Explanation of the Blessing on the Rainbow
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Question
What is the intention of the blessing on seeing a rainbow?
Answer
Shalom Rav,
The text of the blessing for one who sees a rainbow is: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who remembers the covenant, is faithful to His covenant, and fulfills His word."
The intention of the blessing is based on what the Torah says (Genesis 9:14-16): "And it shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth."
This means that God swore to Noah after the flood that He would not destroy the world again by a flood. And when God wishes to bring a flood upon the earth again, He places a rainbow in the cloud, and this recalls the oath not to bring another flood. Therefore, we bless that God remembers His covenant through the rainbow, is faithful to His covenant, and fulfills His word not to bring another flood upon the world.