Genesis 9:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To demonstrate His magnificent grace, He declared, "And with every living creature that is with you, with the birds and with the cattle, and with all the beasts of the earth that are with you, with all that came out of the ark, with all the animals of the earth, I make my covenant with you, that no more shall all flesh be destroyed by the waters of the flood, neither shall there be any more flood for the desolation of the earth." Do you recognize the grandeur of this covenant? Can you comprehend the profound significance of these promises? Observe how He extends His mercy not only to humanity but also to the animals—this is not without purpose.

God's covenant encompasses humanity along with all creatures. However, animals are not included as participants in the covenant, which necessitates reason and free will; instead, they share in the blessings that arise from it.

This parable illustrates God's commitment to Noah and the emblem of that promise. The Lord not only vows to refrain from devastating the earth with another deluge, but also, in a demonstration of His boundless compassion toward humanity, establishes a covenant through Noah and his descendants. A covenant signifies a union grounded in the reciprocal responsibilities of those involved. By forming this covenant with all of humanity through Noah and his sons, the Lord God, who is self-sufficient and sovereign over all, solemnly pledges to uphold His promise not to unleash another Flood, expecting only faith from them in the truth of this assurance. The Lord also includes animals in this covenant alongside humans, not because they bear any obligation, but purely out of love for mankind. Just as in His anger He inflicted destruction upon His creation through the Flood, so in His mercy He commits to abstaining from destroying the creatures under His dominion with another deluge.