Dictionary of Bible Themes: 1346 covenants, nature of

1346 covenants, nature of

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 1000 God » 1300 God, work of » 1345 covenant » 1346 covenants, nature of

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.

Kinds of covenant relationship

The relationship between king and people

2 Samuel 5:3 pp 1 Chronicles 11:3 See also 2 Samuel 3:21; 2 Kings 11:17; 2 Chronicles 23:3

Terms for peace granted to a weaker party

Joshua 9:15 See also 1 Samuel 11:1; 1 Kings 15:19-20; Kings 20:34; Ezekiel 17:13-14

A mutual commitment to peaceful relations

1 Kings 5:12 See also Genesis 21:27; Genesis 26:28-29; Genesis 31:44; Amos 1:9

An agreement on a common course of action

Jeremiah 34:8 See also 2 Kings 11:4 pp 2 Chronicles 23:1; Ezra 10:3; Nehemiah 9:38; Psalm 83:5

The relationship between husband and wife

Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14

God's covenant with Israel is likened to a marriage:

Jeremiah 2:2; Ezekiel 16:8

An expression of friendship

1 Samuel 18:3 See also 1 Samuel 20:16-17

Sealing a covenant

By sharing a meal

Genesis 26:30; Genesis 31:53-54

The meal Jesus Christ shared with his disciples is an important part of the institution of the new covenant:

Matthew 26:26-29 pp Mark 14:22-25 pp Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

By offering a sacrifice

Jeremiah 34:18-19 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; Genesis 15:9-18; Exodus 24:4-8; Psalm 50:5; Hebrews 12:24 Sacrifice is an important part in sealing covenants made by God.

By making an oath

Genesis 21:31; Genesis 26:31; Joshua 9:15; 2 Kings 11:4; Nehemiah 10:28-29

The obligations of a covenant

Covenant responsibilities must be honoured

Numbers 30:2; 1 Samuel 20:8 See also Joshua 9:18; Matthew 5:33-37; Galatians 3:15

Covenant obligations are watched over by God

1 Samuel 20:42 See also Genesis 31:48-54; Joshua 9:19; Jeremiah 34:15-16; Malachi 2:14-16

The consequences of breaking covenant faith

Joshua 9:20 See also Jeremiah 34:18-22; Ezekiel 17:16-18; Amos 1:9

Covenants with other nations are forbidden

Exodus 34:12 See also Deuteronomy 23:6; Joshua 9:7

Covenants with other nations lead to a commitment to foreign gods

Exodus 23:32-33; Exodus 34:15-16; Deuteronomy 7:2-4

Covenants with other nations lead to a denial of faith in God

Isaiah 28:15,18; Isaiah 30:1-2; Isaiah 31:1; Hosea 12:1