Rainbow Symbolism After Prophetic Dream
The rainbow first appears in Scripture as the sign of God's covenant with Noah, a pledge that "the waters should no more become a flood to destroy all flesh" (Genesis 9:15). God declares, "I do set my bow in the cloud" (Genesis 9:13), consecrating what may have been a pre-existing natural phenomenon as a witness to divine faithfulness [1, 2]. Calvin argued that Moses's words do not necessarily mean the rainbow was newly created at that moment, but rather "that a mark was engraven upon it, which should give a sign of the divine favor towards men" [7]. The physical mechanism—refraction and reflection of sunlight through rain—was understood even in antiquity [1, 6].
The Rainbow in Prophetic Vision
When the rainbow reappears in prophetic contexts, it carries this covenantal memory forward while signaling God's presence in judgment. Ezekiel's inaugural vision describes "the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain" surrounding the divine glory (Ezekiel 1:28). This image "combines the prospect of judgment with a note of mercy," reminding Israel that even as storm clouds gather over Jerusalem, God has not forgotten His promise to preserve a remnant [4, 5]. The rainbow thus functions as a sign of hope embedded within scenes of catastrophic judgment.
In Revelation, John sees "a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald" (Revelation 4:3). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown notes the throne's appearance includes both jasper (representing watery crystalline brightness, God's holiness) and sardine (fiery red, His executing justice), with the rainbow encircling both [3]. Early interpreters identified the angel of Revelation 10:1—clothed with a cloud, "a rainbow upon his head"—as Christ Himself, the rainbow serving as "the token of God's merciful covenant with mankind" [8, 9]. Victorinus explicitly states this mighty angel "is our Lord" [9].
Rabbinic tradition intensified the rainbow's sacred character. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi taught that "one who sees a rainbow in a cloud must fall upon his face," citing Ezekiel's response to the divine glory [10]. The rainbow thus marks theophanies—moments when God's presence breaks into human experience, whether in covenant-making, prophetic commissioning, or apocalyptic revelation. Its appearance after a prophetic dream would traditionally signal divine mercy framing whatever judgment or message follows, anchoring the vision in God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Rainbow — Caused by the reflection and refraction of the rays of the sun shining on falling rain. It was appointed as a witness of the divine faithfulness (Gen. 9:12-17). It existed indeed before, but it was then constituted as a sign of the covenant. Others, however (as Delitzsch, Commentary on Pentateuch), think that it "appeared then for the first time in the vault and clouds of heaven." It is argued by those holding this opinion that the atmosphere was differently constituted before the Flood. It is referred to three other times in Scripture (Ezek. 1:27, 28; Rev.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Rainbow — the token of the covenant which God made with Noah when he came forth from the ark that the waters should no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. The right interpretation of (Genesis 9:13) seems to be that God took the rainbow, which had hitherto been but a beautiful object shining in the heavens when the sun's rays fell on falling rain, and consecrated it as the sign of his love and the witness of his promise. Ecclus. 43:11. The rainbow is a symbol of God's faithfulness and mercy. In the "rainbow around the throne," (Revelation 4:3) is seen the symbol ”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 4:3: was--omitted in the two oldest manuscripts but supported by Vulgate and Coptic. to look upon--Greek, "in sight," or "appearance." jasper--From Rev 21:11, where it is called most precious, which the jasper was not, EBRARD infers it was a diamond. Ordinarily, the jasper is a stone of various wavy colors, somewhat transparent: in Rev 21:11 it represents watery crystalline brightness. The sardine, our cornelian, or else a fiery red. As the watery brightness represents God's holiness, so the fiery red His justice executing fiery wrath. The same union”
- Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 1:28: 1:28 rainbow shining in the clouds: This image combines the prospect of judgment with a note of mercy. The storm clouds were going to drop a full load of judgment on God’s sinful people, but a rainbow, the sign of hope that God established after the flood (Gen 9:12-17), would appear also. Although the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people to Babylon would be a severe catastrophe in which many would die, God would not forget his promise to keep a remnant alive. Judgment would not be God’s final word. • When Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord, he fell fa”
- Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 1:28: 1:28 rainbow shining in the clouds: This image combines the prospect of judgment with a note of mercy. The storm clouds were going to drop a full load of judgment on God’s sinful people, but a rainbow, the sign of hope that God established after the flood (Gen 9:12-17), would appear also. Although the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people to Babylon would be a severe catastrophe in which many would die, God would not forget his promise to keep a remnant alive. Judgment would not be God’s final word. • When Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord, he fell”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 9:13: I do set my bow in the cloud,.... Or "I have given", or "have set it" (p); which seems as if it was at that instant set; this is the same we call the "rainbow": and so Horace (q) calls it "arcus pluvius": it is called a "bow", because of its form, being a semicircle, and a "rainbow", because it is seen in a day of rain, and is a sign of it, or of its being quickly over, Eze 1:28 and this appears in a moist dewy cloud, neither very thick nor very thin, and is occasioned by the rays of the sun opposite to it, refracted on it: and this God calls "his bow", not only beca”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 13.14: by such instruments as he sees good; the free choice of which is in his own power. 13. I do set my bow in the cloud . From these words certain eminent theologians have been induced to deny, that there was any rainbow before the deluge: which is frivolous. For the words of Moses do not signify, that a bow was then formed which did not previously exist; but that a mark was engraven upon it, which should give a sign of the divine favor towards men. That this may the more evidently appear, it will be well to recall to memory what we ”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 10:1: Another mighty angel - Either Christ or his representative; clothed with a cloud; a symbol of the Divine majesty. A rainbow was upon his head - The token of God's merciful covenant with mankind. His face was as it were the sun - So intensely glorious that it could not be looked on. His feet as pillars of fire - To denote the rapidity and energy of his motions, and the stability of his counsels.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — FROM THE TENTH CHAPTER. (part 1): 1, 2. "I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: and he had in his hand an open book: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth."] He signifies that that mighty ngel who, he says, descended from heaven, clothed with a cloud, is our Lord, as we have above narrated. "His face was as it were the sun."] That is, with respect to the re”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128a.117:12: Rabbi Alexandri said that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Thunder was created only to impose fear and straighten the crookedness of the heart, as it is stated: “And God has so made it, that men should fear before Him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14). And Rabbi Alexandri said that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One who sees a rainbow in a cloud must fall upon his face, as it is stated: “As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lo”