Genesis 9:17
New International Version
So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

New Living Translation
Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”

English Standard Version
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.”

Berean Standard Bible
So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and every creature on the earth.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.”

New American Standard Bible
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.”

NASB 1995
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.”

NASB 1977
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.”

Legacy Standard Bible
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.”

Amplified Bible
And God said to Noah, “This [rainbow] is the sign of the covenant (solemn pledge, binding agreement) which I have established between Me and all living things on the earth.”

Christian Standard Bible
God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and every creature on earth.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have confirmed between Me and every creature on earth.”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
The rainbow will be the sign of that solemn promise.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the promise I am making to all life on earth."

Good News Translation
That is the sign of the promise which I am making to all living beings."

International Standard Version
God also told Noah, "This is the symbol of the covenant that I've established between me and everything that lives on the earth."

Majority Standard Bible
So God said to Noah, ?This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and every creature on the earth.?

NET Bible
So God said to Noah, "This is the guarantee of the covenant that I am confirming between me and all living things that are on the earth."

New Heart English Bible
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."

Webster's Bible Translation
And God said to Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

World English Bible
God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And God says to Noah, “This [is] a token of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that [is] on the earth.”

Young's Literal Translation
And God saith unto Noah, 'This is a token of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And God will say to Noah, This the sign of the covenant which I established between me and between all flesh which is upon the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And God said to Noe: This shall be the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh upon the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And God said to Noah, “This will be the sign of the covenant that I have established between myself and all that is flesh upon the earth.”

New American Bible
God told Noah: This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and every mortal being that is on earth.

New Revised Standard Version
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.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all the flesh that is upon the earth,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between myself and between all flesh that is upon Earth.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And God said to Noe, This is the sign of the covenant, which I have made between me and all flesh, which is upon the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Covenant of the Rainbow
16And whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is on the earth.” 17So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and every creature on the earth.”

Cross References
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.

Genesis 17:13
Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.

Genesis 17:19
But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

Genesis 17:21
But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”

Genesis 17:23
On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God had told him.

Genesis 17:26
Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the same day.

Genesis 17:27
And all the men of Abraham’s household—both servants born in his household and those purchased from foreigners—were circumcised with him.

Exodus 12:13
The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:17
So you are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. You must keep this day as a permanent statute for the generations to come.

Exodus 12:24
And you are to keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants.

Exodus 12:42
Because the LORD kept a vigil that night to bring them out of the land of Egypt, this same night is to be a vigil to the LORD, to be observed by all the Israelites for the generations to come.

Exodus 13:9
It shall be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the Law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.

Exodus 13:16
So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

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.

Exodus 31:17
It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”


Treasury of Scripture

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

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Agreement Covenant Earth Established Flesh Life Noah Sign Token
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Agreement Covenant Earth Established Flesh Life Noah Sign Token
Genesis 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.














So God said to Noah
This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to Noah, emphasizing the personal relationship and covenantal dialogue between the Creator and His chosen servant. Noah, a righteous man in his generation, found favor in God's eyes (Genesis 6:8-9). This communication follows the flood narrative, where Noah and his family were preserved through the ark, symbolizing salvation and divine protection.

This is the sign of the covenant
The term "sign" refers to a visible, tangible reminder of God's promise. In biblical context, signs often serve as confirmations of divine covenants, such as circumcision with Abraham (Genesis 17:11) and the Sabbath with Israel (Exodus 31:13). The rainbow, as the sign here, represents God's mercy and faithfulness, assuring humanity that He will never again destroy the earth with a flood.

that I have established
The use of "established" indicates a firm, unbreakable commitment from God. This covenant is unilateral, meaning it is initiated and guaranteed by God alone, without conditions placed upon humanity. It reflects God's sovereign grace and His desire to maintain a relationship with His creation despite human sinfulness.

between Me and every creature on the earth
This phrase highlights the universal scope of the covenant. Unlike later covenants that are specific to Israel, this promise extends to all living creatures, emphasizing God's care for the entire creation. It underscores the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over all life and His ongoing commitment to the world He made. This covenant is a precursor to the ultimate reconciliation of creation through Christ, as seen in passages like Romans 8:19-21, where creation awaits liberation from corruption.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who establishes a covenant with Noah and all living creatures.

2. Noah
A righteous man chosen by God to survive the flood and repopulate the earth.

3. Covenant
A divine promise made by God, signified by the rainbow, ensuring that He will never again destroy all life with a flood.

4. All Living Things
Refers to every creature on earth, highlighting the universal scope of God's promise.

5. The Earth
The physical realm where God's covenant is established, emphasizing His sovereignty over creation.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness
The covenant with Noah is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and mercy. He keeps His promises, providing assurance and hope.

Universal Scope
God's covenant extends to all living creatures, reminding us of His care for all creation and our responsibility to steward it wisely.

Symbolism of the Rainbow
The rainbow serves as a visible reminder of God's promise, encouraging us to trust in His word and His plans for the future.

Covenantal Relationships
Understanding God's covenants helps us appreciate the depth of His relationship with humanity and His desire for us to live in obedience and trust.

Hope in God's Promises
Just as God promised never to flood the earth again, we can trust His promises in our lives, finding peace and security in His word.Verse 17. - And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant. Murphy thinks that God here directed the patriarch's attention to an actual rainbow; it seems more natural to conclude that from the beginning of the interview (Genesis 8:20) the ark, altar, and worshippers were encircled by its variegated arch. Kalisch compares with the rainbow the other signs which God subsequently appended to his covenants; as, e.g., circumcision (Genesis 17:11), the passover (Exodus 12:13), the sabbath (ibid. 31:13). The Noachic covenant being universal, the sign was also universal - "τέρας μερόπων ἀνθρώπων (I1, 11:27), a sign to men of many tongues. The later covenants being limited to Israel, their signs were local and provisional, and have now been supplanted by the higher symbolism of the Christian Church, viz., baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the Christian sabbath. Which I have established. The different verbs used in this passage in connection with בְּרִית may be here brought together.

1. נָתַן (ver. 12) representing the covenant as a gift of Divine grace.

2. קוּס (Hiph.; vers. 9, 11, 17) exhibiting the covenant as something which God has both caused to stand and raised up when fallen.

3. זָכַר (ver. 15) depicting the covenant as always present to the Divine mind. Tuch, Stahelin, and Delitzsch detect an idiosyncrasy of the Elohist in using the first and second of these verbs instead of כָּרַת, the favorite expression of the Jehovist. But כָּרַת is used by the Elohist in Genesis 21:27, 32, while in Deuteronomy 4:18 the Jehovist uses הֵקִיס. Between ms and all flesh that is upon the earth. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So God
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

said
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Noah,
נֹ֑חַ (nō·aḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5146: Noah -- 'rest', patriarch who survived the flood

“This
זֹ֤את (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

is the sign
אֽוֹת־ (’ō·wṯ-)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence

of the covenant
הַבְּרִית֙ (hab·bə·rîṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I have established
הֲקִמֹ֔תִי (hă·qi·mō·ṯî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

between
בֵּינִ֕י (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 all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

living things
בָּשָׂ֖ר (bā·śār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the earth.”
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Law: Genesis 9:17 God said to Noah This (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 9:16
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