Genesis 7:20 - The waters rose fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Genesis 7:20" mean?
Genesis 7:20 describes the height of the floodwaters during the Noahic flood. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The waters rose fifteen cubits higher": This means the floodwaters reached a height of 15 cubits above the highest point they reached before this measurement. A cubit is an ancient unit of measurement, generally considered to be the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. While the exact length varies, a common estimate is about 18 inches (45 centimeters). So, fifteen cubits would be roughly 22.5 feet (6.8 meters).
"and the mountains were covered.": This states that the floodwaters were deep enough to completely submerge all the mountains. Combined with the previous statement, it means the water was at least 22.5 feet above the highest mountains around.
Interpretation:
This verse is part of the biblical account of a catastrophic flood that destroyed all life on Earth except for Noah, his family, and the animals on the Ark. The verse emphasizes the scale and completeness of the flood.
Different Views:
Literal Interpretation: Some believe this verse describes a global flood that literally covered all the mountains on the entire Earth. This view faces scientific challenges, as the amount of water needed to cover all mountains would be far more than the Earth currently holds, and there's no geological evidence of such a global event.
Figurative/Local Interpretation: Others interpret the verse as describing a regional flood that was perceived as universal by Noah and his contemporaries. "All the mountains" could refer to all the mountains in their known world. This interpretation aligns better with some scientific findings.
Symbolic Interpretation: Some see the flood story as a symbolic narrative about God's judgment and purification of the world, with the height of the water representing the overwhelming nature of God's power.
Regardless of the interpretation, the verse highlights the immense power and scope of the flood described in Genesis.
Genesis 7:20 - The waters rose fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered.
What does "Genesis 7:20" mean?
Genesis 7:20 describes the height of the floodwaters during the Noahic flood. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The waters rose fifteen cubits higher": This means the floodwaters reached a height of 15 cubits above the highest point they reached before this measurement. A cubit is an ancient unit of measurement, generally considered to be the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. While the exact length varies, a common estimate is about 18 inches (45 centimeters). So, fifteen cubits would be roughly 22.5 feet (6.8 meters).
"and the mountains were covered.": This states that the floodwaters were deep enough to completely submerge all the mountains. Combined with the previous statement, it means the water was at least 22.5 feet above the highest mountains around.
Interpretation:
This verse is part of the biblical account of a catastrophic flood that destroyed all life on Earth except for Noah, his family, and the animals on the Ark. The verse emphasizes the scale and completeness of the flood.
Different Views:
Literal Interpretation: Some believe this verse describes a global flood that literally covered all the mountains on the entire Earth. This view faces scientific challenges, as the amount of water needed to cover all mountains would be far more than the Earth currently holds, and there's no geological evidence of such a global event.
Figurative/Local Interpretation: Others interpret the verse as describing a regional flood that was perceived as universal by Noah and his contemporaries. "All the mountains" could refer to all the mountains in their known world. This interpretation aligns better with some scientific findings.
Symbolic Interpretation: Some see the flood story as a symbolic narrative about God's judgment and purification of the world, with the height of the water representing the overwhelming nature of God's power.
Regardless of the interpretation, the verse highlights the immense power and scope of the flood described in Genesis.