According to Genesis, how long was the rain that caused Noah’s flood?

According to Genesis, the rain that caused Noah’s flood lasted 40 days and 40 nights. This duration appears in the biblical flood narrative as the period during which heavy rain fell on the earth.

Genesis describes the waters rising after the rain began, covering the mountains and destroying life outside the ark. The text later says that the rain stopped, although the floodwaters remained for much longer before receding.

The 40-day period is often confused with the total length of the flood. Genesis gives several time markers, including the time Noah entered the ark, the duration of the rain, and the months during which the waters prevailed. These figures describe different stages rather than one simple 40-day event.

The number 40 also appears in other biblical narratives, including Moses’ time on Mount Sinai and Israel’s wilderness journey. In the flood story, however, it specifically refers to the rain’s duration.