Dictionary of Bible Themes A solemn agreement or promise, sometimes confirmed by sacrifice or by sharing in a meal, by which two or more parties commit themselves to the rights and responsibilities demanded by their relationship and their agreed course of action, and accept the serious consequences of breaking faith. 2 Samuel 5:3Kinds of covenant relationship The relationship between king and people See also 2 Samuel 3:21pp 1Ch 11:3 2 Kings 11:172 Chronicles 23:3 Joshua 9:15 See also Terms for peace granted to a weaker party 1 Samuel 11:11 Kings 15:19-20; 20:34 Ezekiel 17:13-14 1 Kings 5:12 See also A mutual commitment to peaceful relations Genesis 21:27; 26:28-29; 31:44Amos 1:9 Jeremiah 34:8 See also An agreement on a common course of action 2 Kings 11:4Ezra 10:3 Nehemiah 9:38 pp 2Ch 23:1 Psalms 83:5Proverbs 2:17 Malachi 2:14 The relationship between husband and wife Jeremiah 2:2Ezekiel 16:8 God's covenant with Israel is likened to a marriage: 1 Samuel 18:3See also An expression of friendship 1 Samuel 20:16-17Genesis 26:30; 31:53-54 Sealing a covenant By sharing a meal Matthew 26:26-29The meal Jesus Christ shared with his disciples is an important part of the institution of the new covenant: 1 Corinthians 11:23-25pp Mk 14:22-25 pp Lk 22:17-20 Jeremiah 34:18-19By offering a sacrifice Genesis 15:9-18Exodus 24:4-8 The Hebrew expression for making a covenant means, literally, "to cut a covenant". This may refer to the solemn practice, described here, of cutting an animal in half and walking between its pieces Psalms 50:5Hebrews 12:24 Genesis 21:31; 26:31 Sacrifice is an important part in sealing covenants made by God. Joshua 9:15By making an oath 2 Kings 11:4Nehemiah 10:28-29 Numbers 30:2 The obligations of a covenant 1 Samuel 20:8Covenant responsibilities must be honoured See also Joshua 9:18Matthew 5:33-37 Galatians 3:15 1 Samuel 20:42 See also Covenant obligations are watched over by God Genesis 31:48-54Joshua 9:19 Jeremiah 34:15-16 Malachi 2:14-16 Joshua 9:20 See also The consequences of breaking covenant faith Jeremiah 34:18-22Ezekiel 17:16-18 Amos 1:9 Exodus 34:12 Covenants with other nations are forbidden See also Deuteronomy 23:6Joshua 9:7 Exodus 23:32-33; 34:15-16 Deuteronomy 7:2-4 Covenants with other nations lead to a commitment to foreign gods Isaiah 28:15,18; 30:1-2; 31:1Hosea 12:1 Covenants with other nations lead to a denial of faith in God See also 5205 alliance5429 oaths 5592 treaty 5708 marriage 5783 agreement 6636 drawing near to God 7140 people of God 8207 commitment 8251 faithfulness to God 8324 purity 8712 denial of Christ 8768 idolatry |
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