Bible fact · Direct biblical statement
The rainbow is a covenant sign
After the flood God set the rainbow in the clouds as the sign of his covenant never again to destroy the earth by flood. Genesis 9:12–16
Discover why
"I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth... the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." Genesis 9:12–15
God says that when the rainbow appears he will remember the everlasting covenant. Genesis 9:16–17
Read the passage
Genesis 9:12–16 WEB
12God 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: 13I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. 14When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, 15I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
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For children
God put the rainbow in the sky as a sign of his promise never to flood the whole earth again.