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Genesis 9:11 – NASB vs. HCSB
Genesis 9:11 NASB “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
Genesis 9:11 HCSB I confirm My covenant with you that never again will all flesh be wiped out by the waters of a deluge; there will never again be a deluge to destroy the earth.”
The HSCB reads, “wiped out by the waters” and the NASB reads, “cut off by the water.” While the HCSB better fits the image of water “wiping out” there is something deeper missed, in my opinion, by that translation. The Hebrew for “wipe out/cut off” is kârath (3772) and can mean “to kill” which is what the HSCB suggests. But it can also mean “to cut or make a covenant.” Considering that the word covenant is in the verse, we should consider a deeper meaning is behind that inspired word choice.
Just as circumcision is a covenant by cutting off the flesh, so is the flood a covenant by cutting off flesh. This same play on words is found in Genesis 15, where both the NASB and HCSB keep the word play:
Genesis 17:12-14 HCSB Throughout your generations, every male among you at eight days old is to be circumcised. This includes a slave born in your house and one purchased with money from any foreigner. The one who is not your offspring, (13) a slave born in your house, as well as one purchased with money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh as an everlasting covenant. (14) If any male is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that man will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Two other translation comments: First, in the updated version of the HSCB, they do change “deluge” back to “flood.” “Deluge” was an unpopular choice, and the editors heard the readers. Second, is that in Genesis 6:18, God said “I will establish” (NASB; HCSB). When this same Hebrews word is used in 9:9,11, the NASB retains the English, but the HCSB changes it to “confirm.” That does not help English readers see the connections.
But the biggest failure, in my opinion, is translating “wiped out” instead of “cut off” and therefore missing the deeper lesson taught. The flood was not just a punishment, it was a covenant. God saved Noah from judgment, a lesson taught in 1 Peter 3.
So in this verse, the NASB wins with its more literal translation.
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