All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

GENESIS 7:22KJV
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Genesis 7:22 (KJV)

What does Genesis 7:22 mean?

Genesis 7:22 states that every living creature on dry land that breathed through its nostrils died during the flood. This verse emphasizes that all land-based life with the "breath of life" was wiped out, except for those preserved in the ark.

The verse is part of the flood narrative, where God brings a great flood upon the earth in Noah’s time. The focus here is on the total destruction of land animals and humans outside the ark, highlighting the seriousness of the judgment. The language draws attention to the physical act of breathing as a marker of life that was lost.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 7:22

  • "nostrils" (אַף, ʾaph, H639): This word often refers to the nose or nostrils, the part of the body used for breathing. Here, it points to the physical way living creatures take in the "breath of life."
  • "breath" (נְשָׁמָה, neshāmah, H5397): This word means "breath" or "spirit," and is often used to describe the life force given by God. Its use here underscores that it is not just any living thing, but those with God-given breath that perished.
  • "life" (חַי, ḥay, H2416): This word means "life" or "living being." Its pairing with "breath" stresses that what was lost was not just physical existence, but the living, breathing creatures.
  • "dry" (חָרָבָה, ḥārāvāh, H2724): This word means "dry land," distinguishing those on land from sea creatures, who are not included in this destruction.
  • "died" (מוּת, mût, H4191): This is the standard word for "to die." Its use here is direct and final, emphasizing the completeness of the event.

Why Genesis 7:22 matters

  • Genesis 7:22 makes clear that the flood’s destruction was not partial, but total for all land-dwelling, breathing creatures outside the ark, correcting any idea that some survived apart from Noah’s family and the animals with them.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of the flood as a judgment, using specific language about breath and nostrils to connect back to the creation account, where God gave life by breath.
  • By specifying "dry land," the verse clarifies that aquatic life was not included in this judgment, helping readers understand the scope and limits of the flood’s impact.

Where else these words appear

“dry” Hebrew H2724 · used in 7 verses

  • Exodus 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
  • Joshua 4:18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
  • Ezekiel 30:12 And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it.

“breath” Hebrew H5397 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
  • 1 Kings 17:17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
  • Psalms 18:15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.