New International Version
Genesis 9:16
16Whenever 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 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.
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.”
Context of Genesis 9:16
14Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15I 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. 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.” 17So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” 18The sons of Noah 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“I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you
- Genesis 8:21The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
- Genesis 17:13Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
- 2 Samuel 23:5“If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire.
- Psalms 89:3You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,
- Isaiah 54:8In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.
- Isaiah 55:3Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
- Jeremiah 32:40I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.
- Hebrews 13:20Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
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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