The Meaning of Genesis 7:18 Explained

Genesis 7:18

KJV: And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

YLT: and the waters are mighty, and multiply exceedingly upon the earth; and the ark goeth on the face of the waters.

Darby: And the waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark went on the face of the waters.

ASV: And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the waters  prevailed,  and were increased  greatly  upon the earth;  and the ark  went  upon the face  of the waters. 

What does Genesis 7:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 7:1-24 - The Great Flood
What anguish! They climbed the highest story of their towers, then to the hills, but the greedy waters followed them, till the last crag was covered, and all living things in the first homes of human life had perished. Equally sudden and unexpected shall be the days of the Son of Man. See Luke 17:26; 2 Peter 3:7. But what drowns other men only lifts the child of God nearer his home. The waters bear up the ark. When the loftiest refuges of lies and pride are submerged, and the whole landscape is covered with a monotonous waste of trouble, God says to the soul, "Come into the ark." It is as though He is inside and wants us to enter into close fellowship with Himself. See Psalms 27:5. When God shuts the door behind us, no power can force, no skeleton key can unlock, and no wedge can pry the door. For the extent of the Deluge it is appropriate to consider Luke 2:1-3. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 7

1  Noah, his family and the living creatures enter the ark
6  The flood begins
17  The increase of the flood for forty days
21  All flesh is destroyed by it
24  Its duration of 150 days

What do the individual words in Genesis 7:18 mean?

And prevailed the waters and increased greatly on the earth and moved about the ark the surface of the waters
וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֛יִם וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד עַל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֖ה פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם

וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ  And  prevailed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: גָּבַר  
Sense: to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, be great.
הַמַּ֛יִם  the  waters 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ  and  increased 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
מְאֹ֖ד  greatly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
הָאָ֑רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ  and  moved  about 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
הַתֵּבָ֖ה  the  ark 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֵּבָה  
Sense: ark.
פְּנֵ֥י  the  surface 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַמָּֽיִם  of  the  waters 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 7:18?

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