Verse

Genesis 8:3

ESV and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of 150 days the waters had abated,
NIV The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down,
NASB and the water receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of 150 days the water decreased.
CSB The water steadily receded from the earth, and by the end of 150 days the water had decreased significantly.
NLT So the floodwaters gradually receded from the earth. After 150 days,
KJV And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
NKJV And the waters receded continually from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters decreased.

What does Genesis 8:3 mean?

The previous two verses described God's process for reversing the flood. First, He caused a great wind to blow across the planet. Next, He stopped the water from gushing up from below and from falling from the sky. The water level began to steadily drop. At its highest point, the flood covered the highest peaks of land by 15 cubits (22 feet or 7 meters). This is more than high enough to drown any land-dwelling creature, and enough depth to keep the bottom of the ark from dragging on the ground.

Now, 150 days after Noah was first told to board the ark (Genesis 7:7–9), the waters are said to have abated. They still have a long way to go, but the flood waters have dropped enough for the ark to find a landing place, as the next verse will reveal. In fact, the process of draining the flood waters is said to be continuous over this 150-day period, and beyond.
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