The Covenant and the Rainbow
Genesis 9
God blesses Noah and his sons, permits them to eat meat while forbidding the eating of blood, and establishes his covenant never again to destroy all flesh by a flood, setting the rainbow in the clouds as its sign. The chapter closes with Noah's drunkenness and his curse upon Chanaan for his son Cham's disrespect.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHEN God blessed Noe and his sons and said to them, “Increase and multiply and replenish the earth and have dominion over it;
BrentonAnd God blessed Noe and his sons, and said to them, Increase and multiply, and fill the earth and have dominion over it.
GreekΚαὶ εὐλόγησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Νῶε, καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· αὐξάνεσθε καὶ πληθύνεσθε, καὶ πληρώσατε τὴν γῆν, καὶ κατακυριεύσατε αὐτῆς.
KJVAnd God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
JPSAnd God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.
2
Thomsonand let the fear and the dread of you be upon all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds of the air, and on all that move on the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea. To you I have subjected them and every reptile which hath life.
BrentonAnd the dread and the fear of you shall be upon all the wild beasts of the earth, on all the birds of the sky, and on all things moving upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea, I have placed them under your power.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ τρόμος, καὶ ὁ φόβος ὑμῶν, ἔσται ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς θηρίοις τῆς γῆς, ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ κινούμενα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς ἰχθύας τῆς θαλάσσης· ὑπὸ χεῖρας ὑμῖν δέδωκα.
KJVAnd the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
JPSAnd the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, and upon all wherewith the ground teemeth, and upon all the fishes of the sea: into your hand are they delivered.
3
ThomsonThey shall be food for you. As the herb of grass I have given you them all.
BrentonAnd every reptile which is living shall be to you for meat, I have given all things to you as the green herbs.
GreekΚαὶ πᾶν ἑρπετὸν, ὅ ἐστι ζῶν, ὑμῖν ἔσται εἰς βρῶσιν· ὡς λάχανα χόρτου δέδωκα ὑμῖν τὰ πάντα.
KJVEvery moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
JPSEvery moving thing that liveth shall be for food for you; as the green herb have I given you all.
4
ThomsonBut flesh with the blood of life you shall not eat.
BrentonBut flesh with blood of life ye shall not eat.
GreekΠλὴν κρέας ἐν αἵματι ψυχῆς οὐ φάγεσθε.
KJVBut flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
JPSOnly flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
5
ThomsonFor with regard to your blood of your lives, I will indeed make inquisition for it at the hand of the beasts. At the hand of a man’s brother I will make inquisition for the life of man.
BrentonFor your blood of your lives will I require at the hand of all wild beasts, and I will require the life of man at the hand of his brother man.
GreekΚαὶ γὰρ τὸ ὑμέτερον αἷμα τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν θηρίων ἐκζητήσω αὐτό· καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς ἀνθρώπου ἀδελφοῦ ἐκζητήσω τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
KJVAnd surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
JPSAnd surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it; and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man.
6
ThomsonHe who sheddeth man’s blood shall for it have his own blood poured out; for in an image of God I have made man.
BrentonHe that sheds man's blood, instead of that blood shall his own be shed, for in the image of God I made man.
GreekὉ ἐκχέων αἷμα ἀνθρώπου, ἀντὶ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ ἐκχυθήσεται, ὅτι ἐν εἰκόνι Θεοῦ ἐποίησα τὸν ἄνθρωπον.
KJVWhoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
JPSWhoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man.
7
ThomsonAs for you, therefore, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and have dominion over it.”
BrentonBut do ye increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and have dominion over it.
GreekὙμεῖς δὲ αὐξάνεσθε, καὶ πληθύνεσθε, καὶ πληρώσατε τὴν γῆν, καὶ κατακυριεύσατε αὐτῆς.
KJV—
JPSAnd you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; swarm in the earth, and multiply therein.’ .
8
ThomsonMoreover, God spoke to Noe and to his sons with him, saying,
BrentonAnd God spoke to Noe, and to his sons with him, saying,
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Νῶε καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ, μετʼ αὐτοῦ λέγων,
KJVAnd God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
JPSAnd God spoke unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying:
9
Thomson“Behold I renew my covenant with you and with your seed after you,
BrentonAnd behold I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you,
Greekκαὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀνίστημι τὴν διαθήκην μου ὑμῖν, καὶ τῷ σπέρματι ὑμῶν μεθʼ ὑμᾶς,
KJVAnd I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
JPS’As for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
10
Thomsonand with every living creature with you both birds and cattle and with all the wild beasts of the earth which are with you; even with all that went out of the ark.
Brentonand with every living creature with you, of birds and of beasts, and with all the wild beasts of the earth, as many as are with you, of all that come out of the ark.
Greekκαὶ πάσῃ ψυχῇ ζώσῃ μεθʼ ὑμῶν, ἀπὸ ὀρνέων, καὶ ἀπὸ κτηνῶν· καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς θηρίοις τῆς γῆς, ὅσα ἐστὶ μεθʼ ὑμῶν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐξελθόντων ἐκ τῆς κιβωτοῦ.
KJVAnd with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
JPSand with every living creature that is with you, the fowl, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that go out of the ark, even every beast of the earth.
11
ThomsonAnd this covenant of mine I will lay before you. All flesh shall no more die by the water of a deluge; nor shall there any more be a deluge of water to destroy the whole earth.”
BrentonAnd I will establish my covenant with you and all flesh shall not any more die by the water of the flood, and there shall no more be a flood of water to destroy all the earth.
GreekΚαὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς· καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανεῖται πᾶσα σὰρξ ἔτι ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ κατακλυσμοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἔτι ἔσται κατακλυσμὸς ὕδατος, καταφθεῖραι πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.’
12
ThomsonMoreover, the Lord God said to Noe, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature which is with you for perpetual generations:
BrentonAnd the Lord God said to Noe, This is the sign of the covenant which I set between me and you, and between every living creature which is with you for perpetual generations.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς Νῶε· τοῦτο τὸ σημεῖον τῆς διαθήκης, ὃ ἐγὼ δίδωμι ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον πάσης ψυχῆς ζώσης, ἥ ἐστι μεθʼ ὑμῶν εἰς γενεὰς αἰωνίους.
KJVAnd God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
JPSAnd God said: ‘This is the token of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
13
ThomsonThis bow of mine I place in the clouds and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth,
BrentonI set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of covenant between me and the earth.
GreekΤὸ τόξον μου τίθημι ἐν τῇ νεφέλῃ, καὶ ἔσται εἰς σημεῖον διαθήκης ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς.
KJVI do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
JPSI have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth.
14
Thomsonso that when I cause clouds to gather upon the earth, the bow shall be seen in the cloud;
BrentonAnd it shall be when I gather clouds upon the earth, that my bow shall be seen in the cloud.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ συννεφεῖν με νεφέλας ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ὀφθήσεται τὸ τόξον ἐν τῇ νεφέλῃ.
KJVAnd it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
JPSAnd it shall come to pass, when I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow is seen in the cloud,
15
Thomsonand I will remember this My covenant, which is between Me and you and every life living in all flesh, and the water shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
BrentonAnd I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you, and between every living soul in all flesh, and there shall no longer be water for a deluge, so as to blot out all flesh.
GreekΚαὶ μνησθήσομαι τῆς διαθήκης μου, ἥ ἐστιν ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον πάσης ψυχῆς ζώσης ἐν πάσῃ σαρκί· καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι τὸ ὕδωρ εἰς κατακλυσμὸν, ὥστε ἐξαλεῖψαι πᾶσαν σάρκα.
KJVAnd I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
JPSthat I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16
ThomsonWhen this My bow shall be in the cloud, I will look that I may remember the everlasting covenant between Me and the earth and life living in all flesh which is on the earth.
BrentonAnd my bow shall be in the cloud, and I will look to remember the everlasting covenant between me and the earth, and between every living soul in all flesh, which is upon the earth.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται τὸ τόξον μου ἐν τῇ νεφέλῃ· καὶ ὄψομαι τοῦ μνησθῆναι διαθήκην αἰώνιον ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον ψυχῆς ζώσης ἐν πάσῃ σαρκὶ, ἥ ἐστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
KJVAnd the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
JPSAnd the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.’
17
ThomsonTherefore (said God to Noe) this is the sign of the covenant which I have made between Me and all flesh which is on the earth.”
BrentonAnd God said to Noe, This is the sign of the covenant, which I have made between me and all flesh, which is upon the earth.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Νῶε, τοῦτο τὸ σημεῖον τῆς διαθήκης, ἧς διεθέμην ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον πάσης σαρκὸς, ἥ ἐστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
KJVAnd God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
JPSAnd God said unto Noah: ‘This is the token of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.’
18
ThomsonNow these were the sons of Noe who went out of the ark, Sem, Cham, and Japheth. And Cham was the father of Chanaan.
BrentonNow the sons of Noe which came out of the ark, were Sem, Cham, Japheth. And Cham was father of Chanaan.
GreekἮσαν δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ Νῶε, οἱ ἐξελθόντες ἐκ τῆς κιβωτοῦ, Σὴμ, Χὰμ, Ἰάφεθ. Χὰμ δὲ ἦν πατὴρ Χαναάν.
KJVAnd the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
JPSAnd the sons of Noah, that went forth from the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth; and Ham is the father of Canaan.
19
ThomsonThese three are the sons of Noe. From them men were disseminated over the whole earth.
BrentonThese three are the sons of Noe, of these were men scattered over all the earth.
GreekΤρεῖς οὗτοί εἰσιν υἱοὶ Νῶε· ἀπὸ τούτων διεσπάρησαν ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν.
KJVThese are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
JPSThese three were the sons of Noah, and of these was the whole earth overspread.
20
ThomsonNow Noe being a husbandman, began and planted a vineyard,
BrentonAnd Noe began to be a husbandman, and he planted a vineyard.
GreekΚαὶ ἤρξατο Νῶε ἄνθρωπος γεωργὸς γῆς, καὶ ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπελῶνα.
KJVAnd Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
JPSAnd Noah, the man of the land, began and planted a vineyard.
21
Thomsonand he drank of the wine and was intoxicated and uncovered in his house.
BrentonAnd he drank of the wine, and was drunk, and was naked in his house.
GreekΚαὶ ἔπιεν ἐκ τοῦ οἴνου, καὶ ἐμεθύσθη, καὶ ἐγυμνώθη ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
JPSAnd he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
22
ThomsonAnd Cham, the father of Chanaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and going out told his two brothers without.
BrentonAnd Cham the father of Chanaan saw the nakedness of his father, and he went out and told his two brothers without.
GreekΚαὶ εἶδε Χὰμ ὁ πατὴρ Χαναὰν τὴν γύμνωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἀνήγγειλε τοῖς δυσὶν ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ ἔξω.
KJVAnd Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
JPSAnd Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
23
ThomsonWhereupon Sem and Japheth took the garment and put it on both their shoulders, and went backwards and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces being turned from him, they did not see the nakedness of their father.
BrentonAnd Sem and Japheth having taken a garment, put it on both their backs and went backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their face was backward, and they saw not the nakedness of their father.
GreekΚαὶ λαβόντες Σὴμ καὶ Ἰάφεθ τὸ ἱμάτιον, ἐπέθεντο ἐπὶ τὰ δύο νῶτα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπισθοφανῶς, καὶ συνεκάλυψαν τὴν γύμνωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν· καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν ὀπισθοφανῶς, καὶ τὴν γύμνωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν οὐκ εἶδον.
KJVAnd Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
JPSAnd Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
24
ThomsonAnd when Noe recovered from the wine and knew what his younger son had done to him,
BrentonAnd Noe recovered from the wine, and knew all that his younger son had done to him.
GreekἘξένηψε δὲ Νῶε ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴνου, καὶ ἔγνω ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ νεώτερος.
KJVAnd Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
JPSAnd Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him.
25
Thomsonhe said, “Cursed be the knave Chanaan! “To his brethren he will be a servant.”
BrentonAnd he said, Cursed be the servant Chanaan, a slave shall he be to his brethren.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν, ἐπικατάρατος Χαναὰν παῖς· οἰκέτης ἔσται τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
JPSAnd he said: Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
26
ThomsonMoreover he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Sem: “And let Chanaan be his servant.
BrentonAnd he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Sem, and Chanaan shall be his bond-servant.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν, εὐλογητὸς Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Σήμ· καὶ ἔσται Χαναὰν παῖς οἰκέτης αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
JPSAnd he said: Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; And let Canaan be their servant.
27
Thomson“God make room for Japheth! “And let him dwell in the tents of Sem, “And let Chanaan become his servant.”
BrentonMay God make room for Japheth, and let him dwell in the habitations of Sem, and let Chanaan be his servant.
GreekΠλατύναι ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἰάφεθ, καὶ κατοικησάτω ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις τοῦ Σήμ· καὶ γενηθήτω Χαναὰν παῖς αὐτοῦ.
KJVGod shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
JPSGod enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be their servant.
28
ThomsonAnd Noe lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
BrentonAnd Noe lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
GreekἜζησε δὲ Νῶε μετὰ τὸν κατακλυσμὸν ἔτη τριακόσια πεντήκοντα.
KJVAnd Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
JPSAnd Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
29
ThomsonSo all the days of Noe were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died.
BrentonAnd all the days of Noe were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένοντο πᾶσαι αἱ ἡμέραι Νῶε ἐννακόσια πεντήκοντα ἔτη· καὶ ἀπέθανεν.
KJVAnd all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.
JPSAnd all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.