Dictionary of Bible Themes: 8711 covenant breakers

8711 covenant breakers

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8711 covenant breakers

Covenants were central to OT life, with the result that those who broke covenants, and especially those who violated the covenant between God and Israel, were regarded as a serious threat to social stability.

The importance of covenants

The covenant between God and his people

Genesis 9:16 See also 2 Samuel 23:5; Isaiah 24:5; Isaiah 55:3

God will remain faithful to his covenant

Covenants between people

Covenants made in the sight of God were permanently binding

Numbers 30:2; 1 Samuel 23:16-18 See also Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4

Condemnation of those who break covenants

Hosea 6:7 See also Proverbs 2:17

Examples of covenants between people

Genesis 21:27; Joshua 24:24; 2 Samuel 5:3; 1 Kings 5:12; Kings 20:34; Jeremiah 34:8

Examples of breaking the covenant with God

Coveting the possessions of others

Ecclesiastes 4:4 See also Exodus 20:17

Stealing

Exodus 20:15 pp Deuteronomy 5:19 See also Deuteronomy 23:24

Using dishonest weights or scales

Leviticus 19:35-36; Proverbs 20:23 See also Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Hosea 12:7-8; Amos 8:5

Moving boundary stones

Proverbs 23:10 See also Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:17

Extortion

Habakkuk 2:6 See also Isaiah 10:1-2; Ezekiel 22:12; Amos 5:11

Breach of trust

Leviticus 6:2; Ezekiel 16:17

Not repaying loans

Psalm 37:21

Not paying fair wages

See also Genesis 31:6-9

Failing to care for aliens

Aliens living in Israel were regarded as having privileged status amongst Gentiles, and were treated as covenant people in some respects:

Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 29:9-15; Deuteronomy 31:12; Joshua 8:33-35