וַאֲנִ֕י הִנְנִ֥י מֵקִ֛ים אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְאֶֽת־זַרְעֲכֶ֖ם אַֽחֲרֵיכֶֽם׃
Yo, he aquí que yo establezco mi pacto con vosotros, y con vuestra simiente después de vosotros;
Siftei Chakhamim
“I will confirm My covenant.” Rashi is answering the question: Is it not already written (v. 9), ואני הנני מקים את בריתי, “I am making a covenant with you”?
Ramban
AND I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra said that this is a sign that G-d had sworn to Noah that during the flood, neither he nor his children would die even though it is not clearly written at first. This is similar to what we find in Deuteronomy: And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said: Let us send men before us, that they may search the land for us.49Deuteronomy 1:22. This account, narrated by Moses, is not explicitly stated in Numbers, Chapter 13, which begins with G-d saying: Send thou men… Ramban cites this as another case where the first account lacks some of the details of the later account.
The meaning of V’hakimothi (And I will establish) is “I will fulfill My oath.” It appears likely to me that this covenant mentioned here refers to the rainbow, [Thus G-d hinted to Noah that after the flood He will make a covenant with him if he will fulfill the commandment concerning the making of the ark.] The meaning of the word b’rith (covenant) is an agreement and accord which two have chosen, stemming from the root, ‘b’ru’ (choose) you.50I Samuel 17:8. And the word b’rith takes the same form in construct and in separateness. A similar case is [the word sh’vith, captivity]: ‘sh’vith’ (the captivity of) Jacob;51Psalms 85:2. Here the word sh’vith is in construct. And his daughters ‘bash’vith’ (in captivity).52Numbers 21:29. Here the word bash’vith is separate. And some say that the word b’rith means the establishment of a boundary [to which each party to the covenant should adhere]. All these are Abraham ibn Ezra’s words.
A more correct explanation in line with the simple meaning of Scripture is that the purport of the expression, And I will establish My covenant, is, “At the time of the coming of the flood, My covenant will be established with you so that you and your family and two of all flesh will come into the ark to remain alive, that is to say, so that you will live there and maintain yourself in order to go forth from there alive.” And b’rith (covenant) means G-d’s word when He decrees something without any condition and residuary and fulfills it. Now He mentions the b’rith and mentions that it will be fulfilled, [which, according to the present interpretation is an apparent redundancy], just as we find the verse, The Jews ordained and took upon them, and upon their seed,53Esther 9:27. meaning they accepted upon themselves a matter which was to exist. [Thus our verse is to be explained in a similar way, i.e., He established an unconditional covenant.]
By way of the truth, [the mystic lore of the Cabala], the b’rith is everlasting, the word being derived from. In the beginning G-d ‘bara’ (created).37Above, 1:1. Thus brithi (My covenant) is similar to b’riyothi (My creation), and the word is alike in construct form because it is adjoined to the times there were before us. He thus commanded that the b’rith exist and be with the righteous one [Noah]. In a similar sense are the verses: As for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you;54Genesis 9:9. My covenant was with him.55Malachi 2:5. The learned student [in the mystic lore of the Cabala] will understand.
The meaning of V’hakimothi (And I will establish) is “I will fulfill My oath.” It appears likely to me that this covenant mentioned here refers to the rainbow, [Thus G-d hinted to Noah that after the flood He will make a covenant with him if he will fulfill the commandment concerning the making of the ark.] The meaning of the word b’rith (covenant) is an agreement and accord which two have chosen, stemming from the root, ‘b’ru’ (choose) you.50I Samuel 17:8. And the word b’rith takes the same form in construct and in separateness. A similar case is [the word sh’vith, captivity]: ‘sh’vith’ (the captivity of) Jacob;51Psalms 85:2. Here the word sh’vith is in construct. And his daughters ‘bash’vith’ (in captivity).52Numbers 21:29. Here the word bash’vith is separate. And some say that the word b’rith means the establishment of a boundary [to which each party to the covenant should adhere]. All these are Abraham ibn Ezra’s words.
A more correct explanation in line with the simple meaning of Scripture is that the purport of the expression, And I will establish My covenant, is, “At the time of the coming of the flood, My covenant will be established with you so that you and your family and two of all flesh will come into the ark to remain alive, that is to say, so that you will live there and maintain yourself in order to go forth from there alive.” And b’rith (covenant) means G-d’s word when He decrees something without any condition and residuary and fulfills it. Now He mentions the b’rith and mentions that it will be fulfilled, [which, according to the present interpretation is an apparent redundancy], just as we find the verse, The Jews ordained and took upon them, and upon their seed,53Esther 9:27. meaning they accepted upon themselves a matter which was to exist. [Thus our verse is to be explained in a similar way, i.e., He established an unconditional covenant.]
By way of the truth, [the mystic lore of the Cabala], the b’rith is everlasting, the word being derived from. In the beginning G-d ‘bara’ (created).37Above, 1:1. Thus brithi (My covenant) is similar to b’riyothi (My creation), and the word is alike in construct form because it is adjoined to the times there were before us. He thus commanded that the b’rith exist and be with the righteous one [Noah]. In a similar sense are the verses: As for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you;54Genesis 9:9. My covenant was with him.55Malachi 2:5. The learned student [in the mystic lore of the Cabala] will understand.
Rabbeinu Bahya
Nachmanides writes that based on Kabbalah the covenant G-d speaks about here is not one G-d concluded with Noach at all, but it s a covenant G-d made with mankind or the universe at the time of creation. The word ברית, “covenant,” is actually derived from the word בראשית, the time when G-d began the work of creation. You may read the word בריתי as if it had been spelled ברייתי, related to “My creation,” i.e. the Hebrew word בריתי is similar to a possessive form of the word or words בראשית עולם, “at the beginning of the universe.” Accordingly, G-d stated that this original covenant would be maintained with the righteous of all generations, at this point with Noach. Nachmanides quotes Genesis 9,9 ואני הנני מקים את בריתי אתכם, “and here I will keep My covenant with you,” as an example of what he has in mind. Another example he quotes is Malachi 2, 5 בריתי היתה אתו, “My covenant has been with him.” [that G-d always maintained His covenant with the tribe of Levi.] The intelligent will understand what I refer to. Thus far Nachmanides To summarize what he meant: The covenant which has existed and extended from on high to man on earth is that G-d employs His attribute of Mercy as the guiding principle in His relation to human beings. This covenant will endure and the partner to G-d in this covenant is the righteous f each generation seeing the righteous is the foundation upon which the universe id founded. Due to this covenant man is the recipient of G-d’s bounty. This is the real meaning of the word אתכם ”with you” (pl) in 9,9.