The First Covenant God Gave to Humanity Overview
The concept of a covenant in the Bible refers to an agreement or contract between two parties [4]. The Hebrew word berith (covenant) is derived from a root meaning "to cut," which alludes to the ancient practice of cutting animals in half and the covenanting parties passing between the parts, as seen in Genesis 15 and Jeremiah 34:18-19 [3, 4]. In the New Testament, the corresponding Greek word is diatheke, often translated as "testament" in older English versions [3, 4].
While God made various covenants with humanity, the first explicit mention of a covenant in the Bible is God's unilateral pact with humankind and the world after the flood [7]. This covenant, established with Noah, promised that a similar judgment would not be repeated [3]. God had promised this covenant before the flood (Genesis 6:18), and its scope extends beyond humanity to include the earth and all animals (Genesis 9:9-10) [8]. Matthew Henry notes that God deals with humanity through covenants, which magnifies His condescending favor and encourages human duty and obedience [9].
Some theological traditions identify an earlier covenant, often called the "covenant of works," which God made with Adam as the representative of the human race [2]. This covenant is distinguished by its condition of perfect obedience [2]. While not explicitly named a "covenant" in Genesis, this understanding posits that God's initial relationship with Adam involved a conditional agreement.
The Old Testament also describes a "first covenant" that included ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:1) [1]. This refers to the covenant made at Sinai, which was not considered faultless and did not ultimately solve human weaknesses [5]. The author of Hebrews argues that this first covenant was not the end of God's plan [5]. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a "new covenant" that God would make, which would not be like the covenant made with their ancestors when God brought them out of Egypt (Jeremiah 31:31-32) [5, 6]. This prophecy of a new covenant includes significant promises [5]. The day of this new covenant was realized through Jesus Christ's redemptive mission [6].
Sources
- Hebrews “Hebrews 9:1 (KJV) — Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Works, Covenant of — Entered into by God with Adam as the representative of the human race (comp. Gen. 9:11, 12; 17:1-21), so styled because perfect obedience was its condition, thus distinguishing it from the covenant of grace. (See COVENANT OF [672]WORKS.)”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Covenant — The Heb. berith means primarily "a cutting," with reference to the custom of cutting or dividing animals in two and passing between the parts in ratifying a covenant. (Genesis 15; Jeremiah 34:18,19) In the New Testament the corresponding word is diathece (diatheke), which is frequently translated testament in the Authorized Version. In its biblical meaning two parties the word is used-- + Of a covenant between God and man; e.g. God covenanted with Noah, after the flood, that a like judgment should not be repeated. It is not precisely like a covenant between”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Covenant — A contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19). The corresponding word in the New Testament Greek is diatheke, which is, however, rendered "testament" generally in the Authorized Version. It ought to be rendered, just as the word berith o”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 8:7: 8:7-13 The author quotes Jer 31:31-34, an Old Testament prophecy concerning the new covenant that includes a number of striking promises. Establishing the superiority of the new covenant lays a foundation for the argument in Heb 9:1–10:18 that the Son’s offering under the new covenant was superior to the offerings of the old covenant. 8:7 The first covenant, made at Sinai, was not faultless. It was not the end of God’s plan, because it didn’t solve human weaknesses (see 7:11-28; 8:9).”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 31:31: 31:31 The day of the new covenant was realized when Jesus Christ accomplished his redemptive mission on earth (see Heb 8:8-12).”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 6:18: 6:18 This first explicit mention of a covenant in the Bible refers to the unilateral pact that God made with humankind and the world after the flood (see 9:9, 11, 14-17).”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 9:9: 9:9-10 God had promised this covenant before the flood (6:18). Its scope extends beyond humanity to include the earth and all animals.”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 9:8: Here is, I. The general establishment of God's covenant with this new world, and the extent of that covenant, Gen 9:9, Gen 9:10. Here observe, 1. That God is graciously pleased to deal with man in the way of a covenant, wherein God greatly magnifies his condescending favour, and greatly encourages man's duty and obedience, as a reasonable and gainful service. 2. That all God's covenants with man are of his own making: I, behold, I. It is thus expressed both to raise our admiration - "Behold, and wonder, that though God be high yet he has this respect to man," and ”