Rashi
Jewish
1040–1105
“ויגברו [AND THE WATERS] PREVAILED — by themselves (without any external aid).”
From the early Church Fathers to now.
“For they overflowed exceedingly: and filled all on the face of the earth: and the ark was carried upon the waters.”
“ויגברו [AND THE WATERS] PREVAILED — by themselves (without any external aid).”
“AND THE WATERS PREVAILED (‘Vayigb’ru’). AND THE WATERS ‘GAVRU’ (PREVAILED). This means that they increased exceedingly, for the Hebrew language calls great abundance gvurah (strength, power). So too, And their transgressions which ‘yithgavru’ (have prevailed), meaning increased exceedingly; His mercy ‘gavar’ (has prevailed) toward them that fear Him, meaning increased. And so also: If ‘bigvuroth’ four-score years,, 90:10. meaning with great abundance. It is conceivable that the meaning of vayigb’ru is that the rains came in a rushing downpour, uprooting trees and toppling buildings, since power is called in Hebrew gvurah (strength) because strength lies in power. In a similar sense are the verses: They also ‘gavru’ (wax mighty) in power; ‘Vehigbir brith’ (And he shall make a strong covenant) with many for one week, meaning he will establish the covenant with firmness. And in the words of the Sages, [we find the expression], gvuroth geshamim (the powers of the rains), because they come down with strength. It is possible that the verse, If ‘bigvuroth’ four-score years,, 90:10. is of the same sense, i.e., if his bones and body be strong, and he is a man of power, he will live four-score years. And if so, ‘gavru’ upon the earth will mean that the waters were in their complete strength, overcoming even the high mountains and inundating them.”
The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.