Keys to Life: The Spiritual Meaning of the Rainbow

Learning the mystical connection between colors and the Divine attributes of judgment (din) and kindness (chesed) allows us to better understand why, after the flood, when G-d wanted to signal to humanity that He would no longer destroy the world with a flood- despite the sins of mankind- He chose to do so with a massive rainbow stretched across the sky in a spectrum of colors, as it is written: “I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will 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 never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Genesis 9:13–15)

While the rainbow is a natural phenomenon, its timing is not random. Divine providence aligns the natural conditions that produce the rainbow specifically at moments of Divine anger and judgment due to mankind’s negative behavior. It is intended to make it known that the attribute of strict judgment- which by truth and law would require a flood- is at that moment being transformed into mercy and compassion, only because of G-d’s promise not to bring another flood.

The gradient of the rainbow’s colors reflects a spiritual softening of judgment in the heavenly realms, starting from red (symbolizing din), through the other colors, and ending with blue (symbolizing chesed), in alignment with the order of the Divine sefirot (spiritual emanations).

This magnificent and awe-inspiring sight of the rainbow in the sky, visible to all, delivers a spiritual message to humanity about the concerning state of their moral conduct. It serves as a wake-up call to repent, so that there will be protection from G-d’s promise of mercy, as well as genuine alignment with truth and righteousness.