The Noahic Covenant is a covenant that God made with Noah after the Flood. It is recorded in Genesis 8:20–9:17 and is an unconditional divine promise on God’s part to never again destroy the earth by flood (Genesis 9:11-17). The covenant name stems from the Hebrew phrase berit noach, or “Covenant of Noah.” It goes by other names as well, including the Rainbow Covenant.
After the Flood that wiped out all living creatures except those preserved on the ark (Genesis 7), Noah built an altar and offered sacrifices to God (Genesis 8:20-21). God blessed Noah and pronounced the covenant, saying:
“Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you… I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:9-11)
God set the rainbow as the sign of His promise to never again destroy the world with water (Genesis 9:12-17). As an unconditional covenant dependent solely on God’s faithfulness, the Noahic Covenant demonstrates His lovingkindness and mercy.
Details of the Noahic Covenant
The Noahic Covenant contains the following elements:
- God promises to never again destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 9:11). The destructive act of sending a flood will never be repeated.
- God promises that seasons will continue (“seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night,” Genesis 8:22). The cycles of nature will persist.
- God blesses Noah and his sons and commands them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1). They are to repopulate the earth.
- God establishes a covenant with all Noah’s descendants and every living creature, making it an everlasting covenant (Genesis 9:12).
- The rainbow serves as a sign of God’s promise to not destroy the earth again by flood (Genesis 9:13-17). Whenever a rainbow appears, God will remember His covenant.
- Human life is now precious – God mandates capital punishment for murder, because man is made in God’s image (Genesis 9:5-6).
- Animals will now dread humans, allowing men to eat meat for sustenance (Genesis 9:2-3).
This unconditional covenant demonstrates that God will be faithful even when people are unfaithful. His promises are true and His character is loving and merciful. While judgment came through the Flood, the Noahic Covenant gave mankind another chance.
Why Did God Make this Covenant?
God had a number of purposes in establishing the Noahic Covenant:
- Preserving the human race: God did not desire to permanently wipe out mankind, only to judge their sinfulness. The covenant ensured people could replenish the earth (Genesis 9:1).
- Restraining evil: The covenant institutes capital punishment for murder, thereby discouraging violence (Genesis 9:6). Government is granted authority over evil.
- Promoting stability in nature: Regular seasons and days will continue unabated (Genesis 8:22), allowing people to live normally.
- Demonstrating mercy: The covenant highlights God’s loving patience and forgiveness. Despite human sin, He shows compassion.
- Revealing His faithfulness: God will keep His word no matter what. His promises are trustworthy.
- Providing comfort: The rainbow serves as a reminder that God will not forget people and creation. It signals hope after judgment.
The covenant reveals key aspects of God’s nature – holiness, justice, mercy, lovingkindness, patience, sovereignty, and faithfulness. Even though mankind deserves judgment because of sin, God’s purposes ultimately prevail. He preserves and cares for His creation.
Signs and Symbols
The Noahic Covenant contains rich imagery that signified deeper spiritual truths:
- Rainbow – God set the rainbow in the clouds as the sign of His covenant promise to never again flood the earth (Genesis 9:12-17). The rainbow points to His mercy and faithfulness.
- Altar – Noah built an altar and sacrificed clean animals to the Lord upon exiting the ark (Genesis 8:20-21). This act of worship celebrated God’s salvation and provision.
- Ark – The ark which preserved Noah’s family (Genesis 7) represents salvation from God’s judgment and the beginning of a new stage in His plan.
- Animals – The animals entering and exiting the ark (Genesis 6-9) picture God’s concern for all His creation and its preservation.
- Dove – The dove bringing an olive leaf back to Noah (Genesis 8:11) signals the receding of the floodwaters and God’s restoration of the earth.
These vivid images reinforce the Noahic Covenant’s spiritual meaning and highlight key doctrines like salvation, judgment, God’s mercy, new beginnings, worship, and God’s sovereignty over creation.
Connection to Other Covenants
The Noahic Covenant relates to other major covenants in Scripture:
- Adamic Covenant – After the Fall in Genesis 3, God made a covenant pronouncing curses because of sin but promising victory over the serpent. The later Noahic Covenant offers a redemptive restart after judgment.
- Abrahamic Covenant – God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 17) passed down the promise of redemption, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The Noahic Covenant preserved mankind until the coming of Abraham.
- Mosaic Covenant – God’s covenant with Israel through Moses (Exodus 19-24) provided the Law and roadmap for holiness. The Noahic Covenant revealed the sacredness of life.
- Davidic Covenant – God’s covenant with David (2 Samuel 7) promised an everlasting dynasty and throne. Jesus fulfilled this as descendant of David and righteous king.
- New Covenant – The new covenant in Christ (Luke 22:20) provides regeneration and complete forgiveness of sins. God’s covenants ultimately point to salvation in Jesus.
The later biblical covenants form links in the unfolding story of redemption. God’s purposes are brought to completion through Jesus Christ.
Fulfillment in Jesus Christ
While containing no explicit Messianic promises, the Noahic Covenant sets the stage for redemption in Jesus in several ways:
- It demonstrates God’s mercy and patience with sinners even in judgment, as later fully embodied in Christ (Luke 6:36).
- It pictures salvation through the ark, as Christ delivers people from God’s final judgment (Hebrews 11:7).
- It establishes the sacredness of life, fulfilled ultimately when Jesus sacrificed Himself to redeem lost lives (1 John 3:16).
- Its everlasting nature points to Jesus, the eternal King who consummates God’s plan (2 Samuel 7:16).
- The covenant’s grace and blessings stemming from sacrifice foreshadow Jesus’ death bringing salvation by grace (Romans 5:15).
While not overtly Messianic, the echoes of the Gospel resound in the Noahic Covenant, being part of God’s redemptive plan fulfilled in the Son.
Implications for Today
The Noahic Covenant contains several relevant implications for the present day:
- Human government has divine authority for managing justice and restraining evil in society (Genesis 9:6).
- Life is precious and to be protected – murder warrants highest punishment as it defaces God’s image in man.
- Mankind shares common dignity as descendants of Noah – discrimination is wrong (Acts 17:26).
- The rainbow testifies God keeps His promises and all His words are true and enduring.
- God remains sovereign over the natural world and faithfully maintains order and cycles (Genesis 8:22).
- God’s mercy triumphs over judgment for those who humbly trust in Him.
- Believers have hope – just as God preserved Noah’s family in judgment, He saves people from eternal death through Christ.
In summary, the Noahic Covenant provides wisdom for ethics, human dignity, societal order, stewardship, trusting God’s Word, and the hope of salvation in Jesus. Its themes remain vitally relevant today.
Objections and Responses
Some raise objections to the Noahic Covenant and the biblical flood account. Here are responses to some common criticisms:
1. It’s mythological and never really happened.
The flood account presents as historical narrative with precise details like names, places, dates, measurements, sources, etc. The style aligns with known ancient near eastern historical records. Jesus and the apostles referenced Noah and the flood as actual history as well (Matthew 24:37-39, Hebrews 11:7).
2. A worldwide flood is scientifically impossible.
A miracle such as worldwide flooding should not be judged by modern scientific standards which are limited in knowledge. A Creator God is capable of miraculous interventions in history and nature. Many current flood models demonstrate plausibility.
3. The ark could not fit all the animals.
The dimensions of the ark indicate immense carrying capacity, especially for younger/smaller animals. Marine animals and plants survived outside the ark. The text concerns representative kinds rather than every species – the created capacity for variation allows rapid repopulation.
4. God should not have killed so many people.
As Creator and Judge, God has authority to execute justice on wickedness. The Genesis account highlights how extreme corruption became in Noah’s time. God displays mercy in preserving any people at all. His judgments always allow a remnant of grace.
While objections arise, plausible explanations exist within a biblical framework. The coherence and historicity of the Noahic Covenant and flood account remain strong.
Summary of Key Points
The main points about the Noahic Covenant include:
- God established an unconditional, everlasting covenant with Noah after the flood (Genesis 8:20 – 9:17).
- He promised to never again destroy the earth with a flood, to maintain natural cycles, to mandate capital punishment for murder, and to make humans accountable for sin.
- The covenant demonstrates God’s mercy despite human sin, and His faithfulness to keep His word.
- The rainbow serves as a symbolic reminder and sign of God’s commitment.
- It relates to other biblical covenants in God’s overarching plan of redemption.
- While not overtly Messianic, it foreshadows salvation in Jesus Christ.
- It provides wisdom and principles for ethics, human dignity, and hope in Christ.
The Noahic Covenant powerfully conveys God’s steadfast promises and gracious character. It supplies hope and moral vision for all humanity.
