Let's talk about rainbows

[Wordupmybrotha]

Further, the bow is specifically pointing towards Jesus, who has taken God's wrath on our behalf.

I'm not sure about that interpretation. Seems like a sappy forced interpretation to link everything to Jesus.

To me, the rainbow means God's mercy and simply that he won't destroy us with a flood again.

Interestingly, the rainbow appears in Revelation as well.

"And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald."
Revelation 4:3 ESV

I believe that it means Jesus' everlasting mercy.

What do you guys think?

[damon1272]

It means exactly what God meant it to mean in Genesis 9 and that promise holds to this day. That it has been corrupted as a symbol today points to the utter depravity of man.

[DolphinFan]

The Rainbow is more Beautiful than the pot at the end of it, Because the Rainbow is now and the pot never turns out to be quite what I expected.
-Hugh Prather, "Notes to Myself"

[RAMCLAP]

It means exactly what God meant it to mean in Genesis 9 and that promise holds to this day. That it has been corrupted as a symbol today points to the utter depravity of man.

Pretty much this^^^

[Dano3467]

^^^

[RandyD]

It means exactly what God meant it to mean in Genesis 9 and that promise holds to this day. That it has been corrupted as a symbol today points to the utter depravity of man.

This is my view too.

[CVShooter]

It's an explaining story. Don't read too much into it. Surface level is fine for most readers. Any deeper meanings are largely speculative but will rarely point in obvious places. If the writer(s) wanted to make those meanings obvious, they would have been. If they wanted them to be hidden, there would be a good reason to keep them hidden/obscure.

[billvau]

Further, the bow is specifically pointing towards Jesus, who has taken God's wrath on our behalf.

I'm not sure about that interpretation. Seems like a sappy forced interpretation to link everything to Jesus.

To me, the rainbow means God's mercy and simply that he won't destroy us with a flood again.

Interestingly, the rainbow appears in Revelation as well.

"And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald."
Revelation 4:3 ESV

I believe that it means Jesus' everlasting mercy.

What do you guys think?

[larkja]

So many things in ancient lore are trying to explain things in supernatural terms they didn't understand at the time. This is a great example. A rainbow is merely the refraction as white light hits water droplets. Now, why is light made up of so many colors, or why does it break apart when it hits a raindrop or glass? Those are better questions to ask the maker when you see him.

Don't read more into it.

[Wordupmybrotha]

I really appreciate your detailed response Bill. Learning a lot from you.

[Wordupmybrotha]

It means exactly what God meant it to mean in Genesis 9 and that promise holds to this day. That it has been corrupted as a symbol today points to the utter depravity of man.

Pretty much this^^^

^^^

This is my view too.

It's an explaining story. Don't read too much into it. Surface level is fine for most readers. Any deeper meanings are largely speculative but will rarely point in obvious places. If the writer(s) wanted to make those meanings obvious, they would have been. If they wanted them to be hidden, there would be a good reason to keep them hidden/obscure.

The Rainbow is more Beautiful than the pot at the end of it, Because the Rainbow is now and the pot never turns out to be quite what I expected.
-Hugh Prather, "Notes to Myself"

Amen!

[Wordupmybrotha]

So many things in ancient lore are trying to explain things in supernatural terms they didn't understand at the time. This is a great example. A rainbow is merely the refraction as white light hits water droplets. Now, why is light made up of so many colors, or why does it break apart when it hits a raindrop or glass? Those are better questions to ask the maker when you see him.

Don't read more into it.

I don't believe that it's an ancient lore. He tells us specifically WHY he made the rainbow. The science of "how" isn't in the purview of the Bible.

[Yodaman]

It means exactly what God meant it to mean in Genesis 9 and that promise holds to this day. That it has been corrupted as a symbol today points to the utter depravity of man.

As stated [emoji1369]

[Fastattack]

Not to be disrespectful, but seriously, at the First Congregational Church down the street, it literally means that LGBTQ are welcome and accepted, as is. Big sign out front says so.

[billvau]

Not to be disrespectful, but seriously, at the First Congregational Church down the street, it literally means that LGBTQ are welcome and accepted, as is. Big sign out front says so.

Maybe they recognize that God has promised not to drown them too!