^7:18The waters completely overwhelmed²⁷ the earth, and the ark floated²⁸ on the surface of the waters. ^7:19The waters completely inundated²⁹ the earth so that even³⁰ all the high mountains under the entire sky were covered. ^7:20The waters rose more than twenty feet³¹ above the mountains.³²

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Footnotes

27 Heb “and the waters were great and multiplied exceedingly.” The first verb in the sequence is וַיִּגְבְּרוּ (vayyigbéru, from גָּבַר, gavar), meaning “to become great, mighty.” The waters did not merely rise; they “prevailed” over the earth, overwhelming it.
28 Heb “went.”
29 Heb “and the waters were great exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition emphasizes the depth of the waters.
30 Heb “and.”
31 Heb “rose fifteen cubits.” Since a cubit is considered by most authorities to be about eighteen inches, this would make the depth 22.5 feet. This figure might give the modern reader a false impression of exactness, however, so in the translation the phrase “fifteen cubits” has been rendered “more than twenty feet.”
32 Heb “the waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward and they covered the mountains.” Obviously, a flood of twenty feet did not cover the mountains; the statement must mean the flood rose about twenty feet above the highest mountain.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The water surged and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. Then the water surged even higher on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole sky were covered. The mountains were covered as the water surged above them more than twenty feet.

NLTNew Living Translation

As the waters rose higher and higher above the ground, the boat floated safely on the surface. Finally, the water covered even the highest mountains on the earth, rising more than twenty-two feet above the highest peaks.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And the waters prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth. And the ark went upon the surface of the waters. And the waters prevailed overwhelmingly upon the earth, and they covered all the high mountains which were under the entire heaven. The waters swelled fifteen cubits above the mountains, covering them.

KJV 1900King James Version

And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

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