Genesis 8:22
What does Genesis 8:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 8:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 8:22 means
God's promise of stability for the earth is concretely outlined in this verse, guaranteeing the consistent patterns of nature: "seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night." These essential cycles are foundational for life and agricultural sustenance. This ongoing pledge from God ensures the reliability of the natural world, allowing humanity to live and flourish without fear of another global flood. It underscores God's faithfulness in upholding His creation, establishing an enduring order until the end of time.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
KJV
King James Version · 1611While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949While the earth goes on, seed time and the getting in of the grain, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will not come to an end.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862during all days of the earth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, do not cease.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, night and day, shall not cease.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Henceforth, all the days of the earth, seed [time] and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.
Context
Concluding God's gracious declaration in verse 21, this verse articulates the specific elements of God's covenantal promise for the earth's sustained order. It provides tangible assurances of natural cycles and agricultural seasons, essential for life to continue. This verse marks the theological culmination of the chapter, establishing a new, stable existence for humanity and all creation post-flood, grounded in God's enduring faithfulness and paving the way for the formal covenant in chapter 9.
v.21And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.
v.22This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 54:8
In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer.
- Jeremiah 31:35
Thus saith Jehovah, who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirreth up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar; Jehovah of hosts is his name:
- Exodus 34:21
Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in plowing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.
- Song of Solomon 2:11
For, lo, the winter is past; The rain is over and gone;
- Genesis 45:6
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.
- Psalms 74:16
The day is thine, the night also is thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
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