Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 9:16
16The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the permanent covenant between God and all the living creatures on earth.”
Genesis 9:16 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.”
- English Standard Version (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."
- New King James Version (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.”
Context of Genesis 9:16
14Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, 15I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature. The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the permanent covenant between God and all the living creatures on earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and every creature on earth.” 18Noah’s sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.
Read all of Genesis 9Genesis 9:16 word by word
וְהָיְתָ֥ה הַקֶּ֖שֶׁת בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן וּרְאִיתִ֗יהָ לִזְכֹּר֙ בְּרִ֣ית עוֹלָ֔ם בֵּ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֔ים וּבֵין֙ כָּל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה בְּכָל־בָּשָׂ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the bowקֶ֫שֶׁתqesheth · bowH7198
- shall be in the cloudעָנָן‛ânân · cloudH6051
- and I will look upon itרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- that I may rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
- the everlastingעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
- covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
- betweenבַּ֫יִןbêyn · betweenH996
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- every livingחַיchay · aliveH2416
- creatureנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: animalH5315
- of all fleshבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320
- upon the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Cross-references for Genesis 9:16
- Genesis 9:9“Understand that I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you,
- Genesis 8:21When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, he said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of human beings, even though the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.
- Genesis 17:13Whether born in your household or purchased, he must be circumcised. My covenant will be marked in your flesh as a permanent covenant.
- 2 Samuel 23:5Is it not true my house is with God? For he has established a permanent covenant with me, ordered and secured in every detail. Will he not bring about my whole salvation and my every desire?
- Psalms 89:3The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant:
- Isaiah 54:8In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,” says the Lord your Redeemer.
- Isaiah 55:3Pay attention and come to me; listen, so that you will live. I will make a permanent covenant with you on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David.
- Jeremiah 32:40“I will make a permanent covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put fear of me in their hearts so they will never again turn away from me.
- Hebrews 13:20Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus — the great Shepherd of the sheep — through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Commentaries on Genesis 9:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 - XXIX. The Covenant with Noah 13. קשׁת qeshet “bow; related: be bent.” 14. ענן ‛ānan “cover, cast over; noun: cloud.” The covenant made with Noah Genesis 6:18 is now formally confirmed. The purpose conceived in the heart Genesis 8:21 now receives significant expression. Not only a new blessing is bestowed, but also a new covenant is formed with Noah. For he that has offered an acceptable sacrifice is not only at peace with God, but renewed…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 As the old world was ruined, to be a monument of justice, so this world remains to this day a monument of mercy. But sin, that drowned the old world, will burn this. Articles of agreement among men are sealed, that what is promised may be the more solemn, and the doing of what is covenanted the more sure to mutual satisfaction. The seal of this covenant was the rainbow, which, it is likely, was seen in the clouds before, but was never a seal…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-16God brought great judgment through the rainstorm (a very large and destructive storm). Now he gives the rainbow as a sign of peace for the whole earth (see 9:17). The rainbow appears after the rainstorm and is connected to it, but it now shows that God will not destroy the earth in this way again. The same Hebrew word can mean both “rainbow” and “bow” (a weapon used in war). In some places, God is described as a warrior who shoots arrows to bring judgment…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-2913. I do set my bow in the cloud--set, that is, constitute or appoint. This common and familiar phenomenon being made the pledge of peace, its appearance when showers began to fall would be welcomed with the liveliest feelings of joy.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 9:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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