What does Genesis 9:19 mean?

God's covenant with Noah also included the rest of humanity (Genesis 9:9) as well as the animal kingdom (Genesis 9:10). That promise is to never again destroy the entire earth with a flood. That vow is important; the number one priority for every living thing which came off the ark (Genesis 8:17) is to reproduce and re-populate the land. God's sign of the rainbow serves as a reminder of God's oath to not wipe out life as He has just done (Genesis 9:14–15).

The previous verse reintroduced Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now we're reminded that all of the people of the earth to come will be born of these three men. Every human being ever to live, from that day forward, will hold one of these three men as their original ancestor, along with Noah, along with Adam. This is an important reminder that, ultimately, all human beings are from the same ancestors (Genesis 3:20; Galatians 3:28), giving explicit biblical support to the idea that all races are equally human.

The verses to follow will tell a troubling story and reveal God's plan for the generations to come.