After the flood, when the waters had subsided and Noah, his family, and the animals emerged from the ark, God established a covenant with Noah and all living creatures. This covenant is recorded in Genesis 9:8-17, where God declares:
“And God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: ‘And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’” (Genesis 9:8-11)
God’s promise was twofold:
He would never again destroy all flesh with a flood.
He would never again flood the entire earth.
This was an unconditional covenant, meaning it did not depend on Noah’s actions but solely on God’s word. It was a declaration of divine mercy and faithfulness, despite humanity’s inclination toward sin.
The Significance of the Rainbow
God then gave a sign of His covenant—the rainbow:
“And God said: ‘This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.'” (Genesis 9:12-15)
The rainbow serves as a reminder of God’s promise. While God does not forget, He speaks in human terms to reassure us. The rainbow symbolizes:
God’s mercy—despite humanity’s sin, He restrains judgment.
God’s faithfulness—His word is true and unchanging.
God’s patience—His judgment will ultimately come, but He provides a season of grace.
The Meaning of “Bow” in Scripture
The Hebrew word for “rainbow” in Genesis 9:13 is קֶשֶׁת (qeshet), which is the same word used for a war bow throughout the Old Testament. This is significant because, in ancient times, the bow was a symbol of battle, power, and divine judgment. When God says, “I set My bow in the cloud” (Genesis 9:13), He is not merely placing a colorful arc in the sky; He is hanging up His weapon, signifying the cessation of divine wrath through flood judgment.
But notice the direction of the bow—it is pointed away from the earth, upward toward heaven. This imagery suggests that God has turned His wrath away, withholding judgment from the world despite human sinfulness. It is an expression of divine mercy, a foreshadowing of how God’s ultimate judgment would later be absorbed by Christ on the cross.
The Bow as a Symbol of Judgment and Warfare
Elsewhere in Scripture, the qeshet is consistently used as an instrument of war and divine justice:
Psalm 7:12 – “If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready.” Here, the bow represents God’s impending judgment against the wicked.
Zechariah 9:13-14 – “For I have bent Judah, My bow, Fitted the bow with Ephraim… The Lord will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning.” This passage depicts God preparing for battle, using Israel as His weapon to bring about His purposes.
Even in the New Testament, the bow is associated with judgment, but in a deceptive way.
The Bow and the Antichrist: A Counterfeit Judgment
In Revelation 6:2, the first seal of judgment is opened, revealing a rider on a white horse:
“And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”
This figure is likely the Antichrist, who comes appearing as a righteous ruler but is actually a counterfeit Christ. Notice that he holds a bow but no arrows—a deceptive symbol of power, conquest, and false peace. Just as Christ will return on a white horse (Revelation 19:11), this rider mimics His authority but lacks true divine justice. The bow, in this case, is a false instrument of dominion, wielded by the enemy to deceive the nations.
The Transformation of the Bow in the Noahic Covenant
The Noahic Covenant redeems the imagery of the bow. Instead of a weapon of judgment, it becomes a symbol of peace and divine restraint. God does not destroy the earth but instead withholds His wrath, a picture ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
The cross itself becomes the place where divine wrath is satisfied—not by unleashing judgment upon the earth, but by absorbing it in the person of Jesus Christ. The warrior’s bow, once bent against humanity, now rests in the heavens, pointing toward God’s mercy. And just as the rainbow appears after the storm, so too does the resurrection follow the crucifixion—victory through peace, not destruction.
The Mighty Angel with a Rainbow: A Symbol of Divine Authority and Covenant
In Revelation 10:1, John describes a mighty angel with a rainbow above his head:
“I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.” (Revelation 10:1)
This is a striking image, and every detail holds significance. The presence of the rainbow ties directly to the Noahic Covenant, reminding us of God’s mercy even in the midst of judgment. But there’s more to it than that.
At this point in Revelation, the world is experiencing intense tribulation, yet here stands an angel marked by the rainbow, a symbol of God’s faithfulness and restraint. This is a powerful statement—God is still in control, and His promises remain true, even in the midst of judgment. Just as the rainbow after the flood signified God’s mercy, this rainbow in Revelation reminds us that even in the final days, God’s covenant remains.
The Angel’s Appearance: Echoes of Christ’s Glory
Clothed with a cloud – In Scripture, clouds often signify the glory and presence of God (Exodus 13:21, Matthew 17:5).
His face like the sun – Similar to how Jesus is described in Revelation 1:16, where His face shines like the sun in its strength.
Feet like pillars of fire – A reminder of God’s guidance in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21) and a sign of divine judgment and purification.
Because of these descriptions, some believe this mighty angel resembles Christ in glory and authority, but he cannot be Christ Himself, as he lifts his hand to heaven and swears by Him who created the heavens and the earth (Revelation 10:5-6). Since Jesus is the Creator (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16), this angel is most likely a high-ranking messenger of God, declaring His the Lord’s authority over all creation.
The Rainbow and the Authority of Christ
The rainbow above the angel’s head is significant because in Revelation 4:3, we also see a rainbow surrounding God’s throne:
“And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.” (Revelation 4:3)
This indicates that the rainbow is not just a sign of past covenants but is eternally linked to God’s authority, majesty, and mercy. The angel in Revelation 10, bearing the rainbow, represents the divine messenger of God’s purposes, acting in alignment with God’s covenantal faithfulness.
My Final Thoughts
The Noahic Covenant is a testimony of God’s mercy. Despite the wickedness that led to the flood, He chose to extend grace, promising never again to destroy the earth by water. The rainbow, often misunderstood today, is a divine sign of this covenant—a promise that stands firm to this day.
Yet, we must also remember that while the earth will never be destroyed by water again, God’s final judgment is still coming. As Peter warns:
“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:7)
The Noahic Covenant reminds us of God’s patience, but also of the reality that ultimate judgment will come. The question we must ask is: Are we ready? Through Jesus Christ, we have a greater covenant—one that secures eternal salvation for all who believe.
Until then, every time we see a rainbow, we should remember God’s mercy and His unchanging promises.
