Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Genesis 7:18/רמב"ן על בראשית ז׳:י״ח
א[יח-יט] וְטַעַם וַיִּגְבְּרוּ הַמַּיִם וְהַמַּיִם גָּבְרוּ, שֶׁנִּתְרַבּוּ מְאֹד, כִּי לָרִבּוּי הַגָּדוֹל יִקְרָא הַלָּשׁוֹן גְּבוּרָה, וְכֵן "וּפִשְׁעֵיהֶם כִּי יִתְגַּבָּרוּ" (איוב לו ט), רַבּוּ מְאֹד, "גָּבַר חַסְדּוֹ עַל יְרֵאָיו" (תהלים קג יא), גָּדַל, וְכֵן "וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה" (שם צ י), בְּרִבּוּי גָּדוֹל. וְיִתָּכֵן כִּי טַעַם "וַיִּגְבְּרוּ" שֶׁהָיוּ בָּאִים בְּשֶׁטֶף וְעוֹקְרִים הָאִילָנוֹת וּמַפִּילִים הַבִּנְיָנִים, כִּי לְכֹחַ יִקְרְאוּ גְּבוּרָה בַּעֲבוּר כִּי הַגְּבוּרָה בְּכֹחַ, וְכֵן "גַּם גָּבְרוּ חָיִל" (איוב כא ז) "וְהִגְבִּיר בְּרִית לָרַבִּים שָׁבוּעַ אֶחָד" (דניאל ט כז), יַעֲמִידֶנּוּ בְּחֹזֶק. וּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים (תענית ב) גְּבוּרַת גְּשָׁמִים, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיּוֹרְדִין בִּגְבוּרָה. וְאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מִזֶּה "וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה", שֶׁאִם הָיוּ עַצְמוֹתָיו וְגוּפוֹ חֲזָקִים וְהוּא בַּעַל כֹּחַ יִחְיֶה שְׁמוֹנִים. וְאִם כֵּן יִהְיֶה פֵּרוּשׁ גָּבְרוּ עַל הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁהָיוּ בִּגְבוּרָתָם כֻּלָּם אַף עַל הֶהָרִים הַגְּבוֹהִים וְשׁוֹטְפִים אוֹתָם:
1AND THE WATERS PREVAILED (‘Vayigb’ru’). 19. 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),90 meaning increased exceedingly; His mercy ‘gavar’ (has prevailed) toward them that fear Him,91 meaning increased. And so also: If ‘bigvuroth’ four-score years,92, 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;93 ‘Vehigbir brith’ (And he shall make a strong covenant) with many for one week,94 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),95 because they come down with strength. It is possible that the verse, If ‘bigvuroth’ four-score years,92, 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 earth96 will mean that the waters were in their complete strength, overcoming even the high mountains and inundating them.