And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
14. that the bow shall be seen ] This should be rendered “and the bow is seen.” The promise is not that the bow shall be seen whenever God sends clouds over the earth, but that, whenever He sends clouds and His bow is visible, then He will remember the covenant.
It is possible that this beautiful employment of the rainbow symbol may be the adaptation of a still earlier semi-mythological conception, according to which the God of Israel is represented in poetry as a warrior armed with bow and arrow (the lightnings are His arrows, cf. Psa 7:12-13; Hab 3:9-11); when His anger had passed, He hung His bow in the clouds. The rainbow does not, however, appear frequently in the imagery of Jewish poetry. In Eze 1:28, and in Rev 4:3; Rev 10:1, it is mentioned in connexion with the appearances of Divine glory. As a feature in nature, it is referred to in Sir 43:12 ; Sir 50:7 .
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Not always, but very frequently, which is sufficient for this purpose.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth,…. Or “cloud a cloud” u, cause the clouds to gather thick in the heavens, and to hang over the earth ready to pour down great quantities of water; by reason of which the inhabitants might dread another flood coming upon them: wherefore, in order to dissipate such fears, it shall be so ordered,
that the bow shall be seen in the cloud; after it has pretty much discharged itself; for the rainbow is always in a thin, not a thick cloud; after the heavy showers are fallen from the thick clouds, and a small thin one remains, then the rainbow is seen in it; not always, but very frequently, and when the sun and clouds are in a proper position: and this is often so ordered, to put men in mind of this covenant, and to divest them of, or prevent their fears of the world being drowned by a flood; for when they see this, it is a sure sign the rain is going off, since the cloud is thinned, or otherwise the rainbow could not appear: and a most glorious and beautiful sight it is, having such a variety of colours in it, and in such a position and form. Some think that it serves both to put in mind of the destruction of the old world by water, through its watery colours, and of the present world by fire, through its fiery ones. Others make the three predominant colours to denote the three dispensations before the law, under the law, and under the Gospel: rather they may signify the various providences of God, which all work together for the good of his people; however, whenever this bow is seen, it puts in mind of the covenant of preservation made with all the creatures, and the firmness, stability, and duration of it; and is by some considered as an emblem of the covenant of grace, from Isa 54:9 which is of God’s making, as this bow is; is a reverberation of Christ the sun of righteousness, the sum and substance of the covenant; consists of various blessings and promises of grace; is expressive of mercy and peace, and is a security from everlasting destruction: or rather it may be thought to be an emblem of Christ himself, who was seen by John clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow on his head, Re 10:1 this being a wonderful thing, as Christ is wonderful in his person, office, and grace; and as it has in it a variety of beautiful colours, it may represent Christ, who is full of grace and truth, and fairer than the children of men; and may be considered as a symbol of peace and reconciliation by him, whom God looks unto, and remembers the covenant of his grace he has made with him and his chosen ones in him; and who is the rainbow round about the throne of God, and the way of access unto it; Re 4:3 the Jews have a saying,
“till ye see the bow in its luminous colours, do not look for the feet of the Messiah, or his coming w.”
u “cum obnubilavero nubem”, Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Schmidt. w Tikkune Zohar, correct. 18. fol. 32. 2. correct. 37. fol. 81. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gen 9:14. When I bring a cloudthe bow shall be seen in the cloud It is not meant here, that the bow shall be always seen, but at certain times, often enough to put men in mind of the promise, and to stir up their belief of it. And when it is said, Gen 9:16. I will look upon it, that I may remember, it is easy to observe, that this is spoken only after the manner of men: He, who cannot forget, needs no token or sign to put him in mind of his promise. This sign was for the comfort of man, not for the admonition of God: the meaning therefore is, that men might consider this bow as a signification that God had obliged himself to this promise, and would certainly fulfil it. The opinions of expositors have been much divided, respecting the original of this sign. Bishop Warburton, whose opinion in this instance I conceive to be just, observes, “The bow was not then first set in the clouds, but then FIRST set as a token.” In the case before us, the most novel, or most supernatural, appearance could add nothing to their assurance arising from the evidence of God’s veracity. As, on the contrary, had the children of Noah been ignorant of that attribute of the Deity, such a phaenomenon could have given no assurance at all. For what then served the rainbow? For the wise purpose so well expressed by the sacred writer, for the token of the covenant; that is, for a memorial or remembrance of it throughout all generations.
The heathens, I doubt not, borrowed many of their fables from this sacred record concerning the rainbow. Homer says, Il. Gen 11:28. that Jupiter established the rainbow, , “a sign to man amidst the skies.” And very probably, from some tradition of this original covenant, the ancient poets feigned Iris, or the rainbow, to be the daughter of Wonder, , and the messenger of Jupiter and Juno, the heaven, or air and clouds.
REFLECTIONS.The covenant is now signed and sealed by a visible token, the rainbow; a glorious object, and a constant assurance of God’s remembrance of us, and of our security from the descending waters. Observe, 1. As we are apt to be affected with visible objects; God therefore, not only in the covenant of nature, but of grace, hath instituted visible signs for our greater comfort and confidence. 2. The cause of the bow in the clouds, is the refraction of the beams of the sun. Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, sits with the rainbow round about his throne, and therefore his people are safe from fear of evil. 3. The sign of our security in the cloud, should ever awaken our thankfulness, and lead up our minds from temporal promises thus fulfilled, to conclude the certainty of the eternal promises, which are yet in hope.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 9:14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
Ver. 14. The bow shall be seen in the cloud. ] In this heaven-bow, there are many wonders: first, the beautiful shape and various colours; in which respect Plato thinks the poets feign Iris, or the rainbow, to be the daughter of Thaumas, or admiration. The waterish colours therein signify (say some) the former overthrow of the world by water. The fiery colours, the future judgment of the world by fire. The green, that present grace of freedom from both, by virtue of God’s covenant, whereof this bow is a sign. Next, the rainbow hath in it two contrary significations, viz., of rain, and fair weather; of this in the evening, of that in the morning, saith Scaliger. Add hereunto, that whereas naturally it is a sign of rain (and is therefore feigned by the poets to be the messenger of Juno, and called imbrifera , or showery), yet it is turned by God into a sure sign of dry weather, and of restraint of waters. Let us learn to look upon it, not only in the natural causes, as it is an effect of the sun in a thick cloud; but as a sacramental sign of the covenant of grace; a monument of God’s both justice in drowning the world, and mercy in conserving it from the like calamity. Isa 54:9-10 The Jews have an odd conceit, a that the name Jehovah is written on the rainbow. And therefore, as oft as it appeareth unto them, they go forth of doors, hide their eyes, confess their sins (that deserved a second deluge), and celebrate God’s goodness, in sparing the wicked world, and remembering his covenant. Set aside their superstition, and their practice invites our imitation. Tam Dei meminisse opus est quam respirare . b
a Maimon.
b Bern.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
that. Hebrew = and [when]. See Gen 9:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Reciprocal: Psa 147:8 – covereth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE BOW OF HOPE
It shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud.
Gen 9:14
We have before us, in this record, a memorable example of the adaptation of Prophecyanother word for Revelationto the circumstances and wants of mankind. And what is this but to speak of the thoughtfulness of God Himself towards the family which he has brought into being, and which, for all its sins and backslidings, He has never disowned and never forsaken?
If the terms of the charter of restoration are so many examples and evidences of the Divine consideration, how much more the sanction with which the text closes it!
I. It has been suggested that the idea which has been supposed to lie in the words, and which has been a stumbling-block to manythat of the postdiluvian creation of the rainbowis no part of the record. The statement before us is quite consistent with the supposition that God for the first time consecrates to a spiritual use a natural phenomenon already existing. Like the consecration of the element of water into a type of spiritual regenerationlike the consecration of bread, the support of natural life, into a type of Him who came down from heaven to be the food and nutriment of soulsmay be the conversion of the loveliest feature of the natural sky into a token and sacrament of Divine mercy towards those who have been troubled and chastened by reason of their sins. That clear shining after rainthat special brilliancy which cannot be without the foregoing darknessthat wonderful contrast of light and cloud which seems to shape itself into a mystic bridge between earth and heaven, between the sinner and the sinlesswho shall say, in the silence of ScriptureI do set, or rather I have set, my bow in the cloudwhether it was, or was not, a phenomenon of the antediluvian sky? Who shall speculate upon the possible changes wrought in Nature herself by that stupendous judgment, or take count of such matters as affecting at all the truth and the significance of this record, which consecrates one of creations glories into a perpetual monument of the Creators love?
II. It shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud. Who has not had experience of the thing signified? Who amongst us, as he looks back upon the history of a life and of a soul, cannot bear witness to that union of mercy and judgmentmore especially to that development of mercy out of judgmentwhich is the very point of the similitude? No cloud, no bowno darkened sky, then no lustrous reflection. Is it not thus always? Who that knows himself, who that knows God, would dwell always in mirth and gladness? Who shall not rather, if not at the moment, yet in the retrospect, rejoice and praise God for bringing the cloud over the sky, in which alone He doth set His bow?
III. What shall heaven itself be, but the interpretation of the parable? There was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. They who shall be counted worthy to obtain that world, shall enter it after storm and tempest, after the submerging of earthly joys and the extinction of human lights, not to forget the past, but to see it and feel it forgiven, the bow illuminating the cloud and transforming it into a memorial at once of love and light.
And therefore it is, that the moments on earth most like to heaven are those spent before the Cross of the great sacrifice, there to behold sin not overlooked but atoned forthere to behold the cloud charged with judgment irradiated by a mercy rejoicing against it, telling of a redemption mighty to save, and a love which sin itself could not overwhelm nor do away.
Dean Vaughan.
Illustration
Perhaps the rainbow in the cloud, the element of comfort in the darkness of trial, is a promise of Scripture, which never seems to speak home to my heart until I need it most. Perhaps it is the worship of the Lords House, bringing soothing and succour and calm into my tempestuous days. Perhaps it is the potency of a little time spent in secret prayer. Perhaps it is the grasp of a neighbours hand, or a word in season spoken to me by a brother in the household of faith, or the friendliness of a young child letting me know that I am not forsaken. All these, and other things as well, are remembrancers that my God thinks on me.
You recollect the twenty-ninth Psalm? It is the Psalm of the thunderstorm. From north to south, over the whole land, the storm sweeps in its tremendous march. But how soft and musical is the closing word!The Lord will bless His people with peace. Yes, before the tumult, and during the tumult, and after the tumult, and by means of the tumult, God will do me good. I see the rainbow in the rain.