The Meaning of Genesis 9:9 Explained

Genesis 9:9

KJV: And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

YLT: 'And I, lo, I am establishing My covenant with you, and with your seed after you,

Darby: And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

ASV: And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I, behold, I establish  my covenant  with you, and with your seed  after you; 

What does Genesis 9:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 9:1-17 - God's Covenant With Noah
As the human race started afresh on its career, God blessed it, as at the first. God always stands with us in a new start. The prohibition against the use of blood in food is often repeated. See Leviticus 17:11; Acts 15:29. In a very deep sense, the blood is the life. When we speak of being redeemed by the blood of Jesus, we mean that we have been saved by His sacrificed life. The blood maketh atonement for the soul. But while animal life might be used for food or sacrifice, human life was surrounded by the most solemn sanctions. A Covenant is a promise or undertaking resting on certain conditions, with a sign or token attached to it. The bow in the cloud, the Lord's Supper, the wedding ring are signs and seals of their respective covenants. Never witness a rainbow without remembering that as God hath sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth, so He will not withdraw His kindness. See Isaiah 54:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 9

1  God blesses Noah and his sons, and grants them flesh for food
4  Blood and murder are forbidden
8  God's covenant, of which the rainbow was constituted a pledge
18  Noah's family replenishes the world
20  Noah plants a vineyard,
21  Is drunken, and mocked by his son;
25  Curses Canaan;
26  Blesses Shem;
27  Prays for Japheth, and dies

What do the individual words in Genesis 9:9 mean?

and I behold establish - My covenant with you and with your descendants after you
וַאֲנִ֕י הִנְנִ֥י מֵקִ֛ים אֶת־ בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְאֶֽת־ זַרְעֲכֶ֖ם אַֽחֲרֵיכֶֽם

וַאֲנִ֕י  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
הִנְנִ֥י  behold 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
מֵקִ֛ים  establish 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בְּרִיתִ֖י  My  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
אִתְּכֶ֑ם  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
וְאֶֽת־  and  with 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
זַרְעֲכֶ֖ם  your  descendants 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
אַֽחֲרֵיכֶֽם  after  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).