Genesis 9:16 kjv
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.
Genesis 9:16 nkjv
The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
Genesis 9:16 niv
Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."
Genesis 9:16 esv
When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
Genesis 9:16 nlt
When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth."
Genesis 9 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:18 | "But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you." | God initiates covenant before flood. |
| Gen 8:1 | "But God remembered Noah and every living thing, and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided." | God's active remembrance during the flood. |
| Gen 9:9-11 | "Behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you… Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood." | Covenant's establishment and promise. |
| Gen 9:12 | "And God said: 'This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:'" | Introduction of the rainbow as the sign. |
| Gen 17:7 | "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you." | "Everlasting covenant" for Abraham. |
| Exod 2:24 | "So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." | God remembers covenants in action (Egypt). |
| Exod 31:16 | "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant." | Sabbath as a perpetual covenant. |
| Lev 26:42 | "Then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will also remember the land." | God remembers His covenant with patriarchs. |
| 2 Sam 23:5 | "Though my house is not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure." | Davidic covenant described as everlasting. |
| 1 Chron 16:15-18 | "Remember His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations... an everlasting covenant, To you and your descendants after you..." | God's covenant is eternal and for descendants. |
| Psa 25:10 | "All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies." | God's ways aligned with covenant. |
| Psa 89:34 | "My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." | God's unchanging faithfulness to covenant. |
| Psa 105:8 | "He remembers His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations." | God's perpetual memory of His covenant. |
| Psa 106:45 | "And for their sakes He remembered His covenant, And relented according to the multitude of His mercies." | God's active remembrance leading to mercy. |
| Isa 54:9-10 | "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, So have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains may depart... My kindness shall not depart." | God's covenant with Noah compared to New Covenant promise. |
| Isa 55:3 | "Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David." | New Covenant aspects, 'sure mercies of David.' |
| Jer 31:35-37 | "Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night... If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the LORD, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease..." | God's faithfulness to creation order as a guarantee for covenant with Israel. |
| Jer 32:40 | "And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good." | Everlasting covenant of the New Covenant. |
| Ezek 1:28 | "Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD." | Rainbow as a vision of God's glory. |
| Ezek 16:60 | "Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish with you an everlasting covenant." | God's remembrance leading to new everlasting covenant. |
| Heb 8:6-13 | "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." | A new and better covenant in Christ. |
| Heb 13:20 | "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant." | Everlasting covenant secured by Christ's blood. |
| Rev 4:3 | "And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald." | Rainbow around God's throne. |
| Rev 10:1 | "I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire." | Rainbow as a mark of divine messengers. |
Genesis 9 verses
Genesis 9 16 Meaning
Genesis 9:16 reveals God's declaration that the rainbow, placed in the clouds, will serve as a visible sign for Him. When God sees it, He promises to actively remember His "everlasting covenant" with all living beings across the entire Earth. This divine remembrance signifies His faithful commitment to never again destroy all flesh by a global flood of water, thus assuring the stability and continuance of life on Earth.
Genesis 9 16 Context
Genesis chapter 9 follows the great flood, with Noah and his family being the sole human survivors. The chapter marks a new beginning for humanity and all life on Earth. Verses 1-7 reiterate commands similar to those given to Adam in Gen 1:28, establishing mankind's relationship with creation, including permission to eat meat and the sanctity of human life. Verses 8-17, where verse 16 is found, detail the formal establishment of the Noachic Covenant. This is a foundational covenant in biblical history, distinct from later redemptive covenants, as it guarantees the continued existence of creation and its stability (e.g., seasons, Gen 8:22). God unilaterally establishes this covenant with Noah and all future generations of living creatures, promising never again to destroy all flesh by water. The rainbow is given as a sign of this divine, unbreakable pledge, primarily for God's remembrance and thus, indirectly, for humanity's assurance.
Genesis 9 16 Word Analysis
- When the bow (וְהָיְתָה הַקֶּשֶׁת – v'hayetah haqqesheth):
- Bow (qesheth): The Hebrew word typically refers to an archer's weapon, an instrument of war and judgment (e.g., in war or divine wrath as in Lam 2:4). Its transformation into a sign of peace and a covenantal emblem in the sky is highly symbolic. God places His "weapon" (of judgment) down, turning it from an instrument of war against humanity to a symbol of His enduring mercy and commitment.
- is in the clouds, (בֶּעָנָן – be'anan):
- Clouds (anan): A natural element often associated with divine presence, power, and judgment (Exod 19:9, Isa 19:1). Here, the setting emphasizes that this sign is publicly displayed by God in the heavenly realm.
- I will see it (וְרָאִיתִיהָ – v'ra'itiha):
- I will see (v'ra'itiha): An anthropomorphism (ascribing human characteristics to God). God does not forget or need a visual reminder to recall His promise. This emphasizes His active, deliberate attention and fidelity to His covenant. It indicates God’s continuous mindfulness and intention to act in accordance with His pledge.
- and remember (וְזָכַרְתִּי – v'zacharti):
- Remember (v'zacharti): In biblical context, "remember" is not mere mental recollection but a commitment to active engagement and faithfulness to a promise. When God "remembers," He acts (Gen 8:1; Exod 2:24; 1 Chron 16:15). This signifies His unwavering loyalty and active maintenance of the covenant.
- the everlasting covenant (בְּרִית עוֹלָם – berit olam):
- Everlasting (olam): Denotes a perpetual, enduring, and unbroken quality, not subject to time's end or human failing. This signifies the covenant's permanent nature.
- Covenant (berit): A formal, binding agreement between two parties. In this case, it is unilateral, initiated by God, who binds Himself by oath, showing His sovereign and unconditional commitment. It establishes an unalterable divine policy.
- between God (בֵּין אֱלֹהִים – ben Elohim):
- God (Elohim): The generic but foundational name for God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing Him as the Creator and sovereign ruler of the universe. He is the ultimate, faithful initiator of this binding agreement.
- and every living creature of all flesh (וּבֵין כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה בְּכָל־בָּשָׂר – uven kol-nephesh chayyah be'khol-basar):
- Every living creature of all flesh: This phrase stresses the comprehensive, universal scope of the covenant, including all animal life (both humans and beasts) and not just Noah's family or humanity. It signifies God's comprehensive care for His creation.
- that is on the earth. (אֲשֶׁר עַל־הָאָרֶץ – asher al-ha'aretz):
- On the earth: Establishes the geographical and spatial universality of the covenant, extending across the entire planet.
Words-group Analysis:
- "When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember": This sequence establishes God's direct, personal engagement with the sign He has given. It underscores that the rainbow's primary function is for God's assurance and active faithfulness, not merely as a human reminder. It is an anthropomorphism indicating God's constant, faithful attention to His covenant.
- "the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh": This highlights the unparalleled breadth and duration of this covenant. It is foundational, applies to all life, and signifies God's permanent commitment to uphold the natural order of creation and protect it from a similar global water judgment.
Genesis 9 16 Bonus Section
- Divine Assurance: The primary recipient of the rainbow's visual signal for "remembrance" is God Himself, not humanity. This offers profound assurance; humanity's peace comes from God's inherent faithfulness and self-commitment, rather than needing to remember or fulfill human obligations.
- Foundation for Stability: The Noachic Covenant lays the groundwork for all subsequent redemptive covenants by guaranteeing the stable existence of the world. Without the preservation of life and Earth's cycles, other covenants concerning Israel or Messiah would be irrelevant.
- Contrast with Paganism: This verse offers a theological counter-narrative to ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies. Unlike the chaotic, capricious deities of Mesopotamia, the God of the Bible is orderly, righteous, and enters into steadfast covenants, upholding cosmic stability not out of fear, but out of His unchanging character and grace.
Genesis 9 16 Commentary
Genesis 9:16 profoundly articulates the foundational Noachic Covenant. It illustrates God's unreserved and unilateral commitment to preserve the natural order and life on Earth following the flood. The "bow," typically a weapon of judgment, transforms into a sign of peace and a visible assurance of divine forbearance. God’s declaration to "see" and "remember" the covenant emphasizes His unwavering faithfulness. It’s not that the Omniscient God forgets, but that He is perpetually aware of and bound by His promise, acting in accordance with it. This covenant is "everlasting," denoting its perpetual, unconditional nature, and "universal," extending to "every living creature of all flesh," affirming God's comprehensive care for all His creation. This differentiates the biblical narrative from other flood myths where deities are capricious or dependent; here, God sovereignly establishes stability through His unchangeable word.