Genesis 6:18
New International Version
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

New Living Translation
But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives.

English Standard Version
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

Berean Standard Bible
But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

King James Bible
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

New King James Version
But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

New American Standard Bible
But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

NASB 1995
“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark— you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

NASB 1977
“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

Legacy Standard Bible
But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

Amplified Bible
But I will establish My covenant (solemn promise, formal agreement) with you; and you shall come into the ark—you and your [three] sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

Christian Standard Bible
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.

American Standard Version
But I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Contemporary English Version
But I solemnly promise that you, your wife, your sons, and your daughters-in-law will be kept safe in the boat.

English Revised Version
But I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But I will make my promise to you. You, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives will go into the ship.

Good News Translation
but I will make a covenant with you. Go into the boat with your wife, your sons, and their wives.

International Standard Version
However, I will establish my own covenant with you, and you are to enter the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives.

NET Bible
but I will confirm my covenant with you. You will enter the ark--you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

New Heart English Bible
But I will establish my covenant with you. You are to come into the vessel, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Webster's Bible Translation
But with thee will I establish my covenant: and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

World English Bible
But I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ship, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have established My covenant with you, and you have come into the Ark—you, and your sons, and your wife, and your son’s wives with you;

Young's Literal Translation
'And I have established My covenant with thee, and thou hast come in unto the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy son's wives with thee;

Smith's Literal Translation
And I set up my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come in to the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will establish my covenant with thee, and thou shalt enter into the ark, thou and thy sons, and thy wife, and the wives of thy sons with thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I shall establish my covenant with you, and you shall enter the ark, you and your sons, your wife and the wives of your sons with you.

New American Bible
I will establish my covenant with you. You shall go into the ark, you and your sons, your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

New Revised Standard Version
But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall enter into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark, you and your sons, and your wife, and the wives of your sons with you.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But I will establish My covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will establish my covenant with thee, and thou shalt enter into the ark, and thy sons and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Noah Builds the Ark
17And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish. 18But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark— you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19And you are to bring two of every living creature into the ark—male and female—to keep them alive with you.…

Cross References
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

1 Peter 3:20
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

2 Peter 2:5
if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;

Genesis 9:9-11
“Behold, I now establish My covenant with you and your descendants after you, / and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth—every living thing that came out of the ark. / And I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Isaiah 54:9
“For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.

Matthew 24:37-39
As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. / For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Luke 17:26-27
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: / People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Exodus 6:4
I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners.

Genesis 17:7
I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Genesis 17:19
But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

Genesis 9:12-17
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: / I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. / Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ...

Genesis 15:18
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—

Genesis 17:21
But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”

Genesis 22:16-18
saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, / I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”


Treasury of Scripture

But with you will I establish my covenant; and you shall come into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

establish.

Genesis 9:9,11
And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; …

Genesis 17:4,7,21
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations…

come.

Genesis 7:1,7,13
And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation…

Isaiah 26:20
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Jump to Previous
Agreement Ark Covenant Enter Establish Established Ship Son's Wife Wives
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Agreement Ark Covenant Enter Establish Established Ship Son's Wife Wives
Genesis 6
1. The wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath.
8. Noah finds grace.
9. His family line
14. The order, form, dimensions, and building of the ark.














But I will establish My covenant with you
This phrase introduces the concept of a divine covenant, a solemn agreement initiated by God. In biblical context, covenants are pivotal, marking significant relationships between God and humanity. This is the first explicit mention of a covenant in the Bible, setting a precedent for future covenants with figures like Abraham, Moses, and David. The covenant with Noah is unconditional, emphasizing God's grace and faithfulness. It foreshadows the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, highlighting themes of salvation and divine promise.

and you will enter the ark
The ark is a symbol of salvation and divine protection. In a historical and cultural context, the ark represents God's provision amidst judgment. The construction of the ark, as described earlier in Genesis, reflects ancient shipbuilding techniques, though its dimensions and design are unique, underscoring its divine origin. The ark prefigures Christ as the means of salvation, offering refuge from the judgment of sin.

you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you
This phrase emphasizes the inclusion of Noah's family in God's plan of salvation, highlighting the importance of family in God's redemptive work. It reflects the biblical principle of household salvation, seen later in the stories of Rahab and the Philippian jailer. The inclusion of Noah's family also underscores the communal aspect of God's covenant, extending blessings and responsibilities to future generations. This anticipates the broader inclusion of all nations in the New Covenant through Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The sovereign Creator who initiates a covenant with Noah, demonstrating His grace and faithfulness.

2. Noah
A righteous man chosen by God to survive the flood and preserve humanity and animal life.

3. Noah's Family
Includes Noah's wife, his sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth), and their wives, who are to be saved from the flood.

4. The Ark
The vessel built by Noah according to God's instructions, serving as a means of salvation from the impending flood.

5. The Covenant
A divine promise made by God to Noah, signifying a binding agreement and assurance of protection and future blessing.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness
God's covenant with Noah underscores His unwavering faithfulness and commitment to His promises. Believers can trust in God's promises today, knowing He is faithful to fulfill them.

Obedience and Righteousness
Noah's obedience in building the ark is a model for believers to follow God's commands, even when they may not fully understand His plans. Righteous living is a response to God's grace.

Family and Salvation
The inclusion of Noah's family in the covenant highlights the importance of family in God's plan. Believers are encouraged to lead their families in faith and obedience to God.

Covenant Relationship
The concept of covenant is central to understanding God's relationship with humanity. Believers are called to live in a covenant relationship with God, marked by faithfulness and commitment.

Preparation for Judgment
Just as Noah prepared for the flood, believers are called to prepare for the coming judgment by living lives of holiness and readiness for Christ's return.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Genesis 6:18?

2. How does Genesis 6:18 illustrate God's covenant faithfulness to Noah's family?

3. What responsibilities come with God's covenant in Genesis 6:18 for believers today?

4. How does Genesis 6:18 connect to God's promises in Genesis 9:9-11?

5. How can we apply the concept of covenant from Genesis 6:18 in our lives?

6. What does "establish My covenant with you" reveal about God's character and intentions?

7. How does Genesis 6:18 demonstrate God's covenant with Noah and its significance for humanity?

8. What is the theological importance of God's promise in Genesis 6:18?

9. How does Genesis 6:18 relate to the concept of divine grace and mercy?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 6?

11. What was the name of Noah's wife?

12. What was the name of Noah's wife?

13. What does "God remembered" signify in the Bible?

14. Is Noah a source of comfort amid global chaos?
What Does Genesis 6:18 Mean
But I will establish

God steps in with sovereign initiative, just as He had done with Abram (Genesis 15:18) and later with Israel (Exodus 6:4). Human depravity fills the earth, but the Lord intervenes by grace, not because Noah earned it (Genesis 6:8). • God’s “I will” echoes other unilateral promises—see Genesis 9:11 and Jeremiah 31:31–34—reminding us that salvation always begins with Him. • Even when judgment looms, His purpose to redeem a people for Himself never falters (2 Peter 3:9).


My covenant

This is the first explicit use of the word “covenant” in Scripture. It signals an unbreakable relationship secured by God’s faithfulness (Psalm 89:34). • The same covenant theme resurfaces after the Flood (Genesis 9:9–17), showing continuity in God’s plan. • In later redemptive history He swears similar oaths—to Abraham (Genesis 17:7), to David (2 Samuel 7:12–16), and ultimately in Christ (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 13:20). Salvation rests on God’s binding promise, not shifting human moods.


with you

The covenant is personal and relational. • God singles out Noah by name (Genesis 7:1), just as He does with Moses (Exodus 33:17) and Mary (Luke 1:30). • Though universal in scope, redemption is always applied individually; faith is never merely theoretical (John 3:16). • The assurance “with you” anticipates Jesus’ “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).


and you will enter the ark

Promise propels obedience. Noah’s faith moves him to practical action—building a vessel no one had seen before (Hebrews 11:7). • The ark becomes a picture of Christ, the only safe refuge from wrath (1 Peter 3:20–21). • God’s Word gives the blueprint; Noah simply follows (Genesis 6:14–16), showing that trust manifests in tangible steps.


you and your sons

God’s blessing flows through headship and lineage. • Shem, Ham, and Japheth join their father, illustrating generational faithfulness (Proverbs 20:7). • Throughout Scripture, God works through family lines—Abraham to Isaac, Isaac to Jacob—so that households may know Him (Acts 16:31). • Leadership carries responsibility: fathers are called to shepherd their families (Ephesians 6:4).


and your wife

Noah’s unnamed wife shares both the peril and the promise. • Marriage is honored by God from Eden onward (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6). • Her inclusion underscores the partnership envisioned in God’s design—heirs together of grace (1 Peter 3:7). • Though patriarchal culture often spotlights men, Scripture consistently lifts women into God’s saving narrative (e.g., Sarah, Rahab, Ruth).


and your sons’ wives with you

A full household enters the ark—eight souls in all (Genesis 7:13)—preserving humanity’s future. • The phrase shows God’s concern for continuity and multiplication (Genesis 9:1). • It also hints at His inclusive heart: salvation provision reaches every member connected to the covenant head, foreshadowing how those “in Christ” share His safety (Romans 5:18–19).


summary

Genesis 6:18 reveals a God who initiates, promises, and personally commits Himself to preserve a people amid judgment. His covenant with Noah underscores grace over merit, obedience born of faith, and salvation that embraces whole households. As the ark shielded Noah’s family, so Christ shelters all who trust Him, proving that God’s unfailing covenant love endures from the first book of the Bible to the last.

(18) My covenant.--There had been no covenant with Adam or with the Sethites, but in the higher state of things which began with Noah, man was to hold a more exactly defined relation to God; and though they had begun to attach the notion of Deity to the name Jehovah in the days of Enos (Genesis 4:26), yet it was not till the time of Moses that it became the distinct title of God in covenant with man. Of this relation a necessary result was revelation, as in no other way could there be a communication between the two contracting parties. Hence the Bible is called "The Old and New Covenant," or "The Old and New Testament," the Greek term being of wider meaning than either word with us, and signifying either an agreement between the living or the document by which a testator disposes of his property after his death (Hebrews 9:16-17). The title of covenant is more applicable to the Scriptures of the prior dispensation, which contain a series of such relations, all preparing for the last and best and most perfect, which was a Testament ratified in the blood of Christ.

Verse 18. - But with thee will I establish my covenant. בְּרית (διαθήκη, LXX.; foe-due, Vulgate; testamentum, N.T.), from בָּרַא, to cut or carve; hence a covenant, from the custom of passing between the divided pieces of the victims slain on the occasion of making such solemn compacts (cf. Genesis 15:9; Gesenius); from בָּרַה, to eat, hence an eating together, a banquet (cf. Genesis 31:54; Lee). On the Bible idea of covenant see Genesis 15:9. My covenant = the already well-known covenant which I have made with man. And thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy son's wives with thee. This was the substance of the covenant agreement so far as Noah was concerned. The next three verses describe the arrangements about the animals.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But I will establish
וַהֲקִמֹתִ֥י (wa·hă·qi·mō·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

My covenant
בְּרִיתִ֖י (bə·rî·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

with you,
אִתָּ֑ךְ (’it·tāḵ)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

and you {will} enter
וּבָאתָ֙ (ū·ḇā·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the ark—
הַתֵּבָ֔ה (hat·tê·ḇāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8392: A box, chest

you
אַתָּ֕ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

and your sons
וּבָנֶ֛יךָ (ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

and your wife
וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֥ (wə·’iš·tə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

and your sons’
בָנֶ֖יךָ (ḇā·ne·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

wives
וּנְשֵֽׁי־ (ū·nə·šê-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

with you.
אִתָּֽךְ׃ (’it·tāḵ)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among


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OT Law: Genesis 6:18 But I will establish my covenant (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 6:17
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