Rainbow
“Bow (as in archer's bow)”
Summary
The rainbow was established by God as the token of His covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy the earth by flood.
☩The Noahic Covenant
After the flood, God established a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising that the waters would never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow was appointed as the visible token of this covenant: 'I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.' Whether the rainbow existed before the flood or was then first created, God consecrated it as the sign of His love and the witness of His promise. The bow in the cloud, seen by every nation under heaven, is an unfailing witness to God's faithfulness.
☩Symbolic Appearances
The rainbow appears symbolically in prophetic visions. Ezekiel compared the glory of God to 'the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain.' In Revelation, John saw 'a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald,' and another angel 'clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head.' In all these passages, the rainbow is the designed token of God's covenant, mercy, and faithful remembrance of His promise. The emerald color suggests that mercy tempers justice: the very throne from which lightnings proceed is yet arched with the rainbow of covenant faithfulness.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Rainbow," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Rainbow," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Rainbow," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.George Morrish, "Rainbow," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 5.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Rainbow," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).