Genesis 8:2
What does Genesis 8:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 8:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 8:2 means
God's active control over the flood is further emphasized here. The sources that contributed to the deluge—the underground springs and the continuous rain from the sky—are now supernaturally halted. This demonstrates that the flood was not a random natural disaster, but a divinely orchestrated event, both in its beginning and its ending. The stopping of these water sources signifies the immediate cessation of the flood's destructive power and the beginning of the reversal of the conditions that had submerged the earth. It is a clear act of God's purposeful intervention.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000the fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
KJV
King James Version · 1611The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901the fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were shut, and the rain from heaven was stopped.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and closed are the fountains of the deep and the net-work of the heavens, and restrained is the shower from the heavens.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The fountains also of the deep, and the floodgates of heaven, were shut up, and the rain from heaven was restrained.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were closed, and the pour of rain from heaven was stopped.
Context
Following the declaration of God's remembrance in verse 1, this verse details the specific actions God took to turn off the flood's spigot. It elaborates on how the waters began to assuage, providing the mechanism by which the flood's power was diminished. This explanation helps the reader understand the completeness of God's control, both in unleashing the flood and in bringing it to an end, preparing for the description of the waters' recession.
v.1And God remembered Noah, and all the beasts, and all the cattle that were with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;
v.2This passage
v.3and the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters decreased.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 8:9
For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
- Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
- Proverbs 8:28
When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,
- Job 37:11
Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning:
- Job 38:37
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
- Jonah 2:3
For thou didst cast me into the depth, in the heart of the seas, And the flood was round about me; All thy waves and thy billows passed over me.
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