Genesis 7:6

KJV

And Noah [was] six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Noah {H5146} was six {H8337} hundred {H3967} years {H8141} old {H1121} when the flood {H3999} of waters {H4325} was upon the earth {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Noach was 600 years old when the water flooded the earth.

Berean Standard Bible

Now Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came upon the earth.

American Standard Version

And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 7:6 precisely records Noah's age as six hundred years when the cataclysmic flood of waters engulfed the earth, a pivotal moment that marked the culmination of God's patient long-suffering and Noah's unwavering obedience in preparing for this divinely ordained judgment and new beginning for humanity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the immediate chronological anchor for the onset of the Great Flood, directly following God's final, urgent command to Noah to enter the ark with his family and the designated animals ([Genesis 7:1-5](/genesis/7-1-5 "God's Command to Noah to Enter the Ark")). It is the fulfillment of the divine decree announced in [Genesis 6:17](/genesis/6-17 "God's Plan to Destroy All Life with a Flood"), where God declared His intention to bring a flood to destroy all flesh. The preceding chapters meticulously detail the escalating wickedness and violence of humanity ([Genesis 6:5-12](/genesis/6-5-12 "The Corruption of Humanity Before the Flood")), which grieved God's heart, leading to His decision to cleanse the earth. Noah, however, stood out as a righteous man who "found grace in the eyes of the LORD" ([Genesis 6:8](/genesis/6-8 "Noah Finds Favor with God")), setting the stage for his unique role in God's redemptive plan.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The pre-Flood world, as depicted in Genesis, was characterized by extreme longevity, making Noah's age of 600 years, while extraordinary by modern standards, consistent with the lifespans of patriarchs recorded in Genesis 5. This extended lifespan allowed for a prolonged period of human development and, tragically, a deep entrenchment of sin. The concept of a global flood is unique in its biblical presentation as a divinely orchestrated judgment, distinct from localized inundations. While flood narratives exist in other ancient Near Eastern cultures, the Genesis account emphasizes God's moral purpose, His covenant with Noah, and the preservation of a righteous remnant, setting it apart as a theological narrative rather than merely a natural disaster.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 7:6 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the broader narrative. It underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment** as God's righteous response to pervasive human sin and corruption, demonstrating that sin has severe consequences. Simultaneously, it highlights **God's Patience and Long-Suffering**, as the 600 years represent a vast period during which humanity had ample opportunity to repent, even as Noah faithfully built the ark. The verse also implicitly points to **Noah's Righteousness and Obedience**, as his entry into the ark at this precise moment is the culmination of decades, possibly a century, of unwavering faith in God's unseen promise, as commended in [Hebrews 11:7](/hebrews/11-7 "Noah's Faith in Hebrews 11:7"). Finally, it initiates the theme of **Divine Preservation and New Beginnings**, as the flood, while destructive, also serves as a cleansing act through which God preserves a remnant to establish a new covenantal relationship with humanity, as seen in [Genesis 9](/genesis/9 "God's Covenant with Noah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 7:6, though concise, provides a crucial chronological marker that anchors the narrative of the Great Flood in a specific historical moment, emphasizing both divine timing and human endurance.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Noah (Hebrew, _Nôach'_ - H5146):** This proper noun means "rest" or "comfort." It is significant that the patriarch through whom humanity finds a "new rest" after the judgment is named "Noah." His life, marked by faithful obedience amidst a corrupt generation, ultimately brought about a new beginning for the world, fulfilling the hope implied in his name, as stated by his father Lamech in [Genesis 5:29](/genesis/5-29 "Lamech's Prophecy about Noah").
* **years (Hebrew, _shâneh'_ - H8141):** Derived from a root meaning "to repeat" or "to revolve," this word denotes a year as a cycle of time. The mention of "six hundred years" emphasizes the immense duration of Noah's life and, more specifically, the extraordinary period of his sustained obedience and faith. For potentially over a century, Noah labored on the ark, a testament to his steadfastness in the face of a world that likely ridiculed his efforts and God's warning.
* **flood (Hebrew, _mabbûwl'_ - H3999):** This term, uniquely reserved in the Hebrew Bible for the Great Flood, signifies a "deluge" or "torrent." It implies an overwhelming, unprecedented, and divinely orchestrated inundation, distinguishing it from ordinary floods or rains. The use of this specific word underscores the unique, global, and catastrophic nature of this event as an act of God's judgment and cleansing upon the earth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Noah was six hundred years old":** This clause provides the precise chronological marker for the commencement of the Flood. It highlights Noah's advanced age, emphasizing the immense duration of his life and, by extension, the long period of God's patience with humanity. It also underscores the extraordinary length of Noah's obedience and faith, as he had been building the ark for a significant portion of this time, demonstrating unwavering commitment to God's command despite the absence of any visible sign of the impending disaster.
* **"when the flood of waters was upon the earth":** This clause states the momentous event that occurred at the specified time. The phrase "flood of waters" (Hebrew: _mabbûwl mayim_) signifies the unique, global, and overwhelming nature of the deluge. It was not a localized event but a universal catastrophe that covered the entire earth, fulfilling God's declared intention to wipe out all living creatures from the face of the ground due to humanity's pervasive wickedness. This marks the transition from a period of grace and warning to one of divine judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 7:6 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Precise Chronology** is evident in the specific mention of Noah's age ("six hundred years old"), which grounds the narrative in a concrete, historical timeline, emphasizing the meticulous nature of God's plan and timing. The phrase "flood of waters" utilizes **Descriptive Language** to evoke the overwhelming power and scope of the deluge, distinguishing it from ordinary rain. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a moment of **Fulfillment**, as it marks the literal onset of the judgment that God had warned about for decades, bringing to fruition the divine promises and threats detailed in [Genesis 6](/genesis/6 "Genesis 6 - Humanity's Corruption and God's Plan for the Flood"). It also carries an element of **Symbolism**, where the waters represent both divine judgment and a cleansing, paving the way for a new, purified creation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 7:6 stands as a stark reminder of God's absolute sovereignty over creation and history, demonstrating His meticulous timing in both long-suffering and judgment. The precise chronological detail underscores that the flood was not an arbitrary event but a divinely appointed act, culminating a prolonged period of human rebellion and God's patient warnings. It powerfully illustrates the severe consequences of sin and the certainty of divine judgment, while simultaneously highlighting God's faithfulness to His righteous servant, Noah. Through Noah, God preserved a remnant, signifying His commitment to redemptive history and the initiation of a new covenantal beginning for humanity.

* [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "The Lord is Patient")
* [Hebrews 11:7](/hebrews/11-7 "Noah's Faith and the Ark")
* [Matthew 24:37-39](/matthew/24-37-39 "As it was in the Days of Noah")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 7:6 calls believers to a profound reflection on the critical importance of heeding divine warnings and cultivating a life of persistent readiness. Just as Noah, for decades, diligently prepared for a literal flood that seemed distant and improbable to his contemporaries, so too are Christians exhorted to prepare spiritually for the Lord's certain return and the ultimate judgment. This preparation involves cultivating unwavering faith, sustained obedience to God's commands, and living in anticipation of His coming, even when the world around us remains oblivious or dismissive. Noah's enduring faithfulness, even over a period of six centuries, serves as a powerful testament that sustained devotion to God, even in the face of societal opposition, ridicule, and the absence of immediate visible evidence, is not only possible but divinely honored, leading to salvation and the fulfillment of God's promises. It reminds us that our spiritual diligence today, however long it may take, is an act of trust in God's perfect timing and His ultimate justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Noah's long obedience, culminating at 600 years old, challenge my own concept of patience and faithfulness in waiting for God's promises or warnings to materialize?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be neglecting God's warnings or delaying obedience, similar to the pre-Flood generation?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a greater sense of spiritual readiness and unwavering faith, even when the "flood of waters" (or God's ultimate return) seems distant?**

### FAQ

**Why is Noah's age specified so precisely at 600 years?**

Answer: The precise age highlights the meticulous nature of biblical chronology and God's divine timing. It underscores the immense duration of Noah's faith and obedience, as he spent a significant portion of his life building the ark, potentially over a century, in anticipation of an event that had never before occurred. This specificity emphasizes that the flood was not a random natural disaster but occurred at a divinely appointed moment, marking the culmination of God's long-suffering patience and the final opportunity for humanity to repent before judgment. It also serves to ground the narrative in a historical reality, reinforcing the biblical account's claim to factual accuracy.

**Does the flood in Genesis 7:6 imply a local or global event?**

Answer: The language used throughout Genesis 6-9, including terms like "all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered" ([Genesis 7:19](/genesis/7-19 "Read about the extent of the flood in Genesis 7:19")), "all flesh died that moved upon the earth" ([Genesis 7:21](/genesis/7-21 "The Death of All Flesh")), and the unique Hebrew term *mabbûwl* (מַבּוּל) for this specific flood, strongly indicates a global, universal catastrophe, not a localized one. The purpose of cleansing the entire earth of its pervasive wickedness ([Genesis 6:11-13](/genesis/6-11-13 "The Earth Corrupted Before the Flood")) further supports this interpretation, as a local flood would not achieve such a comprehensive judgment or necessitate the preservation of all animal kinds in an ark.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the flood, initiated at Noah's 600th year, serves as a profound type and shadow pointing to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Just as Noah, a righteous man by faith, became the means of salvation for his household and the preservation of life through the ark amidst a world facing overwhelming divine judgment, so Jesus Christ, the perfectly righteous Son of God, is the sole means of salvation for humanity from the coming spiritual judgment of sin. The ark provided a physical refuge from the waters of divine wrath, prefiguring Christ who provides spiritual refuge and eternal life to all who believe in Him ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "God So Loved the World")). Furthermore, Peter draws a direct parallel between the ark's salvation through water and Christian baptism, which now saves us "by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" ([1 Peter 3:20-21](/1_peter/3-20-21 "Baptism and Salvation Through Christ")). The new beginning for humanity after the flood also powerfully foreshadows the new creation and eternal life offered through Christ's redemptive work, where He makes "all things new" ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Behold, I Make All Things New")), leading His people into a new heavens and a new earth ([2 Peter 3:13](/2_peter/3-13 "New Heavens and New Earth")).

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 5:32

And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 8:13

¶ And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first [month], the first [day] of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.