What Is the Flood in the Bible?
What Is the Flood in the Bible? The flood was God's judgment on a corrupt world, destroying all life except Noah, his family, and the animals preserved in the ark.
Key verse: Genesis 6:5-7 (KJV)
The flood was God's judgment on a corrupt world, destroying all life except Noah, his family, and the animals preserved in the ark.
The flood was God's judgment on a corrupt world, destroying all life except Noah, his family, and the animals preserved in the ark.
"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 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 6:5-7 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
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The Biblical Answer
In Genesis 6-9, God saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth — every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. It grieved the LORD, and He resolved to destroy all flesh with a flood of waters. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. God instructed Noah to build an ark of gopher wood, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high, with rooms, a window, and a door. Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives entered the ark, along with pairs of every kind of animal. After seven days, the fountains of the great deep burst forth and the windows of heaven were opened. Rain fell for forty days and forty nights, and the waters prevailed for 150 days, covering even the highest mountains. All flesh died — every man, bird, cattle, and creeping thing. After the waters receded, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. Noah sent out a raven and a dove; when the dove returned with an olive leaf, Noah knew the waters had abated. God made a covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy all flesh with a flood, and set the rainbow as the sign of that covenant. The flood is a type of baptism and a warning that God's patience has limits, but His grace provides a way of salvation.
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Key Scripture References
"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 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."
"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. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters."
"I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
Who Was Noah in the Bible?
Noah was a righteous man who obeyed God's command to build an ark, saving his family and animals from a worldwide flood that judged a corrupt world.
What Was Noah's Ark and the Great Flood?
Noah's Ark was a massive vessel God commanded Noah to build to preserve his family and animal life during a worldwide flood that destroyed all other life on earth.
What Is Sodom and Gomorrah?
Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked cities destroyed by fire and brimstone as an example of God's judgment on unrepentant sin.
Who Wrote the Bible?
The Bible was written by approximately 40 human authors over 1,500 years, but ultimately inspired by God through the Holy Spirit.
Is the Bible True and Reliable?
Yes — the Bible's historical accuracy, fulfilled prophecy, internal consistency, and transformative power confirm its divine reliability.
Deep Dive Commentary
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