Genesis 7:24

KJV

And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the waters {H4325} prevailed {H1396} upon the earth {H776} an hundred {H3967} and fifty {H2572} days {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The water held power over the earth for 150 days.

Berean Standard Bible

And the waters prevailed upon the earth for 150 days.

American Standard Version

And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 7:24 serves as a stark declaration of the Flood's complete and unyielding dominance, marking the culmination of God's comprehensive judgment upon the earth. This verse precisely delineates the prolonged period of one hundred and fifty days during which the floodwaters maintained their peak, demonstrating the absolute thoroughness of the divine cleansing and the eradication of all life outside the ark, thereby setting the stage for the subsequent recession and the dawn of a new era for humanity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 7:24 concludes the dramatic narrative of the Great Flood's destructive phase, immediately following the description of the waters covering the highest mountains and the perishing of all living creatures outside the ark in [Genesis 7:21-23](/genesis/7-21-23 "The Destruction of Life by the Flood"). This verse acts as a temporal marker, specifying the duration of the waters' absolute supremacy before the narrative shifts in [Genesis 8:1](/genesis/8-1 "God Remembers Noah") to God's remembrance of Noah and the beginning of the waters' recession. It underscores the finality and comprehensive nature of the judgment described in the preceding verses, emphasizing that the flood was not a fleeting event but a prolonged and total transformation of the earth.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near Eastern world, from which Genesis emerges, often featured flood narratives, but the biblical account stands apart in its theological emphasis. Unlike chaotic, polytheistic myths, Genesis presents a single, sovereign God who orchestrates the flood as a righteous judgment against pervasive human wickedness ([Genesis 6:5-7](/genesis/6-5-7 "Humanity's Corruption and God's Grief")). The concept of a global flood would have been understood within a worldview where divine intervention directly impacted the natural order. The precise duration of "one hundred and fifty days" would have conveyed a sense of deliberate, measured divine action, contrasting with the arbitrary actions of capricious deities often found in surrounding cultures. This period ensured the complete eradication of the corrupt world, paving the way for a new beginning with Noah and his family.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 7:24 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Flood narrative and the broader book of Genesis. It highlights God's **Sovereignty and Absolute Control** over creation, demonstrating His ability to bring about both life and judgment with precision and purpose. The extended period of the waters' prevalence underscores the **Severity and Completeness of Divine Judgment** against sin, a theme introduced in [Genesis 6:5-7](/genesis/6-5-7 "The Depth of Human Wickedness"). Furthermore, this verse implicitly sets the stage for the theme of **New Creation and Covenant**, as the end of this period of judgment ushers in God's remembrance of Noah and the establishment of a new covenant, foreshadowing the redemptive plan that unfolds throughout biblical history, as seen in [Genesis 8:1-3](/genesis/8-1-3 "God's Remembrance of Noah and the Receding Waters").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **waters (Hebrew, _mayim'_):** This term, derived from H4325, refers to water in its literal sense, but here it carries immense symbolic weight. In the context of the Flood, "waters" are not merely a natural phenomenon but the divinely appointed instrument of judgment and cleansing. Their overwhelming presence signifies God's power to inundate and destroy a corrupted world, but also to separate and prepare for a new beginning.
* **prevailed (Hebrew, _gâbar'_):** From H1396, this verb denotes strength, mastery, or being mighty and superior. It emphasizes that the waters were not simply present or rising, but had achieved complete dominance and held an overwhelming, conquering power over the entire earth. This word conveys the absolute and irresistible force of God's judgment, leaving no part of the earth untouched or unsubdued.
* **days (Hebrew, _yôwm'_):** From H3117, "day" here refers to a literal period of time. The specification of "one hundred and fifty days" (along with "hundred" H3967 and "fifty" H2572) is crucial. It signifies a precise, measured duration, emphasizing that the Flood was not a random or chaotic event, but a divinely orchestrated and controlled act of judgment with a specific, determined timeframe for its full execution. This precision underscores God's intentionality and sovereignty over the entire process.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the waters prevailed upon the earth":** This clause vividly describes the state of the globe. The "waters," the instrument of God's judgment, had not merely covered the earth but had "prevailed," asserting their total mastery and dominance. This signifies that the flood had reached its maximum height, submerging all landmasses and obliterating all terrestrial life outside the ark. The phrase emphasizes the overwhelming and irresistible power of God's judgment, leaving no place of refuge from its reach.
* **"an hundred and fifty days":** This precise temporal marker provides crucial information about the duration of the waters' peak prevalence. This period follows the initial forty days of rain and the subsequent rising of the waters. It indicates that for a full five months, the earth remained completely submerged, ensuring the thoroughness of the divine cleansing and the complete eradication of the wicked world. This specific timeframe highlights God's deliberate, measured, and purposeful execution of His judgment, demonstrating His absolute control over the entire process.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Emphasis** is achieved through the specific mention of "an hundred and fifty days," a precise duration that underscores the thoroughness and prolonged nature of the judgment. This is not a fleeting event but a sustained act of divine will. The verb "prevailed" ([Hebrew, _gâbar'_]) itself is a form of **Hyperbole** or strong assertion, indicating not just presence but absolute, conquering dominance, reinforcing the overwhelming power of the waters. Furthermore, the **Symbolism** of water is potent; while it brings destruction and judgment to the old world, it simultaneously serves as the medium through which a new beginning is forged for Noah and his family, foreshadowing themes of cleansing and new life found throughout scripture.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 7:24 powerfully underscores God's absolute sovereignty and the comprehensive nature of His judgment against sin. The precise duration of "one hundred and fifty days" is not arbitrary but signifies a deliberate and measured act of divine justice, ensuring the complete eradication of the corrupt world. This period of overwhelming prevalence serves as a stark reminder that God's patience has limits, and His righteous judgment, when it comes, is thorough and inescapable for those who reject His ways. Yet, even within this severe judgment, there is an implicit thread of divine purpose leading to renewal, as this period sets the stage for God's remembrance of Noah and the establishment of a new covenant.

* [Genesis 6:5-7](/genesis/6-5-7 "Humanity's Wickedness and God's Grief")
* [2 Peter 3:5-7](/2_peter/3-5-7 "God's Judgment by Water and Fire")
* [Luke 17:26-27](/luke/17-26-27 "The Days of Noah and the Coming of the Son of Man")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 7:24 stands as a profound testament to the unwavering justice and immense power of God. For the original audience, it affirmed the historical reality of the Flood as a divinely orchestrated event of unparalleled scale, a foundational narrative for understanding God's character. For us today, it serves as a solemn reminder that God is not indifferent to human wickedness. His judgment is certain, comprehensive, and perfectly executed according to His divine timing. This verse calls us to profound introspection: Do we take sin seriously? Are we living in alignment with God's righteous standards, or are we complacent in a world that often dismisses divine accountability? It compels us to consider the seriousness of our own spiritual state and to seek refuge in God's grace, understanding that while judgment is sure for the unrepentant, His faithfulness always provides a path for redemption and new beginnings for those who turn to Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "one hundred and fifty days" of prevailing waters deepen your understanding of God's patience and His eventual judgment?**
* **In what ways does this verse challenge modern complacency regarding sin and divine accountability?**
* **What does the thoroughness of God's judgment in the Flood teach us about the certainty of His promises, both of judgment and of salvation?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "hundred and fifty days" mentioned in Genesis 7:24?**

Answer: The "hundred and fifty days" refers to the precise duration during which the floodwaters maintained their maximum height and complete dominance over the earth. This period immediately followed the initial forty days of rain and the subsequent rising of the waters, signifying the full extent and thoroughness of God's judgment upon a wicked world. It ensured that all terrestrial life outside Noah's ark was extinguished, and that the old, corrupted order was completely cleansed before the waters began to recede, as described in [Genesis 8:1-3](/genesis/8-1-3 "God Remembers Noah and the Waters Recede"). This specific timeframe highlights the deliberate, measured, and purposeful nature of God's divine action, underscoring His absolute control over both the destructive and redemptive phases of the Flood.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Genesis 7:24 describes a period of overwhelming judgment and destruction, it implicitly points forward to Christ as the ultimate ark of salvation and the source of true new creation. Just as Noah and his family found refuge and preservation from the prevailing waters by being "in the ark," believers today find their ultimate security and deliverance from the coming judgment by being "in Christ." The Flood, with its thorough cleansing of the old world, foreshadows the spiritual cleansing and new life offered through Christ's atoning work on the cross, which purifies us from sin and makes us new creations ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "New Creation in Christ")). Furthermore, the certainty and comprehensive nature of God's judgment in the Flood prefigure the ultimate judgment of humanity at the end of the age, from which only those who have placed their faith in Christ will be delivered, leading to the promise of a new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells ([2 Peter 3:10-13](/2_peter/3-10-13 "The Day of the Lord and New Heavens and Earth")). Thus, the prevailing waters of judgment ultimately point to the prevailing grace and salvation found exclusively in Jesus Christ.

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

Genesis 8:3

And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.

Genesis 8:4

¶ And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.