Genesis 9:17 kjv

And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Genesis 9:17 nkjv

And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."

Genesis 9:17 niv

So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth."

Genesis 9:17 esv

God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."

Genesis 9:17 nlt

Then God said to Noah, "Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth."

Genesis 9 verses

Genesis 9 17 Meaning

Genesis 9:17 concludes the account of God establishing His covenant with Noah and all living creatures after the great flood. It serves as a final, direct declaration by God to Noah, affirming the universality and everlasting nature of the covenant by reiterating the sign (the rainbow, implied from earlier verses in the chapter) and the comprehensive scope of its recipients—every living being on earth. It underscores God's steadfast promise never again to destroy all life on earth with a flood, highlighting His faithfulness and grace.

Genesis 9 17 Context

Genesis 9:17 marks the final summary statement of the Noahic Covenant within the immediate post-Flood narrative. The chapter begins with God blessing Noah and his sons, commanding them to be fruitful and multiply (Gen 9:1-7), re-establishing life on earth after the great deluge. It then introduces dietary regulations and the sacredness of life, especially human life created in God's image (Gen 9:3-6). Verses 8-11 formally announce God's intention to establish an "everlasting covenant" with Noah, his descendants, and all living creatures, promising never again to destroy all flesh by a flood. Verses 12-16 detail the rainbow as the visible "sign" of this covenant, specifically stating that God Himself will look at the rainbow and remember His promise. Genesis 9:17 serves as God's conclusive declaration to Noah, encapsulating the entire promise and its vast scope. Historically and culturally, this passage establishes a foundation for humanity's relationship with God after a cataclysmic judgment, portraying God as sovereign, merciful, and a faithful covenant-maker, distinct from the capricious deities of Ancient Near Eastern mythologies.

Genesis 9 17 Word analysis

• And God (וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים - wayyo’mer Elohim): "And God said." This phrase, frequent in Genesis, highlights divine initiative and authoritative declaration. "Elohim" is the plural form of God, commonly used in Gen 1, emphasizing His supreme power and creative majesty. The direct address to Noah signifies the personal communication of this universal covenant.
• said to Noah (אֶל־נֹחַ - el-noah): Direct, personal communication to the representative of humanity and indeed, all land life. Noah serves as the recipient and keeper of this momentous divine word.
• This is the sign (זֹאת אוֹת - zot 'oth): "This is the sign," emphatically referring back to the rainbow explicitly mentioned in Gen 9:12-16. 'Oth' (אוֹת) means "sign," "token," or "proof." It's a visible symbol pointing to an unseen reality—God's unchanging promise. The sign is for both humanity and for God as a reminder to Himself (anthropomorphic language).
• of the covenant (הַבְּרִית - hab'rit): "The covenant," referring to the berith (בְּרִית). This term is central to biblical theology, denoting a formal, binding agreement initiated by God, often with obligations and promises. The definite article "ha-" ("the") points to the specific covenant being discussed.
• that I have established (אֲשֶׁר הֲקִמֹתִי - 'asher haqimoti): "Which I have set up," "put in place," or "made firm." The root 'qum' (קוּם) implies standing up, establishing, or fulfilling. God actively initiated and brought into being this covenant; it wasn't a reciprocal agreement requested by man. The form 'haqimoti' emphasizes God's active, completed, and resolute action.
• between Me (בֵּינִי - beini): Explicitly stated God's participation. It emphasizes divine self-binding and faithfulness.
• and all flesh (וּבֵין כָּל־בָּשָׂר - uvain kol-basar): 'Kol-basar' (כָּל־בָּשָׂר) means "all flesh," encompassing every living, breathing creature. This underscores the universal, pan-creation scope of the Noahic Covenant, applying not just to humanity but to all terrestrial animals, acknowledging God's care for His entire creation. This breadth distinguishes it from later, more exclusive covenants (e.g., Abrahamic with a specific lineage).
• that is on the earth (אֲשֶׁר עַל־הָאָרֶץ - 'asher 'al-ha'aretz): Limits the scope to earthly life, excluding aquatic creatures from the direct flood judgment but reinforcing the breadth of its protection over terrestrial life. 'Eretz' (אֶרֶץ) denotes "earth," "land," or "ground," signifying the global reach of the covenant.

Words-group analysis:

• "This is the sign of the covenant": Reiteration from earlier verses, making it clear that the rainbow functions as the constant visible assurance of God's unilateral promise. It's a physical emblem of an enduring spiritual truth—God's faithfulness.
• "that I have established": Stresses God's divine sovereignty and active role as the sole initiator and sustainer of this covenant. Humanity has no part in "making" or upholding this specific covenant in terms of its establishment; it is a gift of God's grace.
• "between Me and all flesh that is on the earth": Highlights the unparalleled scope of the Noahic Covenant, demonstrating God's benevolent care for all creation, not just humanity. It is a covenant of "common grace," assuring the continuation of the natural order despite humanity's sin, preventing a recurrence of global destruction by water.

Genesis 9 17 Bonus section

• The Noahic covenant is a covenant of preservation, ensuring the continuation of life and natural order, allowing for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through history.
• Unlike later covenants which include reciprocal human obligations (e.g., Mosaic), the Noahic Covenant, in its non-destruction aspect, is presented as largely unilateral, grounded in God's nature and decision. The sign (rainbow) is primarily for God to remember His own promise (Gen 9:16), reflecting His self-commitment.
• This verse subtly introduces the theological concept of "common grace," whereby God bestows blessings and preserves order for all humanity, believers and unbelievers alike, as a display of His inherent goodness.

Genesis 9 17 Commentary

Genesis 9:17 acts as the concluding summation of God’s post-Flood covenant declaration. It’s concise but profoundly significant, reiterating the permanence and universality of God's promise. This verse reinforces that the covenant is God-initiated, unconditionally established by His will, and extended to every living creature on the earth, thereby guaranteeing the stability of the created order. The simplicity of the declaration ("This is the sign...") reflects its clarity and certainty. The inclusion of "all flesh" underlines God's comprehensive mercy and patience, assuring the world that future human wickedness, while subject to local judgment, will not result in another global aqueous annihilation. This common grace forms the bedrock upon which all future redemptive covenants (Abrahamic, Mosaic, New) are built, allowing humanity and creation to continue existing for God's redemptive purposes to unfold.