Genesis 6:18
Verse
Context
Preparing the Ark
17And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish.18But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.
Sermons





Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
With thee will I establish my covenant - The word ברית berith, from בר bar, to purify or cleanse, signifies properly a purification or purifier, (see on Genesis 15 (note)), because in all covenants made between God and man, sin and sinfulness were ever supposed to be on man's side, and that God could not enter into any covenant or engagement with him without a purifier; hence, in all covenants, a sacrifice was offered for the removal of offenses, and the reconciliation of God to the sinner; and hence the word ברית berith signifies not only a covenant, but also the sacrifice offered on the occasion, Exo 24:8; Psa 50:5; and Jesus Christ, the great atonement and purifier, has the same word for his title, Isa 42:6; Isa 49:8; and Zac 9:11. Almost all nations, in forming alliances, etc., made their covenants or contracts in the same way. A sacrifice was provided, its throat was cut, and its blood poured out before God; then the whole carcass was divided through the spinal marrow from the head to the rump; so as to make exactly two equal parts; these were placed opposite to each other, and the contracting parties passed between them, or entering at opposite ends met in the center, and there took the covenant oath. This is particularly referred to by Jeremiah, Jer 34:18, Jer 34:19, Jer 34:20 : "I will give the men (into the hands of their enemies, Jer 34:20) that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof," etc. See also Deu 29:12. A covenant, says Mr. Ainsworth, is a disposition of good things faithfully declared, which God here calls his, as arising from his grace towards Noah (Gen 6:8) and all men; but implying also conditions on man's part, and therefore is called our covenant, Zac 9:11. The apostles call it διαθηκη, a testament or disposition; and it is mixed of the properties both of covenant and testament, as the apostle shows, Heb 9:16, etc., and of both may be named a testamental covenant, whereby the disposing of God's favors and good things to us is declared. The covenant made with Noah signified, on God's part, that he should save Noah and his family from death by the ark. On Noah's part, that he should in faith and obedience make and enter into the ark - Thou shalt come into the ark, etc., so committing himself to God's preservation, Heb 11:7. And under this the covenant or testament of eternal salvation by Christ was also implied, the apostle testifying, Pe1 3:21, that the antitype, baptism, doth also now save us; for baptism is a seal of our salvation, Mar 16:16. To provide a Savior, and the means of salvation, is God's part: to accept this Savior, laying hold on the hope set before us, is ours. Those who refuse the way and means of salvation must perish; those who accept of the great Covenant Sacrifice cannot perish, but shall have eternal life. See on Gen 15:10 (note), etc.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But with thee will I establish my covenant--a special promise of deliverance, called a covenant, to convince him of the confidence to be reposed in it. The substance and terms of this covenant are related at Gen 6:19-21.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind,.... What before is generally expressed by "every living thing", is here particularly explained of every sort of them; and from the order of them some have thought that in the same manner they were disposed of in the ark, the fowls in the first story, the cattle in the next, and the creeping things in the lowermost: but others place them in a different manner; see Gill on Gen 6:16 the roots and grain in the lower story, the living creatures of all sorts in the second, and their hay and litter in the third: the second story being three hundred cubits long, and fifty broad, contained in the whole fifteen thousand cubits, which is supposed to be divided into an hundred and fifty equal rooms; so the Targum of Jonathan on Gen 6:14 of these, four are allowed for Noah and his family, two with earth for those animals that live underground, one for those which live on herbs and roots, and the other for those which live on flesh; and the other one hundred and forty four rooms are divided into three parts, that is, twenty four for birds, twenty five for beasts, and the other ninety five for such animals as are designed to be food for the rest; and according to the calculations of learned men, there appear to have been in this story rooms sufficient for all sorts of birds, beasts, and creeping things (k): two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive; that is, they shall come of themselves, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra observe, the providence of God so directing and impelling them, just as the creatures came to Adam; so that there was no need for Noah to take any pains by hunting or hawking to get such a number together: the Targum of Jonathan is,"they shall come unto thee by the hand of an angel, who shall take and cause them to come.''So says another Jewish (l) writer, that they were collected by the angels who presided over each species; in which, except the notion of angels presiding over every kind of creature, there is no incongruity, as Bishop Patrick observes; and two of every sort were to come to the ark, to be preserved alive there, that they might propagate their species. So Lucian says (m), that swine, and horses, and lions, and serpents, and all other creatures which were on the earth, entered into the ark "by pairs". (k) Vid. Bedford's Scripture Chronology, c. 12. p. 155. (l) Pirke Eliezer, c. 23. (m) De Dea Syria.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:18 This first explicit mention of a covenant in the Bible refers to the unilateral pact that God made with humankind and the world after the flood (see 9:9, 11, 14-17).
Genesis 6:18
Preparing the Ark
17And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish.18But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Gifts
By A.W. Tozer3.7K40:54GiftsGEN 6:18MAT 6:33MAT 20:28JHN 3:16ACT 20:35ROM 8:32EPH 2:8In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the concept of giving and receiving in relation to God's love and sacrifice. He highlights four important truths from the New Testament. Firstly, the Father's love led Him to give His Son. Secondly, the Son humbly gave His life as a ransom for humanity. Thirdly, the Father and Son gave with the intention of meeting a specific need, not carelessly or randomly. Lastly, the speaker emphasizes that it is more blessed to give than to receive. He supports these truths with references to John 3:16, Matthew 20:28, and Acts 20:35, which all speak to the love and sacrifice of God.
Hell - Side 1 (Compilation)
By Compilations2.2K15:05CompilationGEN 6:18MAT 7:13JHN 5:19REV 21:8In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal testimony of a near-death experience and his encounter with hell. He describes his troubled past, including time spent in prison and a dysfunctional family life. He recounts being in a hospital room and suddenly finding himself in a place of fire and torment, which he identifies as hell. He vividly describes the agony and pain he witnessed in the faces of those in the flames, and how they called out to him to warn him of the hopelessness and lack of escape in that place.
Noah
By Ron Bailey2.1K48:21Bible CharactersGEN 6:18MAT 6:33ROM 5:8In this sermon, the preacher starts by emphasizing the importance of understanding God's love towards humanity. He refers to the passage in Genesis chapter 5 as a basis for interpreting the Bible. The preacher highlights that despite the blessings and the picture of salvation, the earth still remains under a death sentence. He emphasizes the need for individuals to be rightly related to Jesus Christ in order to receive salvation and forgiveness. The sermon concludes with a reminder that everyone will be held accountable for their actions and must give an account of their lives to God.
(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5
By Chuck Smith1.8K1:23:21ExpositionalGEN 50:26EXO 2:15EXO 4:1EXO 4:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that God is not just a passive observer of our struggles and suffering. He takes action to deliver His people from their hardships. The preacher also highlights the importance of not getting too attached to material possessions, as they can easily be taken away. Instead, our focus should be on the things of the Spirit and God's eternal kingdom. The sermon references the story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt, where they faced oppression and hardship, but ultimately God delivered them.
Adamic Administration - Preliminary Considerations
By John Murray1.7K30:33AdamicGEN 6:18MAT 6:33HEB 13:8The video is a sermon discussing the concept of Adam's probation and the purpose behind it. The speaker explains that God intended for Adam to be elevated to a state where he could not sin, but in order to achieve this, Adam had to go through a period of intensified probation. This probation was conducted through the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and its purpose was to test Adam's unwavering commitment to God's will and obedience. The speaker also mentions that further biblical data will be discussed in the next part of the sermon.
Greenwood Hills Conference 1989-03 Nehemiah 4:10
By William MacDonald1.6K51:07ConferenceGEN 6:18JDG 7:2MAT 10:1In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the negative impact of television on the spiritual temperature of the church. He believes that TV weakens prayer life and distracts Christians from spending time with the Word of God. The speaker also highlights the danger of biblical illiteracy in the church, as it makes it easier for false teachings to spread. He concludes by urging young men entering the ministry to avoid materialism, immorality, and seeking personal glory, and instead focus on serving the Lord faithfully.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
With thee will I establish my covenant - The word ברית berith, from בר bar, to purify or cleanse, signifies properly a purification or purifier, (see on Genesis 15 (note)), because in all covenants made between God and man, sin and sinfulness were ever supposed to be on man's side, and that God could not enter into any covenant or engagement with him without a purifier; hence, in all covenants, a sacrifice was offered for the removal of offenses, and the reconciliation of God to the sinner; and hence the word ברית berith signifies not only a covenant, but also the sacrifice offered on the occasion, Exo 24:8; Psa 50:5; and Jesus Christ, the great atonement and purifier, has the same word for his title, Isa 42:6; Isa 49:8; and Zac 9:11. Almost all nations, in forming alliances, etc., made their covenants or contracts in the same way. A sacrifice was provided, its throat was cut, and its blood poured out before God; then the whole carcass was divided through the spinal marrow from the head to the rump; so as to make exactly two equal parts; these were placed opposite to each other, and the contracting parties passed between them, or entering at opposite ends met in the center, and there took the covenant oath. This is particularly referred to by Jeremiah, Jer 34:18, Jer 34:19, Jer 34:20 : "I will give the men (into the hands of their enemies, Jer 34:20) that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof," etc. See also Deu 29:12. A covenant, says Mr. Ainsworth, is a disposition of good things faithfully declared, which God here calls his, as arising from his grace towards Noah (Gen 6:8) and all men; but implying also conditions on man's part, and therefore is called our covenant, Zac 9:11. The apostles call it διαθηκη, a testament or disposition; and it is mixed of the properties both of covenant and testament, as the apostle shows, Heb 9:16, etc., and of both may be named a testamental covenant, whereby the disposing of God's favors and good things to us is declared. The covenant made with Noah signified, on God's part, that he should save Noah and his family from death by the ark. On Noah's part, that he should in faith and obedience make and enter into the ark - Thou shalt come into the ark, etc., so committing himself to God's preservation, Heb 11:7. And under this the covenant or testament of eternal salvation by Christ was also implied, the apostle testifying, Pe1 3:21, that the antitype, baptism, doth also now save us; for baptism is a seal of our salvation, Mar 16:16. To provide a Savior, and the means of salvation, is God's part: to accept this Savior, laying hold on the hope set before us, is ours. Those who refuse the way and means of salvation must perish; those who accept of the great Covenant Sacrifice cannot perish, but shall have eternal life. See on Gen 15:10 (note), etc.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But with thee will I establish my covenant--a special promise of deliverance, called a covenant, to convince him of the confidence to be reposed in it. The substance and terms of this covenant are related at Gen 6:19-21.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind,.... What before is generally expressed by "every living thing", is here particularly explained of every sort of them; and from the order of them some have thought that in the same manner they were disposed of in the ark, the fowls in the first story, the cattle in the next, and the creeping things in the lowermost: but others place them in a different manner; see Gill on Gen 6:16 the roots and grain in the lower story, the living creatures of all sorts in the second, and their hay and litter in the third: the second story being three hundred cubits long, and fifty broad, contained in the whole fifteen thousand cubits, which is supposed to be divided into an hundred and fifty equal rooms; so the Targum of Jonathan on Gen 6:14 of these, four are allowed for Noah and his family, two with earth for those animals that live underground, one for those which live on herbs and roots, and the other for those which live on flesh; and the other one hundred and forty four rooms are divided into three parts, that is, twenty four for birds, twenty five for beasts, and the other ninety five for such animals as are designed to be food for the rest; and according to the calculations of learned men, there appear to have been in this story rooms sufficient for all sorts of birds, beasts, and creeping things (k): two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive; that is, they shall come of themselves, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra observe, the providence of God so directing and impelling them, just as the creatures came to Adam; so that there was no need for Noah to take any pains by hunting or hawking to get such a number together: the Targum of Jonathan is,"they shall come unto thee by the hand of an angel, who shall take and cause them to come.''So says another Jewish (l) writer, that they were collected by the angels who presided over each species; in which, except the notion of angels presiding over every kind of creature, there is no incongruity, as Bishop Patrick observes; and two of every sort were to come to the ark, to be preserved alive there, that they might propagate their species. So Lucian says (m), that swine, and horses, and lions, and serpents, and all other creatures which were on the earth, entered into the ark "by pairs". (k) Vid. Bedford's Scripture Chronology, c. 12. p. 155. (l) Pirke Eliezer, c. 23. (m) De Dea Syria.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:18 This first explicit mention of a covenant in the Bible refers to the unilateral pact that God made with humankind and the world after the flood (see 9:9, 11, 14-17).