Genesis 7:19
ESV
And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.
NIV
They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered.
NASB
And the water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered.
CSB
Then the water surged even higher on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole sky were covered.
NLT
Finally, the water covered even the highest mountains on the earth,
KJV
And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
NKJV
And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered.
What does Genesis 7:19 mean?
As in the prior verse, Genesis uses the Hebrew root word gabar, translated as "prevailed or triumphed" to describe the victory of the floodwaters of God's judgment. This catastrophic effect is shown in how high the water rises over the surface of the ground. The water is said to cover all of the highest hā'rim. This term, hā'rim is also often translated as "hills," or even "high hills."This is important in the discussion of whether or not this was a planetary flood, or a "local" flood only affecting the regions inhabited by men. The tallest peaks in the Middle East region are not nearly as high as those in other places on earth. The highest point in the middle east is Mount Damāvand, in Iran, more than 18,000 feet (5,600 m) above sea level. Israel's highest point is in the Golan Heights, and rises almost 7,300 feet (2,200 m) above sea level. By comparison, Mount Everest is more than 29,000 feet (8,000 m) high, and some parts of Argentina are more than 22,000 feet (nearly 7,000 m) tall. In other words, according to proponents of a local flood, the amount of water needed to annihilate the early territory of men would have been far, far less than that needed to cover the peaks of the planet's highest mountains.
At the same time, others have speculated that the eruption of the waters from the deep, in combination with the enormous forces of the floodwaters on the earth, resulted in the creation of the mountains as we know them today. That would include these various points already mentioned.
In any case, the Bible is explicitly claiming that the waters from this flood covered every meaningful point of land, leaving no possibility of escape or rescue for those who were not on the ark.
Genesis 7:11–24 describes the greatest disaster in world history: the flood. For forty days and nights, rain falls from above, and underground water rushes from below. As a result, floodwaters fully cover the surface of the land for another 110 days. The ark, built as God has instructed Noah, is able to float and survive the deluge. Every land-dwelling, air-breathing human and creature dies, except for those aboard the ark.
Genesis 7 tells the story of the actual flood itself. God again commends Noah for his righteousness. The animals of every kind come to the ark. God shuts Noah and his family and the animals in, and it begins to rain. Water pours from above and bursts forth from below with incredible intensity. This outpouring of water lasts for 40 days, and covers the surface of the earth for another 110 days. The ark floats, rises, moves across the surface of the water. Outside of it, every land-dwelling, air-breathing thing dies. God wipes it all out, including every human being other than Noah and his family.
