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.”
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.”
- KJV 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.
- BSB So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and every creature on the earth.”
- NASB 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.”
- NLT Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God confirms to Noah that the rainbow is the token of His covenant with all flesh. The promise is sealed and certain.
Overview
God summarizes and confirms the covenant directly to Noah, naming the rainbow as its established sign. The repetition underscores the certainty and graciousness of God's pledge to all living things. Such assurance reflects the God who confirms His promises, supremely in the sure and certain hope grounded in Christ.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 9:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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