Understanding the Various Covenants in Scripture
A covenant in biblical terms signifies a formal agreement or contract between two parties [2]. The Hebrew word for covenant, berith, is thought to derive from a root meaning "to cut," referencing the ancient practice of cutting animals in half and the covenanting parties passing between the divided pieces (Genesis 15; Jeremiah 34:18-19) [1, 2]. This ritual symbolized the solemnity of the agreement and the consequences of breaking it [1]. The Greek equivalent in the New Testament is diatheke, often translated as "testament" in older English versions, though "covenant" is generally preferred in modern translations [1, 6].
Covenants in Scripture are not merely human agreements but often involve God establishing a relationship with humanity or specific individuals and groups [1]. These divine covenants are foundational to understanding God's plan throughout salvation history. Key covenants include:
- The Noahic Covenant: After the flood, God covenanted with Noah that such a judgment would not be repeated [1].
- The Abrahamic Covenant: God made a covenant with Abraham, promising him land, numerous descendants, and that through him all nations would be blessed (Genesis 15:7-18; 17:2-14) [3]. This covenant is understood as God's unilateral commitment to establish salvation for humanity [13].
- The Mosaic (Sinai) Covenant: This covenant, made at Sinai, codified the relationship between the Lord and Israel, with the Ten Commandments at its heart (Exodus 20–23; Deuteronomy 4:13) [12]. It involved mutually binding obligations [12]. However, this "first covenant" was not considered faultless and did not fully address human weaknesses [10].
- The Davidic Covenant: God promised David an everlasting kingdom and a perpetual dynasty (2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89:3-4) [3, 5].
- The New Covenant: Prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34, this covenant is established through Jesus Christ [3, 10, 11]. The author of Hebrews highlights that the new covenant makes the first one obsolete (Hebrews 8:13) [9]. Jesus' blood is understood to ratify this new covenant, leading to the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:11-14) [3, 13]. This new covenant fulfills God's promise to Abraham and is characterized by God's law being written on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:33) [7, 13].
While human covenants can be made for various purposes like establishing friendship, securing assistance, or promoting commerce [4], divine covenants are primarily about God's redemptive purposes and His relationship with His people. The promises of God, often confirmed by an oath, are central to these covenants [8].
Sources
- 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Covenant, The — Christ, the substance of -- Isa 42:6; 49:8. Christ, the Mediator of -- Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24. Christ, the Messenger of -- Mal 3:1. Made with Abraham. -- Ge 15:7-18; 17:2-14; Lu 1:72-75; Ac 3:25; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 17:19,21; 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:13,14; 1Ch 16:16,17. Israel. -- Ex 6:4; Ac 3:25. David. -- 2Sa 23:5; Ps 89:3,4. Renewed under the gospel -- Jer 31:31-33; Ro 11:27; Heb 8:8-10,13. Fulfilled in Christ -- Lu 1:68-79. Confirmed in Christ -- Ga 3:17. Ratified by the blood of Christ -- Heb 9:11-14,16-23. Is a covenant of peace -- Isa 54:9,10; ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Covenants — Agreements between two parties -- Ge 26:28; Da 11:6. Designed for Establishing friendship. -- 1Sa 18:3. Procuring assistance in war. -- 1Ki 15:18,19. Mutual protection. -- Ge 26:28,29; 31:50-52. Establishing peace. -- Jos 9:15,16. Promoting commerce. -- 1Ki 5:6-11. Selling land. -- Ge 23:14-16. Conditions of Clearly specified. -- 1Sa 11:1,2. Conformed by oath. -- Ge 21:23,31; 26:31. Witnessed. -- Ge 23:17,18; Ru 4:9-11. Written and sealed. -- Ne 9:38; 10:1. God often called to witness -- Ge 31:50,53. When confirmed, unalterable -- Ga 3:15. Made by passing”
- Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H1285] berith (part 4/6) — with David Psa 89:4; 89:29; 89:34; 89:39; 132:12; Jer 33:21 (compare 2 Samuel 7 = 1 Chronicles 17); a divine promise to the seed of David of an everlasting kingdom, the relation of sonship, and the superintendence of the temple (compare Psalms 2..) g. Jehoiada and the people 2Kin 11:17 2Chr 23:3, a constitutional agreement to be the people of Yahweh. h. Hezekiah and the people2Chr 29:10, a constitutional agreement to reform the worship. i. Josiah and the people 2Kin 23:3, a constitutional agreement to obey the book of the covenant. j. Ezra and the people Ezra 10”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Testament — Occurs twelve times in the New Testament (Heb. 9:15, etc.) as the rendering of the Gr. diatheke, which is twenty times rendered "covenant" in the Authorized Version, and always so in the Revised Version. The Vulgate translates incorrectly by testamentum, whence the names "Old" and "New Testament," by which we now designate the two sections into which the Bible is divided. (See [629]BIBLE.)”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “2 Corinthians 3:3 cross-references: Exodus 24:12, Exodus 31:18, Exodus 34:1, Joshua 3:10, 1 Samuel 17:26, Psalms 40:8, Psalms 42:2, Psalms 84:2, Proverbs 3:3, Proverbs 7:3, Jeremiah 10:10, Jeremiah 17:1, Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:25, Daniel 6:26, Matthew 16:16, 1 Corinthians 8:5, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, Hebrews 8:10, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:16, Revelation 2:1, Revelation 2:8, Revelation 2:12, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:7, Revelation 3:14, Revelation 3:22”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Promises of God, The — Contained in the Scriptures -- Ro 1:2. Made in Christ -- Eph 3:6; 2Ti 1:1. Made to Christ. -- Ga 3:16,19. Abraham. -- Ge 12:3,7; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:14. David. -- 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3,4,35,36. The Israelites. -- Ro 9:4. The Fathers. -- Ac 13:32; 26:6,7. All who are called of God. -- Ac 2:39. Those who love him. -- Jas 1:12; 2:5. Confirmed by an oath -- Ps 89:3,4; Heb 8:6. Covenant established upon -- Heb 8:6. God is faithful to -- Tit 1:2; Heb 10:23. God remembers -- Ps 105:42; Lu 1:54,55. Are Good. -- 1Ki 8:56. Holy. -- ”
- Hebrews “In that he says, “A new covenant”, he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away. -- Hebrews 8:13”
- 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).”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 4:13: 4:13 The covenant is the key theological idea of Deuteronomy and perhaps of the entire Old Testament. A covenant was a legal arrangement involving two or more parties who entered into agreements with mutually binding obligations. The covenant at Sinai (Exod 20–23) codified this relationship between the Lord and Israel; in Deuteronomy, Moses interpreted and expanded the covenant for the new generation that was about to conquer and occupy the Promised Land. • The Ten Commandments (literally the ten words, “decalogue”) are so much at the heart of the covenant te”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 26:28: 26:28 the covenant: Under God’s covenant with Israel, the blood of sheep or goats (Exod 12:5, 13; 24:8) was shed and placed on the two doorposts and on the lintel at Passover (Exod 12:7). The blood of Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, establishes a new covenant (see Jer 31:31). The idea of the covenant is God’s unilateral commitment to establish salvation for mankind, fulfilling the promise to Abraham (see Gen 12; Gal 3:15-29; 4:12-31). • to forgive the sins of many: Jesus shed his blood as a sacrifice for sin (see Jer 31:31-34; Mark 14:24). Some have understood m”