In Genesis 6:17–18 and 9:8–17, the covenant with Noah is “established” and not “cut.” The word “cut” refers to the initiation or origination of a covenant, while “established” assumes that a covenant relationship is already in place, or it refers to a covenant partner verbally affirming a commitment or upholding a promise in a covenant previously initiated, so that the other partner experiences in history the fulfilling of this promise
