The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just state that mountains were covered, but that the waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward above them. This specific detail emphasizes not just the vast depth, but a deliberate, active "overcoming" of the highest points on earth, highlighting the overwhelming power of God's judgment.
The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The floodwaters continue to rise dramatically, now completely submerging even the highest mountains. This marks the point where all terrestrial life outside the ark perishes, emphasizing the catastrophic and universal nature of God's judgment on the earth. The ark itself floats safely above this overwhelming destruction, sustained by God's power.
The highest peaks, symbols of permanence and height, were completely submerged. What does this imagery reveal about God's power?
The Power Unleashed
Genesis 7:20 declares, 'The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.' This isn't just a description of heavy rain; it's a profound statement about the scope of God's judgment and power.
Beyond Our Comprehension
Commentators note that fifteen cubits is roughly twenty-two feet. This depth, achieved above the highest mountains, signifies that the floodwaters surpassed any earthly height. It challenges our notions of what is physically possible, pointing to a divine intervention that went far beyond natural phenomena.
Cosmic Upheaval
The text connects this to the 'fountains of the great deep' being broken up (Genesis 7:11). This suggests a cosmic event, not just terrestrial rain. It implies that the very foundations of the earth yielded their hidden waters, demonstrating that God controls not only the skies but also the deep, unseen reservoirs of our planet.
The covering of the mountains signifies the end of one world and the dramatic beginning of another. What does this destruction mean for God's people?
The Judgment and Preservation
The floodwaters covering the mountains represent a complete purging of a world steeped in sin. It was a judgment so total that all life on dry land perished, as stated in verses 21-22.
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God's Faithful Preservation
Yet, amidst this overwhelming destruction, God's preserving power is on full display through Noah and his family in the ark. The depth of the water above the mountains underscores the severity of the judgment, making Noah's survival a testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.
A New Beginning
This complete washing away of the old world paved the way for a new creation under Noah's leadership. The submersion of the highest points signifies that nothing was left untouched by God's hand, neither in judgment nor in the preservation of those who trusted Him.
Understand the original words
ammah · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew unit of measurement (approximately 18 inches) based on the length of a forearm; here it serves to emphasize the precision of the biblical account and the completeness of the floodwaters' reach.
The description of the waters covering the highest mountains to a depth of fifteen cubits emphasizes the catastrophic, universal nature of the flood, serving as a stark reminder of God's judgment and power.
~2348 BC— this verse
The Great Flood Begins
The fountains of the great deep break open and the windows of heaven open, unleashing torrential rain for forty days and nights. The ark carrying Noah and his family begins to float.
~2348 BC
Waters Cover the Earth
The floodwaters rise, covering all the mountains. The text specifies the waters prevailed fifteen cubits (about 22 feet) above the highest peaks.
~2348 BC
Destruction of Life
All living creatures on dry land, except for those in the ark, perish. This event signifies divine judgment upon a wicked world.
~2348 BC
Waters Prevail for 150 Days
The floodwaters continue to cover the earth for a total of 150 days, during which the ark drifts.
~2348 BC
Ark Rests on Ararat
After the 150 days, the waters begin to recede, and the ark comes to rest on the mountains of Ararat.
~2347 BC
Floodwaters Recede
After many months, the mountaintops become visible, and eventually, the earth dries sufficiently for Noah and his family to disembark.
This psalm reflects on God's powerful creation, noting that His voice causes the waters to flee and thunder, aligning with the overwhelming power described in the flood narrative.
2 Peter 3:6This New Testament passage directly references the Genesis flood, stating that the world was then destroyed by water, reinforcing the destructive nature of this event.
Matthew 24:38-39Jesus uses the days of Noah as a parallel to the end times, highlighting how people were unaware of the coming judgment until the floodwaters came and swept them all away, similar to the suddenness of destruction.
Genesis 8:1-4This passage immediately follows the floodwaters prevailing, showing God remembering Noah and causing the waters to recede, which also mentions the ark resting on the mountains of Ararat, providing context for the waters covering them.
clarkeGenesis 7:20: "Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered."
Fifteen cubits upward - Should any person object to the universality of the deluge because he may imagine there is not water sufficient to drown the whole globe in the manner here related, he may find a most satisfactory answer to all the objections he can raise on this ground in Mr. Ray's Physico-theological Discourses, 2d edit., 8vo., 1693.
calvinGenesis 7:1-24: "And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation."
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
In anno sexcentesimo annorum vitae Noah, in mense secundo, in septimadecima die mensis, die ipsa, rupti sunt omnes fontes voraginis magnaaa…
The verse doesn't just state that mountains were covered, but that the waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward above them. This specific detail emphasizes not just the vast depth, but a deliberate, active "overcoming" of the highest points on earth, highlighting the overwhelming power of God's judgment.
The floodwaters continue to rise dramatically, now completely submerging even the highest mountains. This marks the point where all terrestrial life outside the ark perishes, emphasizing the catastrophic and universal nature of God's judgment on the earth. The ark itself floats safely above this overwhelming destruction, sustained by God's power.
The floodwaters continue to rise dramatically, now completely submerging even the highest mountains. This marks the point where all terrestrial life outside the ark perishes, emphasizing the catastrophic and universal nature of God's judgment on the earth. The ark itself floats safely above this overwhelming destruction, sustained by God's power.
"The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep." — The verse doesn't just state that mountains were covered, but that the waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward above them. This specific detail emphasizes not just the vast depth, but a deliberate…
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Last reviewed October 2026