How long did rain fall in the Genesis account of Noah’s Ark?

In the Genesis account of Noah’s Ark, rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights. Genesis 7:12 uses this phrase when describing the flood’s intense rainfall after Noah, his family, and the animals entered the Ark.

The number 40 has symbolic importance in the Bible and often marks a substantial period of testing, preparation, or transition. Other biblical examples include Moses’ 40 days on Mount Sinai and Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness. In the Ark story, however, the rain’s duration is one part of a longer chronology.

Genesis also says that the waters prevailed on the earth for 150 days. This means the 40 days and nights of rain should not be confused with the total period during which floodwaters remained high. The narrative later describes the waters receding and the Ark coming to rest.

The phrase is sometimes shortened in popular retellings to “40 days,” but the biblical wording specifically says “40 days and 40 nights.”