In the Genesis account of Noah’s Ark, how long did rain fall on Earth during the Flood?

In the Genesis account of Noah’s Ark, rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights during the Flood.

Genesis 7:12 gives this duration after Noah, his family, and the animals enter the Ark. The same chapter says that the waters rose and covered the mountains, presenting the rainfall as part of a much longer flooding episode.

The 40-day period is often confused with the total length of the Flood. Genesis also describes the waters prevailing for 150 days, and the broader narrative places Noah in the Ark for substantially longer than 40 days. Thus, 40 days and 40 nights refers specifically to the period of continuous rain.

The number 40 also appears in other biblical narratives, including Moses’ periods on Mount Sinai and Israel’s wilderness wandering. In biblical literature, it commonly marks a significant period of testing or transformation, but the Ark story gives the rainfall duration directly.