Devine Scripture

Genesis 6:18

What does Genesis 6:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 6:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 6:18 means

In contrast to universal destruction, God declares, \"But I will establish my covenant with thee.\" This covenant is an unbreakable promise of preservation for Noah and his immediate family: his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives. This divine commitment highlights God's grace and faithfulness, ensuring the continuity of humanity through a chosen remnant. It establishes a sacred agreement, protecting Noah's lineage amidst the global catastrophe.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But with you I will make an agreement; and you will come into the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And I have established My covenant with thee, and thou hast come in unto the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy son's wives with thee;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I will establish my covenant with thee, and thou shalt enter into the ark, thou and thy sons, and thy wife, and the wives of thy sons with thee.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt go into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Context

This verse immediately follows God's declaration of the coming destructive flood. It provides the promise of salvation through a covenant with Noah, shifting the focus from judgment to preservation. This covenant reveals God's gracious provision for Noah's family, forming the basis for the specific instructions on who will enter the ark in the following verses.

v.17And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die.

v.18This passage

v.19And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 7:7

    And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

  • Genesis 7:13

    In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

  • Genesis 17:21

    But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

  • Genesis 17:7

    And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.

  • Isaiah 26:20

    Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

  • Genesis 7:1

    And Jehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

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