Covenant (biblical)

Lore & Background

The Hebrew term for covenant, בְּרִית, derives from a root meaning 'cutting,' because pacts were made by passing between cut pieces of animal sacrifice. Two major types exist in the Hebrew Bible: the obligatory type, common with Hittite peoples and dealing with equal parties, and the promissory type, seen in the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, which focus on a suzerain-vassal relationship similar to royal grants. In promissory covenants, God acts as the suzerain, rewarding loyalty with promises, as with Abraham, Noah, and David. According to Weinfeld, phrases like 'whole heart' and 'walked after me' parallel Neo-Assyrian grant language, and familial terms like fathership and sonship expressed political relationships in Near Eastern cultures.

Reader's Guide

Biblical covenants are central to understanding the relationship between God and humanity in the Hebrew Bible. They range from universal promises, like the Noahic covenant with all living creatures, to specific agreements with Abraham, the Israelite people, the priesthood, and the Davidic kings. The Noahic covenant, recounted in Genesis 9, applies to all life and includes God's promise never again to destroy the earth by flood, with the rainbow as its sign. The Abrahamic covenants, notably in Genesis 15 and 17, involve promises of land and descendants, with God binding himself by oath. The Mosaic covenant, often seen as a suzerainty treaty, unified the Israelite tribes under divine law. Later, Jeremiah 31:30–33 speaks of a new covenant with Israel and Judah, which some Christians view as a replacement or final fulfillment of the old covenant, while others hold a dual-covenant theology. Scholars debate the number of major covenants, ranging from one to at least twelve, with some classifying only two: a covenant of promise and a covenant of law.

Did You Know?

• The Hebrew term for covenant, בְּרִית, comes from a root meaning 'cutting,' because covenants were made by passing between cut pieces of animal sacrifice.
• The Noahic covenant applies to all living creatures and includes God's promise never again to destroy all life by flood, with the rainbow as its sign.
• According to Weinfeld, the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants are promissory types similar to ancient Near Eastern royal grants, where the suzerain rewards a loyal servant.
• The Book of Jeremiah 31:30–33 describes a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, which some Christians interpret as a replacement or final fulfillment of the old covenant.