Was There Rain Before the Flood?
by Owen Borville
August 24, 2019
Bible
Was there rain before the Flood?
This is a common question.
Many believe the answer is no and the reasoning come from The Book of Genesis 2:4-5, where God had not caused rain to fall yet.
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. Genesis 2:4-5 KJV.
However, there was a "mist" that came from the Earth and watered the ground. This mist was likely a thick cloud of water vapor that came from the ground or from the atmosphere and helped water the plants on Earth. This mist was likely much thicker than we see today if it was enough to water all of the plants on Earth.
Some also believe that there was a canopy of water around the Earth, as referenced by Genesis 1:6, (describing the firmament dividing the waters from the waters above and below), and that this caused environmental conditions on Earth to be different then than today. There must have been more moisture and humidity, while the Earth was much warmer overall then than today. The Earth as a whole was likely much more lush and green than today, where we see many dry, desert climate areas.
6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. Genesis 2:6.
As God created man and placed him in the garden in Eden that He also created, (Genesis 2:7-8), there was much water inside the Earth as was needed to supply the four rivers mentioned a few verses later.
10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. Genesis 2:10 KJV.
Therefore, there was no need for rain as the mist came up from the ground and watered the plants while there was enough water inside the Earth to supply four rivers in the area, just as many springs on Earth today supply water. As God placed the man in the garden, He instructed him to take care of the garden.
15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:1 KJV.
There is no mention of rain in the Book of Genesis until Genesis 7:4, when God tells Noah of His plans to Flood the Earth.
4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. Genesis 7:4.
Evidently, there must have been much water inside the Earth to supply the mist that would water all plants on Earth in addition to supplying the water for the rivers including the four described in Genesis 2:10.
In Genesis 7:11, the opening of the fountains of the great deep is mentioned, further describing the amount of water inside the Earth, which was enough to flood the entire Earth.
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:11-12.
by Owen Borville
August 24, 2019
Bible
Was there rain before the Flood?
This is a common question.
Many believe the answer is no and the reasoning come from The Book of Genesis 2:4-5, where God had not caused rain to fall yet.
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. Genesis 2:4-5 KJV.
However, there was a "mist" that came from the Earth and watered the ground. This mist was likely a thick cloud of water vapor that came from the ground or from the atmosphere and helped water the plants on Earth. This mist was likely much thicker than we see today if it was enough to water all of the plants on Earth.
Some also believe that there was a canopy of water around the Earth, as referenced by Genesis 1:6, (describing the firmament dividing the waters from the waters above and below), and that this caused environmental conditions on Earth to be different then than today. There must have been more moisture and humidity, while the Earth was much warmer overall then than today. The Earth as a whole was likely much more lush and green than today, where we see many dry, desert climate areas.
6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. Genesis 2:6.
As God created man and placed him in the garden in Eden that He also created, (Genesis 2:7-8), there was much water inside the Earth as was needed to supply the four rivers mentioned a few verses later.
10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. Genesis 2:10 KJV.
Therefore, there was no need for rain as the mist came up from the ground and watered the plants while there was enough water inside the Earth to supply four rivers in the area, just as many springs on Earth today supply water. As God placed the man in the garden, He instructed him to take care of the garden.
15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:1 KJV.
There is no mention of rain in the Book of Genesis until Genesis 7:4, when God tells Noah of His plans to Flood the Earth.
4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. Genesis 7:4.
Evidently, there must have been much water inside the Earth to supply the mist that would water all plants on Earth in addition to supplying the water for the rivers including the four described in Genesis 2:10.
In Genesis 7:11, the opening of the fountains of the great deep is mentioned, further describing the amount of water inside the Earth, which was enough to flood the entire Earth.
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:11-12.