Verses 18-21 give the second part of God’s instructions to Noah. Verse 18 tells which people are to be taken into the boat. Verses 19-20 concern the animals and birds to be saved in the boat. Verse 21 deals with the food to be stored in the boat.

But I will establish my covenant: But marks a strong contrast between the deaths of all living things announced in verse 17 and the promise of salvation to Noah. Establish is the causative form of a verb meaning to raise, and here it means to make or ratify an agreement. As Revised Standard Version indicates, the verb is future, and the actual details of the covenant between God and Noah are given in 8.20–9.17.

Covenant translates the Hebrew word that refers to a contract, treaty, agreement, pact, or alliance based upon a relationship that exists between two parties. A covenant is a formal agreement involving benefits and responsibilities for both parties to the agreement. In this verse God says he will make a covenant with Noah. So what Noah receives here is a promise of salvation. The covenant will take shape only after the flood in 8.20–9.17. Therefore a fuller discussion of covenant must be reserved for 9.9. See there for discussion.

And you shall come into the ark: you is singular and refers to Noah. Shall come into represents a point of view from inside the ark. In some languages it will be necessary to say with Good News Translation “go into the boat…” or to use some other expression that will place the speaker outside the boat. Like the verbs in verses 19 and 20, shall come into has a simple future form in Hebrew. There is considerable doubt as to whether this should be read as a command, as in Good News Translation “Go into the boat,” or as a statement about what will happen in the (near) future: “you will go into the ark” (Revised English Bible, and see also New International Version). See the comments at the end of verse 22 for the effect of a decision here on the story line.

You, your sons …: you (singular again) repeats the command for Noah to go into the boat as part of his family unit. Good News Translation avoids the repetition for reasons of style. In some languages it will be more natural to say, for example, “Take your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives and go into the boat.” Noah’s sons have been identified in 5.32 and 6.10. Your wife: see comments on 2.24. Sons’ wives is the final group named; in the composition of Noah’s immediate family (his wife and children), the wives of his sons would be included. In many languages your sons’ wives will be designated by special kinship terms on the order of “daughters-in-law.” Notice that Good News Translation has placed your wife before your sons in order to keep together “your sons and their wives.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .