Genesis 7:4 Meaning and Explanation
“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God announces the flood will begin in seven days and last forty days and nights, destroying all living things.
The Context of Genesis 7:4
God announces the timing and extent of the coming flood.
What Does Genesis 7:4 Mean?
The seven-day warning gives Noah's household time to enter the ark and prepare. Forty days and nights becomes a biblical period signifying judgment and renewal—later echoed in the wilderness wandering and Jesus's temptation. The number carries weight beyond mere duration.
God explicitly claims responsibility: I will cause...I have made...will I destroy. This establishes God's sovereignty over creation and over the judgment upon it. The destruction is complete (every living substance), underscoring the flood's total scope.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 7:4
What does Genesis 7:4 mean?
God announces the flood will begin in seven days and last forty days and nights, destroying all living things.
What is the context of Genesis 7:4?
God announces the timing and extent of the coming flood.