In Genesis, God set a rainbow in the clouds as the sign of his covenant after the Flood. The covenant was made with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature that had survived with him.
Genesis 9 presents the rainbow as a reminder that God would not again destroy all living creatures with a flood. The passage describes the covenant as extending beyond humanity to animals and the earth itself. It therefore functions as a universal sign within the story, not merely as a private promise to Noah.
The rainbow appears after Noah leaves the Ark, builds an altar, and receives God’s blessing. The account links the sign to clouds and rain, making it a visible reminder of the Flood and its aftermath.
Modern uses of the rainbow as a symbol of peace, hope, or identity draw on many different traditions. In Genesis, its specific narrative meaning is the covenant promise concerning another world-destroying flood.