Gen 7:21 - What happened to aquatic life during the flood?

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ET101 Dec 8, 2011

It's a minor point but I'm just curious: what happened to the aquatic life on earth during the flood?

Gen 7:21 says:

'And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:'

We know all flesh died so aquatic life died too, right? Just out of curiosity though, through what mechanism? I am guessing the eco-system could no longer sustain life and so the fish died.

Commentaries don't seem to mention it. . .

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

sermonindex Dec 8, 2011

To be blunt, No!

"And all flesh died that moved upon the earth"

This verse of scripture is speaking of earth bound creatures, not water bound.

The fowl, cattle, beast, man and creeping thing that creepeth upon the EARTH.

Though many species of birds fly, they would not be able to eat, or rest or do anything they would simply die of exhaustion or drown.

Since fish do not require air to breathe, certain fish do but they come up to the surface of the water and take a breath, but that doesn't mean they had to die as well, they are not subject to the earth and would not be destroyed by the flood that would cover the entire earth. That is why God said to Noah to collect a male and female of every kind of species that flies, creeps and walks on the dry ground. God mentions nothing about saving fish.

And if they all died in the flood, God would not have created anymore because He created the world in six days, the seventh day He rested. He is done creating.

sermonindex Dec 8, 2011

I would assume when it said earth, it meant the dry ground, since it used the term everything that creepeth. Just what I always figured, as I doubt Noah had an aquarium on the ark to preserve every kind of aquatic life with.

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EvangelTam Dec 8, 2011

i think that many fish probably died afterward.....I sorta imagine many dead fish everywhere on the surface of the land?

it doesnt say anything in the bible but yeah just a though
cuz that much water would mess the balance in the ocean up pretty bad...but then again it was a different time..so we dont know what it was like..
maybe the oceans got bigger after the flood and some parts of land were lost ...

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fromtheold Dec 8, 2011

Here is my opinion.

Water became too "dirty" and all sea life died.

Might be wrong.

Another thing, the water could of turned acidic because of the underground water that came out.

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Christinyou Dec 9, 2011

What about bugs along with the fish, I am sure if God created every living thing on the earth, He is well able to provide what ever He wants to have life before and after the flood.

In Christ: Phillip

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ET101 Dec 9, 2011

Thanks.

The understanding I'm summarising is that we don't know exactly what happened. Scripture doesn't say exactly what happened to the fish so I can't rush to assume they died.

Approved: Yes, thanks. I don't believe God would recreate life after the flood because - as you say - He was done on the seventh day.

So what do we know? There are fish in the sea today. There was a flood that wiped out life on(?) the earth. Scripture doesn't mention Noah having an aquarium.

So without knowing anymore, I think it's reasonable to infer the fish didn't die. . .