What Does Rainbow Mean In Hebrew?

Video Insight of the Week: What does Rainbow mean in Hebrew?

The Hebrew word for Rainbow is קֶשֶׁת — Qeshet
Interestingly enough Keshet, other than Rainbow, also means a war bow. We can easily see the connection between Rainbow and a bow in English, but since it is one and the same word in Hebrew the connection there cannot be clearer.

Why would the ancient Hebrews (Moses in particular) refer to a rainbow as a bow? That connection has to do with the story of Noah’s flood.

When God judged the fallen humanity by sending his catastrophic flood, he made Noah a very important promise — never to judge the world so harshly again.

Later in the Bible we find out why, but here suffice to say that a rainbow became an eternal sign of God’s forgiveness and his covenantal mercy.

After all it was God’s bow of war that was now on permanent display for all to see. This time God’s bow was not pointing in our (earthly) direction, but in the direction of God’s heavenly residence.

Let us continue to explore the riches of Biblical Hebrew and together grasp the riches revealed in the Holy Scriptures.

About the author

Dr. Eli Lizorkin-EyzenbergTo secure your spot in our new course “The Jewish Background of New Testament” - CLICK HERE NOW

You might also be interested in:

Israel, Isaac, And The Lamb

By Julia Blum

Join the conversation (5 comments)

Leave a Reply

  1. Joanne Michele

    I was praying and seen a rainbow on my thigh In my bedroom what is the meaning

  2. JOSEPH F FEINOUR

    i love the picture of God’s bow pointed away from man as the sign of the covenant. When connected with the sacrifice of Noah as he began life anew outside the ark it gets even better. God smelled the “pleasing aroma” of the sacrifice finding “rest” from His wrath and turned His bow awayfrom man. Asecond picture this one the sacrifice of Jesus. (eph 5:2) and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

  3. matithyahu

    Dear dr. Eli
    Thank you for your teaching of Biblical and conection with modern Hebrew. I found that Hebrew word “keshet” in Genesis 8.13 mentoined first time. Some schoolars means that “keshet” is conected with moon, special with young or new moon and with the Messiah Y’eshua, Biblical calendar and with Eternal Feasts of the God. It seems logical to me. Why? Because God made eternal covenant with Noah and in new arath and haven will not be rain, neither sea, logical neither rainbow, but in Jeremiah 31.35-37 God mentoined eternal covenant with moon and sun.
    Second when you mentoined that Hebrew word “keshet” means second “warrbow” momentarly came to me first horse and warrbow on horse like King of the war Y’eshua, God will send His voice at the begining of the war, His the Messanger of His victory: Amen.

    1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

      Dear Matityahu, welcome to our forum! Thank you for sharing you ideas with us. Dr. Eli

  4. jane z. mazzola

    This is beautiful and your presentation, poetic. What is that background music too? That could play all day.
    Jane Mazzola