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Writer's pictureEdward D. Andrews
3 days ago9 min read

What Evidence Supports the Global Extent and Reality of Noah’s Flood?

Understanding the Extent of the Flood


The Biblical account of the Flood in Noah’s time leaves no room for interpretation as a local or limited event. In Genesis 6–8, it describes the cataclysmic event as covering the entire earth, leading to the destruction of all life, except for those preserved on the ark. The Greek word used for this event, kataklysmos (Luke 17:27), refers to a catastrophic flood, which sets it apart from ordinary floods. This was no localized disaster but a global deluge with extraordinary characteristics and impact.


Noah spent decades building the ark, an enormous vessel with a capacity of approximately 1,400,000 cubic feet (about 40,000 cubic meters), a project that would have been unnecessary for a mere regional flood. If the Flood had only been regional, there would have been no need to gather representatives of every kind of creature from across the earth (Genesis 6:19; 7:3). God’s specific instructions to Noah were clear: “bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you” (Genesis 6:19 UASV). This task underscores the global scope of the Flood, as all life on land outside the ark would perish, requiring preservation inside it. The text further emphasizes that "the waters overwhelmed the earth so greatly that all the tall mountains that were under the whole heavens came to be covered" (Genesis 7:19). This phrase, "under the whole heavens," leaves no ambiguity that the Flood’s reach was worldwide.


The total duration of the Flood, lasting over a year, also confirms its unique and far-reaching nature. After the rains ceased, it took several more months for the waters to recede. Noah’s family and the animals remained in the ark for about 370 days (Genesis 7:11; 8:14). Such a prolonged period of time for the earth to dry indicates a flood of unparalleled magnitude. In sum, the details of the ark’s size, the collection of every kind of animal, and the extended duration of the Flood all point to a global event, not a regional one.



Timing and Duration of the Deluge


The timing of the Deluge is precise. The event began “in the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month” (Genesis 7:11). This specificity adds to the historicity and credibility of the account. The Bible records that Noah and his family entered the ark on this day, and then Jehovah shut the door, signaling the beginning of the judgment on the world (Genesis 7:16). Rain fell for forty days and nights, and the waters overwhelmed the earth for 150 days (Genesis 7:24).


It is noteworthy that after the rain stopped, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat five months later (Genesis 8:4). It took another two and a half months for the tops of the mountains to appear (Genesis 8:5). Three more months passed before Noah removed the ark’s covering and found that the ground had dried (Genesis 8:13). It was nearly two months later, on the twenty-seventh day of the second month of the following year, when Noah, his family, and all the animals finally left the ark (Genesis 8:14-18). This detailed timeline reflects the gravity of the event and the vast impact it had on the earth.


The Flood was not a sudden, unexpected event. Noah had been a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), warning the people of his generation of the impending judgment. Despite Noah's warnings, the people "took no note" (Matthew 24:39). This parallels the warning given by Jesus, who compared the days of Noah to the days leading up to His second coming, where people would similarly be indifferent to the signs of judgment (Matthew 24:37-39). The Flood account thus serves both as a historical event and as a prophetic foreshadowing of future divine judgment.



The Sources of the Floodwaters


Where did the vast quantity of water come from that covered "all the tall mountains that were under the whole heavens" (Genesis 7:19)? Genesis provides an explanation that highlights the extraordinary nature of this event. The Bible says that “all the springs of the vast watery deep were broken open, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened” (Genesis 7:11). This means that water not only fell from the sky in torrents but also burst forth from the depths of the earth. The waters that had been separated during the creation days (Genesis 1:6-8) were now unleashed in full force.


The "waters above" mentioned in the creation account refer to a water canopy that had been suspended in the atmosphere since the second creative "day" (Genesis 1:6-8). These waters were released during the Flood, contributing to the immense rainfall that lasted for forty days and nights. The apostle Peter refers to this when he writes that “by the word of God… the world of that time was deluged and destroyed” (2 Peter 3:5-6). The precise mechanics of how these waters were held aloft and later released are not detailed in the Bible, but Jehovah's power is sufficient to explain the event without the need for speculative theories. It is important to remember that divine intervention, not natural causes alone, brought about this judgment.


After the Flood, the water that had covered the earth did not disappear; rather, it remains on the earth today, filling the oceans and covering about 70% of the planet’s surface. Before the Flood, the mountains were likely lower, and the seas were smaller. Geological evidence supports the idea that the earth’s topography has shifted dramatically over time. Some scientists suggest that mountains have risen from beneath the seas, and sea basins have deepened, which would account for the current distribution of land and water. Moreover, studies indicate that if the earth’s land masses were leveled out, the water currently present would be sufficient to cover the entire planet to a depth of about 1.5 miles. This supports the Biblical description that "all the tall mountains" were submerged during the Flood.



Geological and Biological Effects of the Deluge


The Deluge had a profound impact on the earth’s geography and biology. The Bible indicates that the fountains of the deep were broken open and the floodgates of the heavens were opened, which unleashed vast amounts of water (Genesis 7:11). This likely caused dramatic changes to the earth’s surface. The shifting of the earth’s crust, as described by some scientists, could have resulted in the formation of new mountains and the deepening of ocean basins. The fact that the earth’s surface is now about 70% water could be a direct result of the changes initiated by the Flood.


The Deluge also had lasting effects on life spans. Before the Flood, people lived for hundreds of years, but after the Flood, human life spans decreased rapidly. This change may be linked to environmental factors. Some have suggested that the water canopy, which had shielded the earth from harmful radiation, was removed during the Flood, exposing the earth to increased levels of cosmic radiation. While the Bible does not provide specific details about this, it is evident that something changed after the Flood, leading to a rapid decline in human longevity.


In addition to these changes, the Deluge may have caused a variety of geological phenomena, such as fossilization. Some scientists have suggested that the pressure of the water during the Flood would have been sufficient to fossilize plants and animals quickly. Fossils of animals such as mammoths, found with undigested food in their stomachs, indicate that they died suddenly in a cataclysmic event. Although not all scientists agree on the cause of these findings, the evidence supports the idea of a sudden and massive change in the earth’s environment, consistent with the Biblical account of the Flood.



Global Flood Legends and Traditions


The memory of the Flood did not fade from human history. Survivors of the Deluge, particularly Noah and his descendants, would have recounted the event to their children and grandchildren. For 500 years after the Flood, Noah’s son Shem was alive, passing down the true account of the event to many generations. It is no surprise, then, that flood legends are found among cultures all over the world. The building of the Tower of Babel, which resulted in the scattering of humanity, would have further disseminated these stories across different languages and regions (Genesis 11:9).


Many ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and indigenous peoples of the Americas, have flood legends that share striking similarities with the Genesis account. These stories often include a few survivors who escape in a vessel and the global destruction of life by water. For example, the Epic of Gilgamesh, a well-known Mesopotamian text, includes a flood narrative that closely mirrors the Genesis story, albeit with notable differences. The widespread nature of these flood traditions across diverse cultures strengthens the argument that they stem from a common historical event—the global Flood described in Genesis.


The Bible’s Flood account, however, stands apart from these myths and legends. It is preserved with divine accuracy and endorsed by other Biblical writers. Psalm 29:10 refers to Jehovah sitting "enthroned over the flood," using the same Hebrew word, mab·bulʹ, that appears in the Genesis account. Isaiah also references the Flood in a promise that the waters would never again destroy the earth (Isaiah 54:9). Ezekiel mentions Noah as a righteous man, affirming the historical existence of both Noah and the Flood (Ezekiel 14:14, 20).



Confirmation from Jesus and the Apostles


The ultimate confirmation of the Flood’s historicity comes from Jesus Himself. In answering His disciples' question about the signs of His return, Jesus compared the days of Noah to the days preceding His second coming (Matthew 24:37-39). Jesus explained that people in Noah’s day were "eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away" (Matthew 24:38-39). Jesus' reference to the Flood underscores its reality and also serves as a warning that future judgment will come just as surely as the Flood did.


The apostles also confirm the truth of the Flood. The apostle Peter, in particular, makes extensive reference to the Deluge. He describes Noah as a "preacher of righteousness" and explains how God brought the Flood as judgment on a world filled with wickedness, saving only Noah and his family (2 Peter 2:5). Peter later uses the Flood as an example of God’s future judgment, noting that just as the world was destroyed by water in Noah’s time, it will one day be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:5-7). The apostle Paul similarly highlights Noah’s faith in building the ark, describing it as an act of obedience that saved his household (Hebrews 11:7).



Capacity of the Ark and Preservation of Life


One of the common objections raised by skeptics is whether Noah’s ark could have realistically accommodated all the animals necessary to repopulate the earth. However, when we examine the dimensions and the purpose of the ark, these objections fall apart. The Bible states that the ark was to hold "every living creature of every sort of flesh" (Genesis 6:19). But this does not mean that every species of animal alive today had to be on the ark. The Bible uses the term "kinds," which refers to broader family groupings of animals. From these basic kinds, the diversity of species we see today could have emerged through adaptation and breeding within the boundaries Jehovah set for each kind.


Estimates suggest that relatively few "kinds" of animals would have been needed to account for the variety of species observed today. Some scholars estimate that as few as 43 "kinds" of mammals, 74 "kinds" of birds, and 10 "kinds" of reptiles could have been sufficient. Other estimates place the total number of animals on the ark at around 1,600. With over 1,400,000 cubic feet of space available, there would have been ample room to house these animals, along with the food and water they would need for over a year. Additionally, marine life would not have been affected by the Flood in the same way, and many animals could have survived outside the ark, particularly amphibians, reptiles, and insects.


The ark's design further supports the feasibility of this undertaking. Noah, under divine instruction, built the ark with three decks and a system for ventilation (Genesis 6:16). The careful planning that went into the ark’s construction ensured the survival of both Noah’s family and the animals. After the Floodwaters receded, the ark came to rest in the mountains of Ararat (Genesis 8:4). The survivors remained in the ark until the earth was dry enough for them to leave safely and begin the repopulation of the earth.



About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).



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