Verse 14 consists of two dependent and related time clauses, with verse 15 serving as the main clause.

When I bring clouds over the earth: When has here the sense of “Whenever” (Good News Translation), “Each time,” “Every time.” The verb form used here is rare and means to gather or cause clouds to form. Over the earth is changed by Good News Translation to “cover the sky,” which alters the perspective but retains the sense.

And the bow is seen in the clouds: bow is the same as used in verse 13. Is seen translates the passive form of the verb, which will often have to be restructured as active. For example, “and you [plural] see the bow” or “everyone sees the bow.” Clouds is the same as in verse 13.

In some languages the string of clauses in this verse and the beginning of the next verse will not be natural, and some restructuring will be needed. Two examples of such restructuring are “When I send-make-appear clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear, and I will think of my covenant…” and “When I make clouds appear up in the sky, then the rainbow will appear too. And I will think of this promise that I….”

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 .