What does Genesis 9:11 mean?
After declaring in the previous few verses that He was about to make a covenant promise to all of humanity, and all of animal-kind, God now reveals the unilateral agreement He is making. The first part of this agreement was Noah's responsibility to build an ark (Genesis 6:16–18), after which God said He would establish this binding promise. This type of covenant agreement was common in ancient times, but this one is unusual in that God also includes animals as participants. They have no particular obligation, but God includes them in His vow.That oath is given here in direct terms: God will never again use a flood to destroy the earth or to destroy all living things. Period. God is finished with world-killing floods. This is not a casual commitment for God. The language used here is of a legally binding contract. God is structuring an official agreement that He will bind Himself to for all of the earth's history. As with other covenants of that era, God will establish some sign, or proof, indicating that this covenant is real. In this case, God's sign of the Noahic covenant is a rainbow (Genesis 9:13).