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Genesis 7

24 verses

TL;DR

God commands Noah to build an ark and preserve representatives of all living creatures; a forty‑day, forty‑night deluge then destroys all life on earth except those aboard the ark.

Summary

In Genesis 7, God instructs Noah to bring his family and representatives of every kind of animal—clean and unclean, birds and creeping creatures—into an ark for preservation. Noah obeys, and the floodwaters begin after seven days, lasting forty days and nights with the sky opened and the deep's fountains broken. The waters rise, covering even the highest mountains, and all living beings that had the breath of life perish. The ark remains the sole refuge, containing Noah, his family, and the animals. The flood lasts for a total of 150 days before water recedes. The narrative highlights divine judgment coupled with mercy, establishing a covenantal relationship with the survivors.

Outline
  1. God's command to Noah to construct an ark and gather animals in pairs
  2. The onset, duration, and intensity of the flood, including the covering of mountains
  3. The total destruction of all life and the ark’s survival of Noah and his family
Themes
Divine judgment and mercyHuman obedience and responsibilityPreservation of life and renewal
Keywords
LORDNoaharkfloodrain40 days and 40 nightsbreath of lifecleanseduncleancovenant
People
NoahShemHamJaphethNoah's wifewives of Noah's sonsLORD
Places
earthfountains of the great deepwindows of heaven
Things
arkfloodrainclean beastsunclean beastsfowlscreeping thingscattlebreath of life
Key Verses
  • Genesis 7:1: God’s explicit command to Noah sets the entire narrative in motion.
  • Genesis 7:4: The detailed timing of the flood establishes the divine control over nature.
  • Genesis 7:11: The breaking of the fountains and opening of the heavens marks the commencement of the deluge.
  • Genesis 7:17: Describes the rise of waters, illustrating the severity of God's judgment.
  • Genesis 7:21: Shows the total annihilation of life, underscoring the theme of divine judgment.
Questions
  • What does Noah’s obedience reveal about human responsibility toward divine instruction?
  • How does the distribution of animals in pairs serve the narrative’s theological purposes?
  • In what ways does Genesis 7 portray the balance between divine judgment and mercy?
  • What role does the ark play as a symbol of sanctuary and covenant?
  • How might the narrative inform contemporary views on environmental stewardship?
Sentiment

mixed
The passage presents both judgment (destruction) and mercy (preservation) in a neutral narrative tone.