New Living Translation
Genesis 9:16
16When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature 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
14When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” 17Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.” 18The sons of Noah who came out of the boat with their father were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham is 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 hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants,
- Genesis 8:21And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.
- Genesis 17:13All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant.
- 2 Samuel 23:5“Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.
- Psalms 89:3The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant. I have sworn this oath to him:
- Isaiah 54:8In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.
- Isaiah 55:3“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
- Jeremiah 32:40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.
- Hebrews 13:20Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
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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