Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Genesis 7:18 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 18. 18And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
The waters become increasingly mighty across the earth, and the ark moves on their surface. Noah is carried rather than described as steering or mastering the flood.
Read It With
- Genesis 7:1–24
Read verses 17–20 together. Verse 17 lifts the ark; verse 18 sets it moving on the water; verses 19–20 show how completely the waters prevail over elevated land.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The ark's movement on the surface shows the continuing effect of waters that are becoming mighty over the land.
Read Genesis 7:17–20 together
Why these verses belong together: The waters lift the ark, carry it, become exceedingly mighty, cover the mountains, and reach the fifteen-cubit measure.
Verse 17. 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.
Verse 18. 18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
Verse 19. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
Verse 20. 20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
What Remains True
Faithful preservation does not require pretending to control the force through which one is being carried.
How It Can Shape Life
- When control is limited, attend to the faithful responsibilities still available instead of overstating mastery or surrendering to helplessness.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 7:1–24 — The Flood Covers the EarthSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Reader-facing Scripture wording, verse numbering, paragraph data, and supplied-word markup.
Exact location: Pinned eBible/CrossWire standardized 1769 KJV corpus, Genesis 7:1–24
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Righteousness, clean and unclean terms, repeated numerals, wipe-away language, deep and floodgates, entry formulas, prevail language, breath of life, dry land, survival, and 150 days.
Exact location: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible, wlc/Gen.xml, Genesis 7:1–24
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Prominent 'you,' seven or seven pairs, male-and-mate wording, seven days, forty days, paired entry, deep and heaven imagery, prevail language, fifteen cubits, breath of life, survival, and 150 days.
Exact location: NET Bible, Genesis 7:1–24 translator notes 1–39
Open NET Genesis 7 ↗