Genesis 8:22 kjv

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Genesis 8:22 nkjv

"While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease."

Genesis 8:22 niv

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Genesis 8:22 esv

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

Genesis 8:22 nlt

As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."

Genesis 8 verses

Genesis 8 22 Meaning

Genesis 8:22 proclaims God's unfailing promise to humanity after the Great Flood. It is a divine decree that, as long as the earth continues in its present form, the fundamental cycles essential for life and human activity will persist without interruption. This verse assures the ongoing regularity of natural phenomena—agricultural seasons, temperature extremes, annual seasons, and the daily rhythm of light and darkness—providing a stable and reliable foundation for existence and precluding another universal destruction by flood or a return to global chaos. It reveals God's faithfulness and commitment to sustain life and order in His creation.

Genesis 8 22 Context

Genesis 8:22 concludes a pivotal chapter in the post-flood narrative. Noah and his family, along with all living creatures, have disembarked from the ark onto a new, cleansed earth. Following their deliverance, Noah's first act is to build an altar and offer burnt offerings to the Lord (Gen 8:20). This act of worship, demonstrating faith and gratitude, elicits a divine response. God "smelled the pleasing aroma" (Gen 8:21) and resolves in His heart (a determination articulated to Noah implicitly and explicitly in the subsequent chapter) not to curse the ground again or destroy all living creatures as He had just done, "for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen 8:21). This remarkable statement acknowledges humanity's fallen nature yet God's resolve to demonstrate sustained patience and mercy. Verse 8:22 then delivers the concrete assurance of a stable, predictable natural order, foundational to the life that is about to resume. Historically, the Ancient Near East (ANE) frequently experienced devastating, unpredictable natural events, particularly riverine floods, leading to an understanding of chaotic forces or capricious deities controlling nature. Against this backdrop, God's promise to Noah directly counteracts these anxieties, presenting Yahweh as the sole, reliable, and beneficent orchestrator of the cosmos, providing an enduring order for human flourishing.

Genesis 8 22 Word analysis

• While the earth remaineth (‘ōḏ kol yemēy hā’āreṣ – עוֹד כָּל-יְמֵי הָאָרֶץ):

  • ‘ōḏ: Still, as long as. Implies a continuity but not necessarily absolute perpetuity, suggesting the duration is tied to the current epoch of earth's existence.
  • kol yemēy: All the days of. Emphasizes the entire duration of this earthly period.
  • hā’āreṣ: The earth, ground. Refers to the physical planet and its capacity to sustain life. Significance: This phrase establishes a temporal boundary for the promise, meaning it holds true as long as the current created order persists, not necessarily into eternity (referencing later judgment by fire).

• seedtime (zeraʿ – זֶרַע):

  • zeraʿ: Sowing, seed. Refers to the period and act of planting. Significance: It highlights the human effort in agriculture that depends on natural regularity.

• and harvest (wəqāṣîr – וְקָצִיר):

  • qāṣîr: Harvest, reaping. Refers to the gathering of crops. Significance: The natural consequence and reward for seedtime, vital for sustenance and human survival.

• and cold (wāqōr – וָקֹר):

  • qōr: Cold. Refers to the low temperature, winter aspect. Significance: Essential part of climatic variation for dormant periods and specific crops.

• and heat (wāḥōm – וָחֹם):

  • ḥōm: Heat. Refers to high temperature, summer aspect. Significance: Crucial for growth and maturation.

• and summer (wāqayiṣ – וָקַיִץ):

  • qayiṣ: Summer. Refers to the distinct season of warmth. Significance: A clear marker of the annual cycle.

• and winter (wāḥōref – וָחֹרֶף):

  • ḥōref: Winter. Refers to the distinct season, often associated with cold and rain in the biblical context. Significance: Completes the annual weather pattern.

• and day and night (wāyōm wālāylâ – וָיוֹם וָלָיְלָה):

  • yōm: Day.
  • lāylâ: Night. Significance: The most fundamental and observable rhythm, a primary assurance of cosmic order.

• shall not cease (lō’ yišbōṯû – לֹא יִשְׁבֹּתוּ):

  • lō’: Not. A strong negation.
  • yišbōṯû: From the root šābaṯ, to rest, stop, cease. The intensive form emphasizes a perpetual cessation. Significance: A resolute divine promise of uninterrupted continuation, undergirding human endeavor and trust in God's providence.

Words-group analysis:

• "While the earth remaineth": This crucial qualifying clause signifies that the promise of natural regularity is bound to the present configuration and duration of the earth. It is not an eternal, cosmic law beyond any future divine intervention (e.g., final judgment and a new heaven and earth). It ensures the conditions for life are maintained during this current creation's lifespan.
• "seedtime and harvest": This pairing directly addresses the foundation of human sustenance – agriculture. It guarantees that the planting of crops will always be followed by the opportunity to reap them, implying sufficient time and favorable conditions, thus validating human effort and demonstrating God's consistent provision for humanity's needs.
• "cold and heat, and summer and winter": These four terms comprehensively describe the cyclical temperature changes and annual seasons. They assure a stable climate suitable for various life forms and agricultural productivity. The presence of distinct seasons allows for specific growth cycles, highlighting the meticulous design of creation.
• "day and night": This pair represents the most basic and immediate observable rhythm in creation. Its inclusion emphasizes the fundamental, daily, unwavering order established by God, assuring humans of the predictable transition between light and darkness necessary for activity and rest.
• "shall not cease": This declarative phrase underlines the absolute certainty and reliability of God's promise. It communicates God's unwavering faithfulness and His power to uphold the established cosmic order despite humanity's depravity. It transforms potential post-flood fear into foundational hope.

Genesis 8 22 Bonus section

• God's Internal Resolve: This promise is first expressed as God's internal resolve ("The LORD said in his heart," Gen 8:21), showing His unchanging character even before He explicitly declares it to Noah as part of the formal covenant in Gen 9.
• Basis for Human Life and Civilization: This verse is critical because it establishes the natural stability required for any civilization to flourish. Without predictable seasons for agriculture, or reliable day and night cycles, human planning and development would be impossible. It implies God's benevolent design for human flourishing.
• Counter-Polemics: In an ancient world where deities were often seen as capricious and nature unpredictable, Gen 8:22 presents the God of Israel as the singular, orderly, and faithful Creator who establishes and maintains consistent rhythms. This stands in stark contrast to chaotic pagan cosmologies.
• Forensic Theology: The verse underpins God's general revelation, demonstrating His goodness and existence through the created order, making humanity "without excuse" (Rom 1:20) as He consistently provides "rains from heaven and fruitful seasons" (Act 14:17).
• Limited Promise, not Absolute Eternal Law: While a robust promise for the duration of the current earth, the phrase "While the earth remaineth" prevents interpreting it as an eternal, unbreakable law extending into all eternity without modification. Scripture later speaks of a "new heavens and a new earth" (Isa 65:17; Rev 21:1), where the old order will pass away, reminding us of God's ultimate sovereignty over creation's future as well.

Genesis 8 22 Commentary

Genesis 8:22 is a foundational statement of divine grace and cosmic stability after a period of unparalleled judgment. It is not a casual remark but God's solemn pledge, deeply connected to Noah's obedient sacrifice, signifying God's shift from judgment to sustaining covenant relationship. The phrase "While the earth remaineth" signifies a commitment that will last for the entirety of this current cosmic order, yet is ultimately provisional to a future new creation. This verse reassures humanity that the conditions for life – agriculture (seedtime and harvest), climatic cycles (cold and heat, summer and winter), and the diurnal rhythm (day and night) – will endure. These are not merely observations of natural phenomena; they are guaranteed by divine will, demonstrating God's sovereignty over all creation.

This divine promise provided immediate relief and hope to Noah and his family, signaling an end to the pervasive chaos of the Flood and establishing the predictability necessary for a renewed human society. It lays the groundwork for human industry and planning, allowing for planting, building, and living with confidence in God's ordered world. The consistency of these natural cycles is a testimony to God's steadfast character, illustrating His unchanging faithfulness in sustaining the created order despite the continuous inclination of the human heart towards evil (Gen 8:21). Thus, Genesis 8:22 is a beacon of hope, revealing a God who upholds life and order, ensuring that creation's rhythms facilitate human existence until the eschatological climax of His redemptive plan.