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Hebrew Text
בִּשְׁנַת שֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה לְחַיֵּי־נֹחַ בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי בְּשִׁבְעָה־עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִבְקְעוּ כָּל־מַעְיְנֹת תְּהוֹם רַבָּה וַאֲרֻבֹּת הַשָּׁמַיִם נִפְתָּחוּ׃
English Translation
In the six hundredth year of Noaĥ’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken open, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Transliteration
Bishnat shesh-me'ot shana lechayei-noach bachodesh hasheni bishva-asar yom lachodesh bayom haze nivke'u kol-ma'yenot tehom raba va'arubot hashamayim niftachu.
Hebrew Leining Text
בִּשְׁנַ֨ת שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֤וֹת שָׁנָה֙ לְחַיֵּי־נֹ֔חַ בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י בְּשִׁבְעָֽה־עָשָׂ֥ר י֖וֹם לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה נִבְקְעוּ֙ כׇּֽל־מַעְיְנֹת֙*(בספרי ספרד ואשכנז מַעְיְנוֹת֙) תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֔ה וַאֲרֻבֹּ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם נִפְתָּֽחוּ׃
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Parasha Commentary
📚 Talmud Citations
This verse is quoted in the Talmud.
📖 Rosh Hashanah 11b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the timing of the flood in Noah's time, particularly concerning the date when the flood began.
📖 Zevachim 113b
The verse is cited in a discussion about the geographical and cosmic effects of the flood, emphasizing the breaking open of the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven.
The Timing of the Flood
The verse specifies that the flood began in the 600th year of Noach's life, on the 17th day of the second month. Rashi (Bereshit 7:11) explains that the "second month" refers to the month of Marcheshvan (also called Cheshvan), as the Torah counts Nissan as the first month (Shemot 12:2). The 17th day is significant because, according to the Midrash (Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer 23), this was the day when the constellation of Kimah (Pleiades) rules over the waters, indicating a time when the natural order was disrupted for divine judgment.
The Breaking of the "Fountains of the Great Deep"
The phrase "נִבְקְעוּ כָּל־מַעְיְנֹת תְּהוֹם רַבָּה" ("all the fountains of the great deep were broken open") refers to subterranean waters bursting forth. Ramban (Bereshit 7:11) explains that this was a supernatural event, as the earth's natural water sources were not sufficient to flood the entire world. The Midrash Tanchuma (Noach 5) adds that these waters were heated to punish the wicked, as they had sinned through heated passions.
The Opening of the "Windows of Heaven"
The phrase "וַאֲרֻבֹּת הַשָּׁמַיִם נִפְתָּחוּ" ("the windows of heaven were opened") refers to torrential rains descending from above. The Talmud (Berachot 59a) teaches that rain is stored in heavenly reservoirs, and here, they were unleashed in full force. The Zohar (Noach 67a) connects this to divine judgment, as the floodwaters came from both above and below, leaving no escape for the wicked.
The Precision of the Date
The Torah's meticulous recording of the date teaches, as the Sforno (Bereshit 7:11) notes, that divine punishment is exact and measured. The flood did not come prematurely or late—it arrived precisely when the world's corruption reached its limit (as indicated in Bereshit 6:12-13). Additionally, the Malbim explains that the 17th day alludes to destruction, as it is numerically equivalent to טוֹב ("good"), hinting that even in judgment, there is an underlying divine plan for renewal.