Genesis 9:15 kjv
And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Genesis 9:15 nkjv
and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Genesis 9:15 niv
I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
Genesis 9:15 esv
I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Genesis 9:15 nlt
and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.
Genesis 9 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:18 | But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark… | Pre-Flood covenant intent with Noah. |
| Gen 9:9-11 | I now establish my covenant with you... never again will all life be destroyed… | The broader context of the Noahic Covenant. |
| Gen 9:16-17 | The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant… | The sign and eternal nature of the covenant. |
| Lev 26:42 | I will remember my covenant with Jacob… Abraham; and I will remember the land. | God remembers specific covenants and His people. |
| Exo 2:24 | God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. | God's remembrance implies action to deliver. |
| Deut 7:9 | Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love… | God's inherent faithfulness. |
| 1 Kgs 8:23 | "LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you… who keeps your covenant of love with your servants." | Praising God's faithfulness to covenants. |
| Ps 105:8 | He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made… | God's covenants are everlasting. |
| Ps 89:34 | I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. | God's unchanging nature concerning promises. |
| Isa 54:9 | "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth." | God references the Noahic covenant as an oath. |
| Isa 54:10 | "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken… the covenant of my peace will not be removed," says the LORD. | Unconditional and steadfast nature of divine promises. |
| Jer 31:31-34 | "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant… I will forgive their wickedness…" | Foreshadows the New Covenant, showing God's desire for reconciliation. |
| Hos 2:18 | In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field… | Covenant scope includes all creation. |
| Zec 9:11 | As for you, because of the blood of my covenant, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. | Reference to a covenant related to redemption. |
| Mal 3:6 | "I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." | God's immutability ensures His promises stand. |
| Lk 17:26-27 | "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating… until the day Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all." | Recalling the destructive power of the flood. |
| Mt 24:37-39 | "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." | Highlights the suddenness of judgment linked to the flood. |
| 2 Pet 3:5-7 | But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water… by water also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire… | Contrasts destruction by water (past) with future destruction by fire. |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. | Emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness. |
| Heb 8:6 | ...the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant he mediates is superior to the old one… | Jesus mediates a superior covenant. |
| Heb 10:23 | Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. | Assurance in God's faithfulness for believers. |
| Rev 10:6 | And swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them… that there would be no more delay! | God's powerful oaths over creation. |
Genesis 9 verses
Genesis 9 15 Meaning
This verse encapsulates God's unwavering promise to humanity and all living creatures after the great flood, serving as the central commitment within the Noahic Covenant. It signifies God's steadfast resolve to uphold His sworn agreement, guaranteeing that a global flood of water will never again be used to annihilate all life on Earth. This declaration underscores His divine faithfulness, grace, and providential care for the continuity of creation.
Genesis 9 15 Context
Genesis chapter 9 follows directly after the narrative of the great flood, with Noah and his family disembarking from the ark into a renewed, yet still fallen, world. Verses 1-7 establish a new order for humanity, reiterating the creation mandate to be fruitful and multiply, instituting guidelines regarding diet, and laying the foundation for human governance with the sanctity of life (death penalty for murder). Immediately preceding verse 15, God initiates the covenant (Gen 9:8-11), explicitly making it with Noah, his descendants, and all living creatures. Verses 12-14 introduce the rainbow as the permanent sign of this "everlasting covenant" (Gen 9:16). Verse 15, therefore, is a key component of the divine promise, detailing the precise content of God's pledge within this foundational post-Flood covenant, ensuring the Earth's stability against future global water destruction.
Genesis 9 15 Word analysis
- and I will remember: (וְזָכַרְתִּ֣י / vəzākhartî)
זָכַר(zakhar): To remember, to recall. In a theological context, particularly when referring to God, "to remember" is not merely a mental recollection, as God possesses infinite knowledge. Instead, it signifies that God will act in accordance with His stated word or previous commitment. It implies actively bringing His promise into effect and engaging with His covenant people or creation. This demonstrates His enduring mindfulness and purposeful action.
- my covenant: (אֶת־בְּרִיתִי֙ / ʾet-bərîtî)
בְּרִית(berit): Covenant. A formal, binding agreement, alliance, or treaty. In the Bible, God often initiates covenants, which are expressions of His sovereign will and grace. Unlike many human contracts, God's covenants are often unilateral (God makes the promise, not contingent on human action, as here) and eternal. This is an unconditional covenant initiated solely by God.
- which is between me and you: (אֲשֶׁר֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם / ʾăšer bênî ūḇênêḵem)
- Refers to the relationship between God and Noah, representing humanity and, by extension, all who would come after them. It personalizes the divine commitment.
- and every living creature: (וּבֵ֣ין כָּל־נֶ֤פֶשׁ חַיָּה֙ / ūḇên kāl-nefeš ḥayâ)
נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה(nefeš ḥayâ): Literally "living soul" or "living being." This phrase highlights the comprehensive scope of the covenant, extending beyond humanity to include all animate life that breathes, emphasizing God's universal care for creation.
- of all flesh: (מִכָּל־בָּשָׂ֔ר / mikāl-bāśār)
בָּשָׂר(bāśār): Flesh, often referring to all living beings, especially creatures with a body. This re-emphasizes the covenant's universal applicability to every form of life.
- and never again: (וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֨ה עֽוֹד֙ / wəlōʾ-yihye ʿōd)
- An emphatic negation, guaranteeing the absolute nature of the promise. "No more," "never again," signifying a definitive cessation of this specific form of judgment.
- shall the waters become a flood: (הַמַּ֗יִם לְמַבּוּל֙ / hamayim ləmaḇbûl)
מַיִם(mayim): Waters.מַבּוּל(mabbul): Flood, specifically the catastrophic, world-covering deluge (e.g., the Noahic flood). The term distinguishes it from mere local floods or heavy rains. This promise specifically targets a global flood.
- to destroy all flesh: (לְשַׁחֵ֖ת כָּל־בָּשָֽׂר׃ / ləšaḥēt kāl-bāśār)
שָׁחַת(shachat): To destroy, corrupt, ruin, spoil. It conveys utter ruin and depravity, previously used in Gen 6:11-12 to describe the corruption that led to the flood. Here, it confirms that God will not repeat this comprehensive, world-wide destruction.
Genesis 9 15 Bonus section
The Noahic covenant, of which this verse is a core component, is the first explicit unconditional covenant recorded in Scripture. Unlike later covenants which might include specific commands or conditions for their human recipients (e.g., the Mosaic Law), this promise rests solely on God's initiative and faithfulness. It guarantees the preservation of Earth as a habitable planet, allowing for the continuation of God's overarching plan for humanity, which culminates in the New Covenant through Christ. This covenant also stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern flood myths, where capricious gods cause destruction out of fear or annoyance; here, Yahweh is sovereign, deliberate, and gracious in His resolve not to destroy His creation by such means again, displaying divine control and compassion. The very fact that this covenant includes "every living creature" reveals the breadth of God's concern, extending His mercy and providential care beyond human beings to the entirety of the created order.
Genesis 9 15 Commentary
Genesis 9:15 is a pivotal declaration of divine grace and faithfulness following an unprecedented judgment. God's "remembrance" of His covenant signifies not a retrieval of lost information, but His active, unfailing commitment to fulfill His word. This unconditional promise ensures the ongoing stability of the natural order for all life, confirming that humanity and creation will not face another destructive, global flood of water. This establishes a foundational trust between Creator and creation, securing the framework within which human history, and eventually the plan of redemption, would unfold. It sets a theological precedent for God's steadfast character, illustrating His reliable commitment even amidst humanity's fallen state.
Examples:
- The changing seasons, consistent rainfall patterns, and the perpetual cycle of life are ongoing testaments to this promise's fulfillment.
- Even when significant local floods occur, the absence of a truly global, "destroy all flesh" deluge constantly affirms God's faithfulness to this specific vow.