I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

GENESIS 9:13KJV
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Genesis 9:13 (KJV)

What does Genesis 9:13 mean?

Genesis 9:13 says that God placed His "bow" (commonly understood as a rainbow) in the clouds as a visible sign of His covenant promise with the earth. This verse means that whenever the rainbow appears, it serves as a reminder of God's promise not to destroy the earth with a flood again.

In this verse, God is speaking to Noah and his family after the floodwaters have receded. The situation is a fresh start for humanity, and God is establishing a binding agreement, or covenant, with all living creatures. The rainbow is described as a "token," meaning a sign or symbol, to reassure both God and people of this lasting promise.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 9:13

  • "bow" (קֶשֶׁת, qeshet): This word usually means a weapon (a bow for shooting arrows), but here it refers to the rainbow. The choice of this word may suggest a transformation—from an instrument of judgment to a symbol of peace.
  • "token" (אוֹת, 'ot): This word means a sign, mark, or signal. In this context, it highlights that the rainbow is not just a natural event, but a deliberate sign from God with a specific meaning.
  • "covenant" (בְּרִית, berit): This word means a formal agreement or promise. Here, it emphasizes the seriousness and lasting nature of God's promise to all life on earth.

Why Genesis 9:13 matters

  • Genesis 9:13 clarifies that the rainbow is not just a beautiful natural phenomenon, but a chosen sign with a specific purpose in God's relationship with creation.
  • The verse emphasizes that God's promise is not only to Noah but to the entire earth, including all living creatures, showing the broad scope of His commitment.
  • Understanding the original word for "bow" helps reveal a deeper layer: what was once a symbol of judgment (a weapon) is now a symbol of mercy and peace.

Where else these words appear

“bow” Hebrew H7198 · used in 74 verses

  • Genesis 9:14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
  • 2 Chronicles 18:33 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
  • Isaiah 66:19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

“token” Hebrew H226 · used in 77 verses

  • Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
  • Deuteronomy 4:34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
  • Psalms 65:8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

“cloud” Hebrew H6051 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 9:14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
  • Numbers 9:18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
  • Job 37:11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: