Keraia
Genesis 9

Genesis 9:16

The Covenant of the Rainbow · Genesis 9:1–17
Read Genesis 9

Translations

Modern
And whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is on the earth.”
Traditional
And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
Literal
And the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and between every living soul of all flesh that is on the earth.”
Latin
Eritque arcus in nubibus, et videbo illum, et recordabor fœderis sempiterni quod pactum est inter Deum et omnem animam viventem universæ carnis quæ est super terram.

Original

Hebrew
English
And whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is on the earth.”

Notes

Genesis 9:13–16

  • God brought great judgment through the rainstorm (a very large and destructive storm). Now he gives the rainbow as a sign of peace for the whole earth (see 9:17). The rainbow appears after the rainstorm and is connected to it, but it now shows that God will not destroy the earth in this way again.

  • The same Hebrew word can mean both “rainbow” and “bow” (a weapon used in war). In some places, God is described as a warrior who shoots arrows to bring judgment (see Deuteronomy 32:42; Psalms 7:12; 18:13–14; Habakkuk 3:9–11). Because of this, some interpreters think the picture in Genesis 9:13–17 shows God hanging up his bow. This means he is putting aside his weapon of judgment and choosing peace instead.

Genesis 9:8–17

In God's second speech after the great flood, he promises to protect and preserve creation.

Events

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Genesis, Book of Land Mesopotamia Noah Patriarchs, Period of the Rainbow Remnant Shinar The Flood

Topics

Anthropomorphisms: Attributed to Deity: Assisted by Tokens Anthropomorphisms: Miscellaneous Figures Bow: A Token in the Clouds Covenant of God with Men: Everlasting Covenant: Noah God: Faithfulness of Noah: Son of Lamech: Receives the Covenant from God That No Flood Would Ever Again Visit the Earth Rain: The Earth Will Never Again be Destroyed By Rainbow: A Sign That the Earth Will No Longer be Destroyed by Flood The Deluge: That It Shall Never Again Occur: The Rainbow a Token Token: Rainbow, That the Earth Would Never be Destroyed by a Flood