(The Lord speaking is red text)
And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
I will establish my covenant with you that never again will all living beings be destroyed by the waters of a flood, and there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
And I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of the flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
And I will establish{H6965} my covenant{H1285} with you; neither shall all flesh{H1320} be cut off{H3772} any more by the waters{H4325} of a flood{H3999}; neither shall there any more be a flood{H3999} to destroy{H7843} the earth{H776}.
Genesis 9:11 is part of the narrative following the Great Flood, which is a pivotal event in the early chapters of the Book of Genesis. The verse conveys a promise from God to Noah and his descendants, as well as to all living creatures, that never again will a flood destroy all life on Earth. This promise is part of the Noahic Covenant, which is an everlasting covenant that God makes with humanity.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Promise:** The verse emphasizes God's commitment to maintaining the order of creation and not destroying it with a flood.
2. **Covenant:** It introduces the concept of a covenant between God and humanity, which is unconditional and eternal, signifying a new relationship.
3. **New Beginning:** This covenant marks a fresh start for humanity and all creatures, with the assurance of continuity and stability.
4. **Mercy and Grace:** God's decision not to repeat the destruction of the flood reflects divine mercy and grace towards creation.
5. **Natural Order:** The promise implies a respect for the natural order, suggesting that God will work within the created world rather than against it.
**Historical Context:**
The Book of Genesis is part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible traditionally attributed to Moses. Genesis 9:11 falls within the primeval history, which covers the creation of the world, the fall of humanity, the spread of sin, and the Flood narrative. This period is characterized by a focus on the origins of the world and the early interactions between God and humanity.
The Flood story itself is thought to have parallels with other ancient Near Eastern flood narratives, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh. These stories reflect a shared cultural memory of a great flood, though the details and theological significances differ. The biblical account emphasizes the justice and mercy of God, as well as the establishment of a new covenantal relationship.
In the broader context of the Bible, the Noahic Covenant is one of several covenants that God makes with humanity and later with the Israelites, culminating in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ as described in the New Testament.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)