Genesis 9:16

16 And my bow shall be in the clouds, and I shall see it, and I shall have mind of the everlasting bond of peace, which is made between God and man, and each soul living of all flesh which is on [the] earth. (And my rainbow shall be in the clouds, and I shall see it, and I shall remember the everlasting covenant, which is made between God and man, and each living soul of all the kinds of flesh that be on the earth.)

Genesis 9:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 9:16

And the bow shall be in the cloud
Not whenever there is a cloud, but at some certain times, when that and the sun are in a proper position to form one, and when divine wisdom sees right there should be one; then it appears and continues for a time, and as the cloud becomes thinner and thinner, it disappears: and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting
covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is
upon the earth;
not that forgetfulness, or remembrance, properly speaking, belong to God, but this is said after the manner of men; who by this token may be assured, whenever they see the bow in the cloud, that God is not unmindful of the covenant he has made with all creatures, and which is to continue to the end of the world.

Genesis 9:16 In-Context

14 and when I shall cover [the] heaven with clouds, my bow shall appear in the clouds, (and when I shall cover the heavens with clouds, my rainbow shall appear in the clouds,)
15 and I shall have mind of my bond of peace which I made with you, and with each soul living that nourisheth flesh; and the waters of the great flood shall no more be to do away all flesh. (and I shall remember my covenant which I made with you, and with each living soul that hath flesh; and never again shall the waters of a great flood do away all flesh.)
16 And my bow shall be in the clouds, and I shall see it, and I shall have mind of the everlasting bond of peace, which is made between God and man, and each soul living of all flesh which is on [the] earth. (And my rainbow shall be in the clouds, and I shall see it, and I shall remember the everlasting covenant, which is made between God and man, and each living soul of all the kinds of flesh that be on the earth.)
17 And God said to Noe, This shall be a sign of [the] bond of peace, which I made between me and each flesh on earth. (And God said to Noah, This shall be a sign of the covenant, which I made between me and all flesh on the earth.)
18 Therefore they that went out of the ship were Noe, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; forsooth Ham, that is the father of Canaan.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.