Genesis 9:12

Verse

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:

American Standard Version (1901)

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

Bible in Basic English

And God said, This is the sign of the agreement which I make between me and you and every living thing with you, for all future generations:

Douay-Rheims 1899

And God said: This is the sign of the covenant which I give between me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations.

Free Bible Version

Then God said, “I'm going to give you a sign to confirm the agreement I'm making between me and you and all living creatures, an agreement that will last for all generations.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then God saide, This is the token of the couenant which I make betweene me and you, and betweene euery liuing thing, that is with you vnto perpetuall generations.

King James (Authorized) Version

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

One Unity Resource Bible

God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

Plain English Version

And God said, “I will give you something to help you remember what I promised to you, and to all of the animals living on the earth, and to your kids, and to all the people that will be born later on.

Translation for Translators

Then God said to him, “This is the sign to guarantee that I will keep the promise that I am making to you and to all living creatures, a promise that I will keep forever:

Unlocked Literal Bible

God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:

Noah Webster Bible

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations.

World English Bible

God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

Young's Literal Translation

And God saith, 'This is a token of the covenant which I am giving between Me and you, and every living creature that [is] with you, to generations age-during;

Context

The Covenant of the Rainbow

¹¹And I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”¹²And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:¹³I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

Sermons

(Genesis) Genesis 9:6-17

J. Vernon McGee

2.6K

(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5

Chuck Smith

1.8K

The Most Asked Questions on Genesis Answered

Ken Ham

884

Summary

In Genesis 9:12, after the great flood, God establishes a covenant with Noah and all living creatures on earth, promising to never again destroy the earth with a flood. The rainbow is set as a sign of this covenant, serving as a reminder of God's faithfulness and mercy. This verse showcases God's grace and commitment to His creation, offering hope and assurance of His protection. It symbolizes a new beginning and a fresh start after the devastation of the flood, emphasizing God's promise of preservation and care for all living beings.

Commentary

John Gill
Matthew Henry
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

And God said, this is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you,.... Meaning the bow in the cloud, and which might be formed in the cloud at this time, that Noah might see it, and know it when he saw it again, and seems to be pointed unto: "this is the token"; or sign of the covenant made between God and Noah, and his sons: and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations; which more clearly shows and proves, that this covenant reaches to all creatures that then were, or should be in all ages, to the end of the world.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Articles of agreement among men are usually sealed, that the covenants may be the more solemn, and the performances of the covenants the more sure, to mutual satisfaction. God therefore, being willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his councils, has confirmed his covenant by a seal (Heb 6:17), which makes the foundations we build on stand sure, Ti2 2:19. The seal of this covenant of nature was natural enough; it was the rainbow, which, it is likely, was seen in the clouds before, when second causes concurred, but was never a seal of the covenant till now that it was made so by a divine institution. Now, concerning this seal of the covenant, observe, 1. This seal is affixed with repeated assurances of the truth of that promise of which it was designed to be the ratification: I do set my bow in the cloud (Gen 9:23); it shall be seen in the cloud (Gen 9:14), that the eye may affect the heart and confirm the faith; and it shall be the token of the covenant (Gen 9:12, Gen 9:13), and I will remember my covenant, that the waters shall no more become a flood, Gen 9:15. Nay, as if the Eternal Mind needed a memorandum, I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, Gen 9:16. Thus here is line upon line, that we might have sure and strong consolation who have laid hold of this hope. 2. The rainbow appears when the clouds are most disposed to wet, and returns after the rain; when we have most reason to fear the rain prevailing, then God shows this seal of the promise that it shall not prevail. Thus God obviates our fears with such encouragements as are both suitable and seasonable. 3. The thicker the cloud the brighter the bow in the cloud. Thus, as threatening afflictions abound, encouraging consolations much more abound, Co2 1:5. 4. The rainbow appears when one part of the sky is clear, which intimates mercy remembered in the midst of wrath; and the clouds are hemmed as it were with the rainbow, that they may not overspread the heavens, for the bow is coloured rain or the edges of a cloud gilded. 5. The rainbow is the reflection of the beams of the sun, which intimates that all the glory and significancy of the seals of the covenant are derived from Christ the Sun of righteousness, who is also described with a rainbow about his throne (Rev 4:3), and a rainbow upon his head (Rev 10:1), which intimates, not only his majesty, but his mediatorship. 6. The rainbow has fiery colours in it, to signify that though God will not again drown the world, yet, when the mystery of God shall be finished, the world shall be consumed by fire. 7. A bow bespeaks terror, but this bow has neither string nor arrow, as the bow ordained against the persecutors has (Psa 7:12, Psa 7:13), and a bow alone will do little execution. It is a bow, but it is directed upwards, not towards the earth; for the seals of the covenant were intended to comfort, not to terrify. 8. As God looks upon the bow, that he may remember the covenant, so should we, that we also may be ever mindful of the covenant, with faith and thankfulness.

Genesis 9:12

The Covenant of the Rainbow

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:

American Standard Version (1901)

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

Bible in Basic English

And God said, This is the sign of the agreement which I make between me and you and every living thing with you, for all future generations:

Douay-Rheims 1899

And God said: This is the sign of the covenant which I give between me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations.

Free Bible Version

Then God said, “I'm going to give you a sign to confirm the agreement I'm making between me and you and all living creatures, an agreement that will last for all generations.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then God saide, This is the token of the couenant which I make betweene me and you, and betweene euery liuing thing, that is with you vnto perpetuall generations.

King James (Authorized) Version

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

One Unity Resource Bible

God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

Plain English Version

Translation for Translators

Then God said to him, “This is the sign to guarantee that I will keep the promise that I am making to you and to all living creatures, a promise that I will keep forever:

Unlocked Literal Bible

God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:

Noah Webster Bible

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations.

World English Bible

God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

Young's Literal Translation

And God saith, 'This is a token of the covenant which I am giving between Me and you, and every living creature that [is] with you, to generations age-during;

John Gill
Matthew Henry
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Genesis 9:12

Verse

Context

The Covenant of the Rainbow

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Genesis 9:12

The Covenant of the Rainbow

(Genesis) Genesis 9:6-17

(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5

The Most Asked Questions on Genesis Answered

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes