ararat. Fifteen cubits would be about twenty-two feet, and as the ark floated onward without interruption until it finally grounded, there must have been this depth of water even on the highest summit in its course. Continuous rains for forty days and nights would scarcely produce so vast a mass of water, unless we suppose that the <span class= "ital">adamah </span>was some low-lying spot of ground whither the waters from many regions flowed together; but this is negatived by the ark having travelled into Armenia. In England the whole average mean rainfall in a year is not more than twenty-eight or thirty inches in depth. If we suppose this amount to have fallen in every twenty-four hours, the total quantity would be about 100 feet. Such a rain would denude the mountains of all soil, uproot all trees, sweep away all buildings, dig out new courses for the rivers, completely alter the whole surface of the ground, and cover the lower lands with debris. Wherever there was any obstacle in their way, the waters would deepen in volume, and quickly burst a passage through it. But as they would be seeking the lower grounds during the whole forty days, it is difficult to understand how they could cover any of the heights to the depth of twenty-two feet, unless there were some cosmic convulsion (see Note on <a href="/genesis/7-11.htm" title="In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.">Genesis 7:11</a>), by which the waters from the equator were carried towards the poles, and in this way there would be no difficulty in the ark being carried against the current of the Tigris and Euphrates up to the high lands of Armenia.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Fifteen cubits upward</span> - half the height of the ark - <span class="cmt_word">did the waters prevail</span>. Literally, <span class="accented">become strong</span>; above the highest mountains obviously, and not above the ground simply; as, on the latter alternative, it could scarcely have been added, <span class="cmt_word">and the mountains were covered.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/7-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The waters</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמָּ֑יִם</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">rose</span><br /><span class="heb">גָּבְר֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(gā·ḇə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1396.htm">Strong's 1396: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be strong, to prevail, act insolently</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and covered</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְכֻסּ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·ḵus·sū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3680.htm">Strong's 3680: </a> </span><span class="str2">To plump, fill up hollows, to cover</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the mountaintops</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶהָרִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(he·hā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mountain, hill, hill country</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to a depth</span><br /><span class="heb">מִלְמַ֔עְלָה</span> <span class="translit">(mil·ma‘·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4605.htm">Strong's 4605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of fifteen</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲמֵ֨שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·mêš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2568.htm">Strong's 2568: </a> </span><span class="str2">Five</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cubits.</span><br /><span class="heb">אַמָּה֙</span> <span class="translit">(’am·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_520.htm">Strong's 520: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mother, a cubit, a door-base</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/7-20.htm">Genesis 7:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/7-20.htm">OT Law: Genesis 7:20 The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/7-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 7:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 7:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/7-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 7:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 7:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>