Devine Scripture

Genesis 7:19

What does Genesis 7:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 7:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 7:19 means

The waters' dominance intensified "exceedingly upon the earth," to the catastrophic extent that "all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered." This detail emphatically confirms the global nature of the flood. No landmass, however elevated, escaped the deluge, indicating a complete reset of the terrestrial landscape. This imagery powerfully conveys the universality of God's judgment against the pervasive wickedness, demonstrating that nothing on the dry land was spared outside the ark.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the waters overcame everything on the earth; and all the mountains under heaven were covered.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the waters have been very very mighty on the earth, and covered are all the high mountains which <FI>are<Fi> under the whole heavens;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the waters prevailed beyond measure upon the earth: and all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth; and all the high mountains that are under all the heavens were covered.

Context

This verse reaches a climax in describing the flood's intensity, revealing that even the highest mountains were submerged. It logically follows the description of the waters increasing greatly upon the earth. This powerful image of an entirely covered world directly precedes the precise depth of the waters, reinforcing the complete and utter inundation of the earth.

v.18And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

v.19This passage

v.20Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Jeremiah 3:23

    Truly in vain is the help that is looked for from the hills, the tumult on the mountains: truly in Jehovah our God is the salvation of Israel.

  • Psalms 104:6

    Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a vesture; The waters stood above the mountains.

  • Job 12:15

    Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

  • Psalms 46:2

    Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas;

  • 2 Peter 3:6

    by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

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