Bible Commentaries
Genesis 7

Verse 1

LORD = Jehovah in His covenant-relation with Noah, and in connection with the seven clean beasts for sacrifice. See note on Genesis 6:12 , Genesis 6:19 .

house = household. Metonymy (of subject). App-6 .

generation. Hebrew. dor, as in Genesis 6:9 = those who were then alive: Noah's contemporaries.

Verse 2

clean. For sacrifice Leviticus 1:2 , Leviticus 1:10 , Leviticus 1:14 , &c, sevens. For propagation.

two. See note on Genesis 6:19 ; Genesis 6:12 .

Verse 4

seven days. The number of spiritual perfection ( App-10 ). All the Flood dates are Sabbaths except one (Genesis 8:5 ).

forty. The number of probation ( App-10 ).

destroy = wipe out, blot out.

earth. Hebrew. 'adamah = ground.

Verse 9

as God = according as Elohim. Compare Genesis 6:13 .

Verse 11

deep. Hebrew. tehom = the waters of the abyss, as in Genesis 1:2 ; Genesis 49:25 .Deuteronomy 33:13 .Psalms 104:6 .

windows. Not challon, a small aperture (Genesis 8:6 ), or zohar, an opening for light (Genesis 6:16 ), but 'arubah, lattice or net-work, not glass. Here "floodgates". Only here, and Genesis 8:2 . 2 Kings 7:2 , 2 Kings 7:19 . Ecclesiastes 12:3 .Isaiah 24:18 ; Isa 24:60 , Isaiah 24:8 . Hosea 13:3 .Malachi 3:10 .

Verse 13

entered , i.e. the eight persons of 1 Peter 3:20 .

Verse 14

sort. Hebrew wing: put by Metonymy (of Adjunct), for every kind.

Verse 15

breath. Hebrew. ruach. See note on Genesis 6:17 , and App-9 .

Verse 16

God = Elohim, the Creator.

LORD = Jehovah, Noah's Covenant-God.

Verse 19

exceedingly. The Flood universal. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( greatly greatly).

Verse 21

And. Note the Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in verses: Genesis 7:21-23 , solemnly emphasizing the complete extinction of life. Many other examples in this narrative to emph. its complete details. Heaps of animals and birds found together, mostly on hills. Bones not gnawed or exposed to the weather. There is also a break and a fresh beginning in Egyptian monuments.

died = ceased to breathe.

Verse 22

breath = neshamah. App-16 .

of life. Hebrew of the spirit ( ruach, App-9 ), of life (Hebrew. chay).

Verse 23

living substance = standing thing

destroyed. Hebrew wiped out.

Noah. See 1 Peter 3:20 . 2 Peter 2:5 .