King James Bible

Back to Reader

Genesis

Note Journal Prayer

7

:

17

“

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.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
And the flood deluge Noun H3999 הַמַּבּ֛וּל ham·mab·bul
came become Verb H1961 וַֽיְהִ֧י vay·hi
upon the earth common Noun H776 הָאָ֑רֶץ ha·'a·retz;
was forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֥ים ar·ba·'im
Analysis:

Forty: Transition or change

Often people will speak of the number forty as a generational number. There is no evidence for such an interpretation from the Scripture. The number 40 expresses a change or transition. The examples for such a view are seen throughout both the Old and New Covenants. 

  • It rained for 40 days in the days of Noah (see Genesis 7:12). These rains brought about a transition; HaShem would begin the world again with the family of Noah. 
  • Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (see Exodus 34:28). Although this was the second time Moses went up to the mountain, it was this time that the Law was actually given to the Children of Israel and a transition was made to Israel being commanded to observe the Law.
  • Yeshua was tested in the mountains of Judah for 40 days and 40 nights (see Matthew 4:2) and afterwards He began His ministry. Hence, a transition was made from when Yeshua did not minister to the time when He began to fulfill His Father's will in a formal way.
  • After the resurrection, Yeshua appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and He ascended into the heavens. Yeshua's earthly ministry had finished and there was a transition to His disciples carrying on His work.
  • In the account of Absalom, the reader is told that at the end of 40 years (see 2 Samuel 15:7), Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron from his father. Although he said that he wanted to pay his vows, this was said so he could depart and begin his rebellion against David, his father. Why is 40 years mentioned? To what does the 40 years refer? Some commentaries say the 40 years was from when Saul began the monarchy. Whether this is true or not is undetermined. However, what is for sure is that there was a transition in the leadership of Israel. The number 40 appears in verse 7 to assist the reader in identifying this change in leadership.

Numerous other examples could be provided, but these few sufficiently demonstrate the meaning and use of the number 40 in the Scriptures. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016
days age Noun H3117 יֹ֖ום yo·vm
and the waters waste Noun H4325 הַמַּ֗יִם ham·ma·yim
increased abundance Verb H7235 וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ vai·yir·bu
and bare up accept Verb H5375 וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ vai·yis·'u
the ark box Noun H8392 הַתֵּבָ֔ה hat·te·vah,
and it was lift up bring up Verb H7311 וַתָּ֖רָם vat·ta·ram
above the earth common Noun H776 הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ha·'a·retz.

Locations

Flood

FLOODflud:In the King James Version not less than 13 words are rendered "flood," though in the Revised Version (British and American) we find in some passages "river," "stream," "tempest," etc. The word is used for: the deluge of Noah, mabbul (Genesis 6:17); kataklusmos (Matthew 24:38, 39 Luke 17:27); the waters of the Red Sea, nazal (Exodus 15:8); the Euphr... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible 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.
Hebrew Greek English And Then the flood was forty days came upon the earth; earth for forty days, and the waters increased, water increased and bare lifted up the ark, and so that it was lift up rose above the earth.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And Then the flood was forty days came upon the earth; earth for forty days, and the waters increased, water increased and bare lifted up the ark, and so that it was lift up rose above the earth.