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Genesis 7:4

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For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

For yet {H5750} seven {H7651} days {H3117}, and I will cause it to rain {H4305} upon the earth {H776} forty {H705} days {H3117} and forty {H705} nights {H3915}; and every {H3605} living substance {H3351} that I have made {H6213} will I destroy {H4229} from off {H5921} the face {H6440} of the earth {H127}.

For in seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; I will wipe out every living thing that I have made from the face of the earth.”

For seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living thing I have made.”

For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground.

Commentary

Context

Genesis 7:4 is a pivotal verse in the biblical account of the Great Flood, serving as God's final declaration of the imminent judgment upon the earth. Prior to this, the book of Genesis describes a world consumed by pervasive human wickedness and corruption. God, grieving over humanity's state, determined to blot out all living things from the face of the earth (Genesis 6:7). However, amidst this widespread depravity, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord and was commanded to build an ark, a vessel of salvation for his family and pairs of all land-dwelling creatures. This verse marks the precise countdown: a mere seven days remain before the cataclysmic event begins, emphasizing God's meticulous timing and the finality of His warning.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Justice: The verse unequivocally states God's intent to "destroy from off the face of the earth" every living substance. This highlights God's righteous judgment against sin and His sovereign authority over creation. It underscores that sin has consequences and God will not tolerate unbridled evil indefinitely.
  • Divine Patience and Warning: The "yet seven days" period signifies a final, merciful window of opportunity. Even in the face of widespread rebellion, God provides a clear, short warning, demonstrating His patience before executing judgment. This brief interval also allowed Noah to complete the final preparations and gather the animals into the ark, as commanded in Genesis 7:1.
  • The Significance of "Forty Days and Forty Nights": The duration of the rain, forty days and forty nights, is highly symbolic in biblical narrative. The number forty often represents a period of testing, purification, judgment, or preparation. Here, it marks a sustained and intense period of divine action that completely reshapes the earth.
  • The Universality of the Flood: The phrase "every living substance that I have made" emphasizes the comprehensive scope of the judgment, covering all land-dwelling life outside the ark. This points to the global nature of the flood event.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "destroy" here is machah (מָחָה), which means to wipe out, blot out, or obliterate. It conveys a sense of complete removal, as if erasing something from a surface. This resonates with God's earlier statement in Genesis 6:7 where He expresses His intent to "blot out man whom I have created from the face of the earth." The term "living substance" (Hebrew: yekum - יְקוּם) refers to all existing, living things, emphasizing the totality of the life that would be destroyed, contrasting sharply with the life preserved within the ark.

Practical Application

Genesis 7:4 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • God's Warnings Are Real: When God speaks, His words are true and His warnings should be taken seriously. The seven-day countdown was not a bluff; it was a precise prophecy of impending judgment. This calls believers to heed God's present-day warnings and instructions found in His Word.
  • The Importance of Obedience: Noah's salvation was a direct result of his unwavering obedience to God's commands, even when they seemed extraordinary. His faith, as noted in Hebrews 11:7, led him to prepare the ark and enter it when the time came, securing his family's deliverance.
  • Divine Justice and Grace Coexist: While judgment is severe, God always provides a way of salvation for those who trust and obey Him. The ark stands as a symbol of God's provision for rescue amidst destruction.
  • A Foreshadowing of Future Judgment: Jesus Himself referred to the days of Noah as a parallel to His second coming, where people were oblivious until judgment came. This verse encourages readiness and spiritual vigilance, reminding us that there will be a final reckoning and a need to be prepared for Christ's return.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 7:17 (6 votes)

    ¶ And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

  • Genesis 7:12 (6 votes)

    And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

  • Genesis 6:17 (5 votes)

    And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein [is] the breath of life, from under heaven; [and] every thing that [is] in the earth shall die.

  • Genesis 6:7 (5 votes)

    And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

  • Genesis 6:13 (5 votes)

    ¶ And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

  • Psalms 69:28 (4 votes)

    Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

  • Revelation 3:5 (3 votes)

    He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.