Genesis 7:23
What does Genesis 7:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 7:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 7:23 means
Every living thing on the face of the ground was utterly destroyed: humanity, cattle, creeping things, and birds. They were wiped off the face of the earth. The grim reality is that only Noah and those with him in the ark were left alive. This stark contrast emphasizes their miraculous preservation by God's grace amidst universal doom. This verse serves as a powerful testament to God's justice, His faithfulness to Noah, and the terrifying consequences of unrepentant sin.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And every living thing was destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And every living thing was destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Every living thing on the face of all the earth, man and cattle and things moving on the face of the earth, and birds of the air, came to destruction: only Noah and those who were with him in the ark, were kept from death.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And wiped away is all the substance that is on the face of the ground, from man unto beast, unto creeping thing, and unto fowl of the heavens; yea, they are wiped away from the earth, and only Noah is left, and those who <FI>are<Fi> with him in the ark;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he destroyed all the substance that was upon the earth, from man even to beast, and the creeping things and fowls of the air: and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noe only remained, and they that were with him in the ark.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And every living being was destroyed that was on the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and fowl of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth. And Noah alone remained, and what was with him in the ark.
Context
This verse serves as a powerful summary of the total destruction of life on earth, directly following the specific definition of who died. It concludes the account of the flood's destructive power, explicitly contrasting the universal death with the sole preservation of Noah and those in the ark. This establishes the post-flood reality and sets the scene for the waters' recession.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 5:19
He will deliver thee in six troubles; Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
- Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
- 2 Peter 2:5
and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
- Exodus 14:28
And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them.
- 2 Peter 2:9
the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;
- Ezekiel 14:14
though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord Jehovah.
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