Rainbows are beautiful multicolored arcs that appears in the sky after a rainfall. Scientifically, they have been explained to be visual phenomenon that is caused by diversion and dispersion of light in water droplets that results in continuous ambit of lights that reflects in the sky. However, we are here to look into the spiritual meaning of rainbow in the Bible and what it signifies to us. According to Biblical story, rainbow is a token of the covenant between God and Noah. This covenant was made to Noah by God after he destroyed the earth with water, because of the sins and negligence of the people. This covenant was a promise to Noah that he won’t destroy the world again with water.
Rainbow does not only signify covenant and promise, it also displays the beautiful and masterful creative power of God. It reveals the glorious nature of God to all creatures of the earth. Rainbows are so beautiful to behold. No matter the number of times we have seen a rainbow, it has this attractive power that always make us stand still and view in awe whenever we see it appear in the sky.
Rainbows also denotes God presence, mercy and peace after a storm or war. They also give us hope of new beginnings and that God is with us and for us. In some cultures, the appearance of rainbow in the sky symbolizes prosperity for them. They believe that rainbows bring them prosperity and progress in life. Rainbows are also proofs that shows the connection between the earth and the celestial being. Join us in this blog as we explore some Bible verses that shows us the deeper meaning of rainbows.
SEE ALSO: 40 Powerful Bible Verses About Repentance
What Does The Say About Rainbows?
The first mention of rainbow in the Bible was in the Book of Genesis, and it was about the story of Noah, the flood and the ark. Let us see Genesis 9:13 “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth”. This verse of the scripture tells about the first meaning of rainbow, which is a sign of the covenant God made to Noah that he won’t destroy the earth again with flood. The rainbow is set in the sky as an assurance to us that God remembers his promise to us.
Revelation 4:3 “And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne”. Rainbow in this verse of the Bible symbolizes God’s beauty and mercy.
Ezekiel 1:28 “Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord”. In this passage, Ezekiel had a vision about the glory of God and the radiance of the heavenly beings that surrounds him. The glory and brightness of God was revealed to Ezekiel as a rainbow. The book of Ezekiel happened to be the second place that the word “rainbow” was mentioned, and with a different meaning.
Bible Verses About Rainbows
- I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. – Genesis 9:13
- Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. – Ezekiel 1:28
- And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. – Revelation 4:3
- To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:9-10
- It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky. – Psalm 89:37
- Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge? – Job 37:14-16
- And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. – Psalm 50:6
- He made darkness his canopy around him–the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. – 2 Samuel 22:12-14
- By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. – Proverbs 3:19-20
- He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. – Ecclesiastes 3:11
- Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17
- Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. – Psalm 36:5
- The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. – Psalm 19:1
- I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. – Isaiah 45:7
- Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. – Psalm 42:7
- For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. – Romans 1:20
- This is what the Lord says: ‘If I have not made my covenant with day and night and established the laws of heaven and earth. – Jeremiah 33:25
- So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
- Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. – Isaiah 40:26
- Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars. – Job 22:12
- You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. – Nehemiah 9:6
- This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord Almighty is his name. – Jeremiah 31:35
- Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. – Revelation 10:1
- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
- The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. – Zephaniah 3:17
- In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16
- Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. – Psalm 8:1
- Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. – Isaiah 64:8
- Genesis 9:13-14 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud. – Genesis 9:13-14
- Genesis 9:17 And 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. – Genesis 9:17
- Genesis 9:16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. – Genesis 9:16
- Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. – Deuteronomy 7:9
- And 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. – Genesis 9:16
- As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it. – Genesis 9:7
- I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth. – Genesis 9:11
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