Beraishis 9G The Covenant of the Rainbow – ברית – אות

Symbolism of the Rainbow

As was explained above, the new world order after the Mabul was to create diversity. On the basis of the variations of human beings, God will educate mankind toward the Divine goal.

A rainbow is one unified and complete ray of light, broken up into seven colors. The red ray is closest to the light and the violet is the farthest. Together they form one white ray which shines forth in full purity.

The entire variety of living things, from man – אדם (= red/אדום) to the lowliest worm, are all united by God in one common bond of peace. In all of them is found a refracted ray of God’s spirit.

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1. Earlier God’s decision was made to Himself. Here the decision is revealed to man as a ברית; a commitment to never again bring about a Mabul, but rather to bring the world to its destiny by other means.
2. God doesn’t just declare his commitment. He establishes an אות – a sign and a remembrance in reference to this commitment. We find this throughout the Torah. Some examples are תפילין, שבת, מילה.
3. It is plausible to say rainbows were existent prior to this time. Now, God is designating the rainbow as a sign of the covenant that God has declared. (Just as we see God showing Avraham the stars that already existed, showing Moshe the moon that already existed, and the seasons of the year that were declared to be signs of historical remembrance for Israel.)

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Beraishis 9:8-17
pages 231-234