What Caused the Flood Waters to Come Upon the Earth?
The Flood described in Genesis 6–8 is one of the most dramatic events in Scripture—a divine judgment that reshaped the entire world. The Bible presents the Flood not as a natural disaster but as a purposeful act of God, caused both by divine decisions and extraordinary physical events that released immense amounts of water.
This article explains why the Flood occurred and how the waters came upon the earth according to Scripture.
1. The Moral and Spiritual Cause of the Flood
Before examining the physical sources of the water, the Bible first gives the spiritual reason behind the Flood.
A. Human Wickedness Filled the Earth
Genesis 6:5
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Mankind had become:
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utterly corrupt
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violent
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rebellious
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morally twisted
Violence dominated society, and sin reached new depths.
B. The Earth Was Corrupted Before God
Genesis 6:11–12
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence… all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”
The phrase “all flesh” suggests corruption spread to every part of creation—not only humans but also culture and society.
C. God Chose to Judge the Earth
As a result, God declared judgment:
Genesis 6:13
“The end of all flesh is come before me… I will destroy them with the earth.”
Thus, the primary cause of the Flood was human sin and the universal corruption of society.
2. The Physical Sources of the Flood Waters
The Bible describes two massive water sources unleashed at the same time.
A. The “Fountains of the Great Deep” Burst Open
Genesis 7:11
“…all the fountains of the great deep were broken up…”
This phrase refers to something dramatic happening beneath the earth’s surface.
Possible meanings include:
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Massive underground water reservoirs suddenly erupting
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Violent tectonic activity splitting the earth’s crust
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Ocean floor upheavals
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Volcanic activity releasing water vapor and pressure
Ancient Jewish interpretation viewed it as subterranean waters, stored during Creation (Genesis 1:2), suddenly breaking free.
This was likely the greatest source of water.
B. The “Windows of Heaven” Were Opened
Genesis 7:11
“…and the windows of heaven were opened.”
This phrase means:
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Torrential, unprecedented rainfall
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Waters poured from the sky as if floodgates opened
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A downpour lasting 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:12)
This was far beyond normal rainfall—more like the release of stored atmospheric waters that had never fallen before in such volume.
C. The Two Sources Combined
The Bible makes clear that the Flood was not caused by rain alone. It was the combination of:
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Waters from below (the fountains of the deep)
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Waters from above (the windows of heaven)
Together, they produced a worldwide catastrophe that covered even the highest mountains.
3. How Long the Waters Continued to Rise
The Flood did not peak immediately.
Genesis 7:17–20
Rain fell for 40 days and nights
Waters continued rising for 150 days
The waters covered every high hill
This indicates:
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Massive water displacement
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A long, sustained upheaval
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Geological changes on a global scale
4. God’s Direct Action in the Flood
The Bible emphasizes that the Flood was not merely natural.
A. God Brought the Flood
Genesis 7:4
“I will cause it to rain…”
The event was carried out by God Himself.
B. God Shut Noah Inside the Ark
Genesis 7:16
“…and the LORD shut him in.”
This shows divine protection and involvement.
C. God Remembered Noah and Stopped the Waters
Genesis 8:1–2
“God made a wind to pass over the earth…”
“…the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped…”
God controlled both the start and the end of the event.
5. Theological Significance of the Water Sources
The water sources symbolize deeper spiritual truths.
A. Judgment Against Sin
The waters cleansed the earth of widespread corruption.
B. Reversal of Creation
In Creation:
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Water was separated above and below
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Dry land was made safe for life
In the Flood:
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Water above and below overwhelmed the earth
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Creation’s boundaries were undone
The Flood was a return to the watery chaos of Genesis 1:2—judgment through uncreation.
C. A New Beginning
After the waters receded:
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The earth had a fresh start
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Noah became a new “Adam”
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God made a covenant symbolized by the rainbow
The Flood paved the way for renewal.
6. Summary of What Caused the Flood
| Cause Type | Explanation | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Spiritual Cause | Worldwide wickedness and violence | Gen. 6:5, 11–12 |
| Divine Judgment | God’s decision to destroy corruption | Gen. 6:13 |
| Physical Cause #1 | Fountains of the great deep burst open | Gen. 7:11 |
| Physical Cause #2 | Windows of heaven opened (intense rain) | Gen. 7:11–12 |
| Duration | Waters rising for 40 days, prevailing for 150 | Gen. 7:17–24 |
| Divine Control | God starts and stops the waters | Gen. 8:1–2 |
Conclusion
The Flood was caused by both spiritual and physical factors. Human wickedness filled the earth, leading God to bring judgment. Physically, the Flood waters came from two extraordinary sources: the bursting of the great deep and the opening of the heavens, producing a global catastrophe unlike anything before or since.
The Flood remains a powerful reminder of:
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God’s holiness
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Human accountability
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The seriousness of sin
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God’s ability to judge and renew creation
Even today, the story instructs us about obedience, righteousness, and the patience and justice of God.