Genesis 7:19

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And the waters {H4325} prevailed {H1396} exceedingly {H3966}{H3966} upon the earth {H776}; and all the high {H1364} hills {H2022}, that were under {H8478} the whole heaven {H8064}, were covered {H3680}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The water overpowered the earth mightily; all the high mountains under the entire sky were covered;

Berean Standard Bible

Finally, the waters completely inundated the earth, so that all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 7:19 powerfully depicts the zenith of the Great Flood, illustrating the overwhelming and universal scope of God's righteous judgment as the waters ascended to completely engulf even the highest elevations across the entire earth. This verse underscores the unparalleled magnitude of the divine act, leaving no part of the land untouched by the deluge.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 7:19 is a climactic statement within the detailed narrative of the Great Flood, which spans from [Genesis 6:5](/genesis/6-5 "The Wickedness of Humanity") through [Genesis 9:17](/genesis/9-17 "God's Covenant with Noah"). Following God's declaration of judgment due to pervasive human wickedness ([Genesis 6:5-7](/genesis/6-5-7 "God's Grief Over Human Wickedness")), Noah is commanded to build the ark and enter it with his family and the animals ([Genesis 6:13-22](/genesis/6-13-22 "God's Command to Noah to Build the Ark")). The flood itself commences with the breaking forth of the [fountains of the great deep and the opening of the windows of heaven](/genesis/7-11 "Genesis 7:11 - The Flood Begins") (Genesis 7:11), initiating a forty-day period of continuous rain. Verse 19, along with [Genesis 7:20](/genesis/7-20 "Genesis 7:20 - Waters Rose Fifteen Cubits"), marks the peak of the flood's intensity, emphasizing its comprehensive nature before the waters begin to recede ([Genesis 8:1-3](/genesis/8-1-3 "Genesis 8:1-3 - God Remembers Noah and the Waters Recede")). It serves as a stark culmination of the judgment, leaving no doubt about the flood's devastating reach.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near East, where the Genesis narrative originated, was familiar with large-scale floods due to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. However, the biblical account of the Flood stands apart from other ancient flood myths (such as the Epic of Gilgamesh or the Atrahasis Epic) primarily in its monotheistic framework and moral purpose. Unlike pagan deities who send floods capriciously or out of annoyance, the God of Genesis acts with righteous indignation against profound human corruption and violence ([Genesis 6:11-12](/genesis/6-11-12 "Genesis 6:11-12 - Earth Corrupt Before God")). The description of the waters covering "all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven" uses hyperbolic language common in ancient literature to convey totality and universality, signifying that no known landmass or elevation could escape the judgment. This would have been understood by the original audience as a cataclysmic, earth-encompassing event, demonstrating God's absolute dominion over creation and His capacity to execute judgment on a global scale.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 7:19 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **God's Absolute Sovereignty** over creation, demonstrating His power to both create and uncreate, to sustain and to judge. The verse also underscores the **Severity of Sin and Its Consequences**, revealing that human rebellion against God has cosmic implications, necessitating a comprehensive divine intervention. Furthermore, it highlights the theme of **Divine Judgment**, portraying God as a just judge who will not tolerate unbridled wickedness indefinitely. Even amidst this judgment, the narrative implicitly points to **Divine Preservation** through the ark, foreshadowing God's consistent provision of a means of salvation for those who obey Him, a theme that finds its ultimate expression in the person and work of Christ. The flood, as a complete wiping away of the old order, also sets the stage for a **New Beginning** and a new covenant with Noah, mirroring God's redemptive pattern throughout salvation history ([Genesis 9:8-17](/genesis/9-8-17 "God's Covenant with Noah and the Rainbow")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **prevailed (Hebrew, _gâbar'_):** H1396. From a primitive root meaning "to be strong." By implication, it means "to prevail, act insolently, exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, put to more (strength), strengthen, be stronger, be valiant." In Genesis 7:19, its use emphasizes the overwhelming, conquering power of the waters, indicating their complete dominion and mastery over the land. It's not merely that the waters rose, but that they asserted their strength and overcame all resistance.
* **exceedingly (Hebrew, _mᵉʼôd'_):** H3966. Properly, "vehemence." It functions as an intensive or superlative adverb, meaning "vehemently, wholly, speedily," or "diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very." Its repetition in the KJV (derived from the Hebrew construction *gabar mᵉʼôd mᵉʼôd*) further amplifies the intensity, emphasizing the unparalleled and extreme nature of the waters' power and height. It conveys a sense of absolute and overwhelming force.
* **covered (Hebrew, _kâçâh'_):** H3680. A primitive root meaning "to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy); clad self, close, clothe, conceal, (flee to) hide, overwhelm." In this context, it signifies the complete inundation and submergence of the high hills, leaving no dry ground visible. It speaks to the totality of the flood's reach, hiding all topographical features beneath the water.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth":** This initial clause establishes the dynamic and overwhelming nature of the flood. The "waters" (H4325, _mayim_) are not static but active, asserting their dominance. The verb "prevailed" (H1396, _gâbar_) signifies a conquering force, while "exceedingly" (H3966, _mᵉʼôd_) intensifies this, conveying an unprecedented and irresistible power. This phrase emphasizes the divine agency behind the flood, as the waters are instruments of God's judgment, demonstrating His absolute control over creation.
* **"and all the high hills, that [were] under the whole heaven, were covered":** This second clause specifies the extent and completeness of the inundation. "All the high hills" (H1364, _gâbôahh_ H2022, _har_) indicates that no elevation, however great, could escape the rising waters. The phrase "under the whole heaven" (H8478, _tachath_ H8064, _shâmayim_) is a powerful biblical idiom denoting universal scope, signifying that the flood covered all landmasses known to the ancient world, leaving no dry ground. The verb "were covered" (H3680, _kâçâh_) confirms the complete submergence, leaving the earth entirely hidden beneath the water.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 7:19 employs several literary devices to convey the magnitude and theological significance of the Flood. **Hyperbole** is evident in the description of "all the high hills... under the whole heaven" being covered, emphasizing the universal and comprehensive nature of the judgment beyond literal measurement. This is reinforced by **Intensification** through the repeated use of "exceedingly" (Hebrew *mᵉʼôd mᵉʼôd*), which stresses the overwhelming power and unprecedented height of the waters. The phrase "under the whole heaven" functions as a **Merism**, representing the entire world by referencing its highest and lowest points, thus underscoring the flood's global reach. The vivid language creates striking **Imagery**, allowing the reader to visualize the earth completely submerged, reinforcing the theme of divine judgment and the complete wiping away of the wicked world.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 7:19 serves as a profound theological statement, revealing the awesome power and unwavering justice of God. The overwhelming nature of the flood, capable of covering "all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven," unequivocally demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over creation. This is not a force of nature gone awry, but a divinely orchestrated judgment against the pervasive wickedness and violence that had corrupted the earth ([Genesis 6:11-12](/genesis/6-11-12 "Genesis 6:11-12 - The Earth Corrupted")). The verse underscores the severity of sin and the certainty of divine retribution, illustrating that God is holy and will not tolerate unrighteousness indefinitely. Yet, even in this act of judgment, there is an implicit testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant with Noah, providing a means of salvation amidst the destruction, thus foreshadowing the broader biblical theme of salvation through judgment.

* [Deuteronomy 2:25](/deuteronomy/2-25 "Deuteronomy 2:25 - Fear and Dread Under the Whole Heaven")
* [Job 28:24](/job/28-24 "Job 28:24 - God Sees Under the Whole Heaven")
* [2 Peter 3:5-7](/2_peter/3-5-7 "2 Peter 3:5-7 - The Earth Destroyed by Water and Reserved for Fire")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 7:19 stands as a stark and powerful reminder of God's immense power and His unwavering commitment to justice. It compels us to reflect on the seriousness of sin and its inevitable consequences, demonstrating that God takes human rebellion profoundly seriously. Just as the ancient world faced a comprehensive judgment for its wickedness, so too does humanity today stand accountable before a holy God. This verse calls us to a deep humility, acknowledging our creaturely status before the Creator of all things, whose power knows no bounds. Furthermore, it implicitly points to the critical importance of heeding God's warnings and seeking the refuge He provides. For Noah, it was the ark; for us, it is the salvation offered through Christ. The Flood narrative, culminating in this verse, therefore serves not only as a historical account but as a timeless spiritual warning and an enduring call to repentance and faith, reminding us that God's mercy is always available to those who turn to Him, even amidst the certainty of His righteous judgment.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the overwhelming power of the waters described in Genesis 7:19 shape your understanding of God's sovereignty and might?**
* **In what ways does this verse challenge or affirm your perspective on the seriousness of sin and the certainty of divine judgment?**
* **Considering the comprehensive nature of the flood, what does this passage teach us about the importance of seeking God's provided means of salvation?**
* **How might the historical reality of the Flood, as depicted here, influence your urgency in sharing the message of repentance and redemption with others?**

### FAQ
**Does "all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered" imply a global flood?**

Answer: Yes, the language used in Genesis 7:19, particularly "all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven," strongly indicates a global or universal flood. The phrase "under the whole heaven" (Hebrew: *tachath kol ha'shamayim*) is a common biblical idiom for comprehensive scope, used elsewhere in Scripture to denote the entire earth or all of humanity (e.g., [Deuteronomy 2:25](/deuteronomy/2-25 "Deuteronomy 2:25 - Fear and Dread Under the Whole Heaven"), [Job 28:24](/job/28-24 "Job 28:24 - God Sees Under the Whole Heaven"), [Daniel 9:12](/daniel/9-12 "Daniel 9:12 - God's Judgment Under the Whole Heaven")). The text emphasizes that no landmass, regardless of its elevation, remained uncovered, suggesting a complete inundation of the then-known world. The theological implication is that God's judgment was comprehensive, reaching every corner of the earth polluted by human wickedness, leaving no place of refuge outside the ark.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Genesis 7:19, with its depiction of the floodwaters prevailing "exceedingly upon the earth" and covering "all the high hills, that [were] under the whole heaven," powerfully foreshadows Christ and His redemptive work. The ark, which alone provided salvation from this universal judgment, serves as a profound type of Christ, our ultimate refuge. Just as Noah and his family were preserved *through* the waters of judgment by being *in* the ark, so believers are saved from the judgment of sin through faith in Christ, who is our secure dwelling place ([1 Peter 3:20-21](/1_peter/3-20-21 "1 Peter 3:20-21 - Baptism, the Ark, and Salvation")). The flood, as a divine act of judgment that cleansed the earth and inaugurated a new beginning, points to Christ's bearing the full judgment for humanity's sin on the cross, thereby making possible a new creation and a new covenant ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). The overwhelming power of God displayed in the flood ultimately points to the infinitely greater power of Christ to overcome sin, death, and the grave, establishing a spiritual kingdom that will never be destroyed and ushering in a new heaven and new earth ([Revelation 21:1](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1 - New Heaven and New Earth")). Thus, the terrifying judgment of the Flood ultimately magnifies the glorious salvation found only in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 104:6

Thou coveredst it with the deep as [with] a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

Psalms 104:9

Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

Psalms 46:2

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Psalms 46:3

[Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

2 Peter 3:6

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

Job 12:15

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

Jeremiah 3:23

Truly in vain [is salvation hoped for] from the hills, [and from] the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God [is] the salvation of Israel.