Genesis 6:18 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God establishes a covenant with Noah: he and his family will be saved.
The Context of Genesis 6:18
God establishes a covenant of preservation with Noah.
What Does Genesis 6:18 Mean?
'But' again marks salvation within judgment. God makes a covenant (brit) with Noah—a binding commitment. Unlike the general destruction decreed for all flesh, Noah and his family are exempt. The covenant includes Noah, his three sons, his wife, and his sons' wives—eight people in all. They will enter the ark and be preserved. The covenant is not a reward Noah earned but a gift God grants.
The family structure is preserved in the salvation: Noah does not stand alone, but with wife and sons and their wives. Humanity will not merely survive but will do so in the form of family and generation. The covenant secures not just individual lives but the possibility of relationship and continuity.
Genesis 6:18 in the Original Language
brit (בְרִית), 'covenant' — a binding agreement or commitment; the foundational term for God's commitments to humanity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 6:18
What does Genesis 6:18 mean?
God establishes a covenant with Noah: he and his family will be saved.
What is the context of Genesis 6:18?
God establishes a covenant of preservation with Noah.