Genesis Chapter 7 — Noah and the Great Flood
God instructs Noah to enter the ark with his family and pairs of every animal before the Great Flood covers the earth.
Open this chapter in the Biblicast app for the full reading experience with audio narration and explanations.
Notable Verses
Genesis 7:1
“The LORD said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation.”
This verse establishes Noah's righteousness as the reason for his family's preservation.
Genesis 7:16
“Those who went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him; then the LORD shut him in.”
This indicates God's finality and protection in securing the ark before the flood started.
Chapter Summary
In Genesis Chapter 7, God commands Noah to enter the ark with his household and specified numbers of clean and unclean animals. Noah obeys, and at six hundred years old, he enters the vessel just before the rains begin. The flood is triggered by the bursting of the fountains of the great deep and the opening of the sky's windows, leading to forty days and nights of continuous rain. The rising waters eventually cover even the highest mountains by fifteen cubits. Every living thing on the dry land that breathes through its nostrils perishes, including humans, livestock, and birds. Only Noah and those with him in the ark survive the cataclysm. The floodwaters prevail and cover the earth for a total of one hundred fifty days, marking a complete judgment on the generation while preserving a remnant through Noah’s obedience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Noah was commanded to take seven pairs of every clean animal and seven pairs of birds, consisting of males and females. For animals that were not clean, he was instructed to take only one pair, a male and its female.
According to the text, it rained on the earth for forty days and forty nights. However, the floodwaters remained and covered the earth for a total of one hundred fifty days before beginning to recede.
Noah was joined by his wife, his three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and his sons' three wives. A total of eight people were preserved on the ark to restart human life after the flood.
Study Note
The text specifies that the flood was caused not just by rain, but by the 'fountains of the great deep' bursting open, suggesting a massive geological event.
Related Chapters
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.