A. Hundreds
B. Thousands
C. Millions
D. Billions
D may be the correct answer.
According to the biblical record, about 1,650 years passed between Adam and the Flood in Noah’s day. During that period, people lived extraordinarily long lives, often exceeding 800 or 900 years.
Although the genealogies in Genesis typically list only one son per generation, the text repeatedly states that these individuals also had “sons and daughters” (see Genesis 5:4 and similar passages).
Because people lived for many centuries and could have had children over long periods, the world’s population may have grown dramatically. If families averaged six to ten children, or even more, the population could have reached into the billions by the time of the Flood.
The Bible does not provide enough information to determine the exact number, but such estimates are reasonable given the long lifespans and the extended period of population growth described in Genesis.