New International Version I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. New Living Translation I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. English Standard Version I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Berean Standard Bible I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Berean Literal Bible My bow I have set in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between Me and between the earth. King James Bible I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. New King James Version I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. New American Standard Bible I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall serve as a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. NASB 1995 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. NASB 1977 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. Legacy Standard Bible I put My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. Amplified Bible I set My rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. Berean Annotated Bible I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Christian Standard Bible I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Holman Christian Standard Bible I have placed My bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. American Standard Version I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. English Revised Version I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. GOD'S WORD® Translation I will put my rainbow in the clouds to be a sign of my promise to the earth. Good News Translation I am putting my bow in the clouds. It will be the sign of my covenant with the world. International Standard Version I've set my rainbow in the sky to symbolize the covenant between me and the earth. NET Bible I will place my rainbow in the clouds, and it will become a guarantee of the covenant between me and the earth. New Heart English Bible I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Webster's Bible Translation I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleI have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. World English Bible I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionMy bow I have given in the cloud, and it has been for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth; Berean Literal Bible My bow I have set in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between Me and between the earth. Young's Literal Translation My bow I have given in the cloud, and it hath been for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth; Smith's Literal Translation I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between me and between the earth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of a covenant between me, and between the earth. Catholic Public Domain Version I will place my arc in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the pact between myself and the earth. New American Bible I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. New Revised Standard Version I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleI set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated My rainbow I have given in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of my covenant between me and the Earth. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. Brenton Septuagint Translation I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of covenant between me and the earth. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Covenant of the Rainbow…12And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,… Cross References I have set My rainbow in the clouds, Ezekiel 1:28 The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking. Revelation 4:3 The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. Revelation 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire. and it will be a sign of the covenant Genesis 17:11 You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Exodus 31:13 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. Ezekiel 20:12 I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. between Me and the earth. Jeremiah 33:25-26 This is what the LORD says: If I have not established My covenant with the day and the night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, / then I would also reject the descendants of Jacob and of My servant David, so as not to take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore them from captivity and will have compassion on them.” Isaiah 54:9-10 “For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you. / Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Psalm 104:9 You set a boundary they cannot cross, that they may never again cover the earth. Psalm 89:37 like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the sky.” Selah Revelation 21:19-20 The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, / the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David. 2 Peter 3:6-7 through which the world of that time perished in the flood. / And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. Jeremiah 31:35-36 Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name: / “Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel’s descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me.” Matthew 24:37-39 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. / For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. Luke 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 and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. Treasury of Scripture I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Ezekiel 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. Revelation 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: Jump to Previous Agreement Bow Cloud Clouds Covenant Earth Rainbow Sign TokenJump to Next Agreement Bow Cloud Clouds Covenant Earth Rainbow Sign TokenGenesis 9 1. God blesses Noah and his sons, and grants them flesh for food.4. Blood and murder are forbidden. 8. God's covenant, of which the rainbow was constituted a pledge. 18. Noah's family replenishes the world. 20. Noah plants a vineyard, 21. Is drunken, and mocked by his son; 25. Curses Canaan; 26. Blesses Shem; 27. Prays for Japheth, and dies. I have set My rainbow in the clouds, God appointed the rainbow after the flood as a visible reminder of His mercy and restraint. Though it appears within the natural order, it stands by God’s design as a lasting witness that the judgment of the flood would not be repeated in the same way. Ezk 1:28 The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him… and it will be a sign of the covenant The rainbow marks God’s unconditional covenant to preserve the earth from another worldwide flood. As a sign, it is a visible reminder of God’s invisible promise, reminding humanity and every living creature of His faithfulness. Gen 17:11 You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin,… between Me and the earth. The covenant extends beyond Noah and his family to all the earth and its creatures. God remains sovereign over creation, sustaining the world He judged and preserved. Jer 33:25-26 This is what the LORD says: If I have not established… Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe Creator who establishes the covenant with Noah and all living creatures, signifying His promise with the rainbow. 2. Noah The righteous man chosen by God to survive the flood and repopulate the earth. 3. The Rainbow A divine sign set in the clouds as a reminder of God's covenant with the earth. 4. The Covenant A solemn agreement initiated by God, promising never to destroy all life with a flood again. 5. The Earth The recipient of God's covenant, representing all living creatures and the natural world. Teaching Points God's FaithfulnessThe rainbow is a perpetual reminder of God's faithfulness and His promises. Just as He kept His promise to Noah, He remains faithful to His promises today. Covenant Relationship God's covenant with Noah is a precursor to the new covenant through Jesus Christ. It highlights God's desire for a relationship with humanity based on His terms and promises. Symbolism of the Rainbow The rainbow serves as a symbol of hope and assurance. In times of trouble, believers can look to God's promises for comfort and strength. Environmental Stewardship The covenant includes the earth, reminding us of our responsibility to care for God's creation as stewards of His world. Remembrance and Reflection The rainbow encourages believers to remember God's past acts of salvation and reflect on His ongoing work in their lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 9:13?2. How does Genesis 9:13 demonstrate God's covenant faithfulness to humanity today? 3. What is the significance of the "rainbow" as a sign in Genesis 9:13? 4. How can we see God's promises in Genesis 9:13 reflected in other scriptures? 5. How should the covenant in Genesis 9:13 influence our trust in God's promises? 6. In what ways can we remind others of God's covenant using Genesis 9:13? 7. What is the significance of the rainbow in Genesis 9:13 as a covenant sign? 8. How does Genesis 9:13 relate to God's promise to Noah and humanity? 9. Why did God choose a rainbow as the symbol of His covenant in Genesis 9:13? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 9? Verse 13. - I do set. Literally, I have given, or placed, an indication that the atmospheric phenomenon referred to had already frequently appeared (Syriac, Arabic, Aben Ezra, Chrysostom, Calvin, Willet, Murphy, Wordsworth, Kalisch, Lange). The contrary opinion has been maintained that it now for the first time appeared (Bush, Keil, Delitzsch), or at least that the historian thought so (Knobel); but unless there had been no rain, or the laws of light and the atmospheric conditions of the earth had been different from what they are at present, it must have been a frequent spectacle in the primeval heavens. My bow. i.e. the rainbow, τόξον (LXX.), (cf. Ezekiel 1:28). The ordinary rainbow consists of a series of successive zones or bands of polarized light, forming little concentric circles in the sky, and having a common center almost always below the horizon, and diametrically opposite to the sun. It is produced by the refraction and reflection of the sun's light through the spherical raindrops on which the rays fall, and, accordingly, must always appear, with a greater or a lesser degree of visibility, when the two material agencies come in contact The part of the sky on which the rainbow is thrown is much more bright within than without the bow. The outer space is dark, almost black; and the inner space, on the contrary, melts into the violet almost insensibly (Nichol's 'Cyclopedia of the Sciences,' art. Rainbow). It is here styled God's bow, as being his workmanship (cf. Ecclus. 43:12), and his seal appended to his covenant (Genesis 9:17). In the cloud, עָנָן that which veils the heavens, from a root signifying to cover (Gesenius). And it shall be for a token, לְאות = εἰς σημεῖον, (LXX.). In Greek mythology the rainbow is designated by a name (Iris) which is at least connected with εἴρω, to speak, and εἰρήνη, peace; is represented as the daughter of Thaumas (wonder), and Electra (brightness) the daughter of Oceanus; is assigned the office of messenger to the king and queen of Olympus; and is depicted as set in heaven for a sign (Homer, 'I1,' 11:27; 17:547, 548; 24:144, 159; Virgil, AEn.,' 4:694; 5:606; Ovid, 'Met.,' 1:270; 11:585). The Persians seem to have associated the rainbow with similar ideas. An old picture, mentioned by Stolberg, represents a winged boy on a rainbow with an old man kneeling in a posture, of worship. The Hindoos describe the rainbow as a warlike weapon in the hands of Indras their god, "with which he hurls flashing darts upon the impious giants;" but also as a symbol of peace exhibited to man "when the combat of the heavens is silenced." By the Chinese it is regarded as the harbinger of troubles and misfortunes on earth, and by the old Scandinavians as a bridge uniting earth and heaven ('Kalisch on Genesis,' pp. 223, 224). Traditional reflections of the Biblical narrative, they do not "account for the application in the Pentateuch of the rainbow to a very remarkable purpose," or "explain why the New Testament represents the rainbow as an attribute of the Divine throne," or "why angels are sent as messengers on earth" (Kalisch); but are themselves accounted for and explained by it. The institution of the rainbow as a sign clearly negatives the idea (Aquinas, Cajetan) that it was originally and naturally a sign; which, if it was, "it was a lying sign," since the Flood came notwithstanding its prognostications (Willet). Of a covenant. "The bow in the hands of man was an instrument of battle (Genesis 48:22; Psalm 7:12; Proverbs 6:2; Zechariah 9:10); but the bow bent by the hand of God has become a symbol of peace" (Wordsworth). Between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13 reveals a God who acts first, claims ownership, repurposes the clouds, provides an enduring sign, secures an everlasting covenant, and extends mercy to the whole earth. Every rainbow still preaches the same sermon: the Judge of all the earth has bound Himself by promise, and He keeps His word. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew I have setנָתַ֖תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set My rainbow קַשְׁתִּ֕י (qaš·tî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 7198: A bow, for, shooting, the iris in the clouds, בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן (be·‘ā·nān) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6051: A cloud, the nimbus, thunder-cloud and it will be וְהָֽיְתָה֙ (wə·hā·yə·ṯāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be a sign לְא֣וֹת (lə·’ō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence of the covenant בְּרִ֔ית (bə·rîṯ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1285: A covenant between בֵּינִ֖י (bê·nî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 996: An interval, space between Me וּבֵ֥ין (ū·ḇên) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 996: An interval, space between and the earth. הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land Additonal Resources Genesis 9:13 Blue Letter BibleGenesis 9:13 Bible Gateway Genesis 9:13 Bible.com Genesis 9:13 NIV |
