The covenant's scope and sign (Genesis 9:8–17)

Says God said to Noah and his sons, וַאֲנִי הִנְנִי מֵקִים אֶת־בְּרִיתִי אִתְּכֶם, I am establishing my covenant with you (9:8–9). מֵקִים (meqim) is a Hiphil of qum; 9:11 and 9:17 repeat it. The verb is establish, not karat, cut. Karat occurs in 9:11 of flesh: וְלֹא־יִכָּרֵת כָּל־בָּשָׂר עוֹד, all flesh shall not again be cut off (the BSB has all life). The partners are Noah, his seed, and every living creature from the ark: never again a flood to destroy the earth. The sign is אֶת־קַשְׁתִּי נָתַתִּי בֶּעָנָן, my bow I have set in the cloud (qeshet is the ordinary word for a bow; the BSB has My rainbow; the verb is perfect). When the bow appears, וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי, I will remember my covenant, an everlasting covenant with all flesh (the BSB has of every kind for בְּכָל־בָּשָׂר). See the Hebrew notes and the xref from 6:18.

Implies The covenant is God’s one-sided promise: God alone establishes it, animals are partners, and no condition is stated. The sign reminds God; nothing is required of the creatures for it to stand.

Uncertain Whether establish confirms a covenant already in place (creation, or 6:18) or begins a new one is open. Whether the bow first appeared then, or was an existing sight given meaning, is likewise open; early readers are divided, as the historical note sets out. Babylonian stories share a blessing, a word against floods, and a token, and also differ; no dependence is claimed. No lean is taken here.