Reference: Covenant
American
The word testamentum is often used in Latin to express the Hebrew word which signifies covenant; whence the titles, Old and New Testaments, are used to denote the old and new covenants. See TESTAMENT.
A covenant is properly an agreement between two parties. Where one of the parties is infinitely superior to the other, as in a covenant between God and man, there God's covenant assumes the nature of a promise, Isa 59:21; Jer 31:33-34; Ga 3:15-18. The first covenant with the Hebrews was made when the Lord chose Abraham and his posterity for his people; a second covenant, or a solemn renewal of the former, was made at Sinai, comprehending all who observe the law of Moses. The "new covenant" of which Christ is the Mediator and Author, and which was confirmed by his blood, comprehends all who believe in him and are born again, Ga 4:24; Heb 7:22; 8:6-13; 9:15-23; 12:24. The divine covenants were ratified by the sacrifice of a victim, to show that without an atonement there could be no communication of blessing and salvation form God to man, Ge 15:1-8; Ex 24:6-8; Heb 9:6. Eminent believers among the covenant people of God were favored by the establishment of particular covenants, in which he promised them certain temporal favors; but these were only renewals to individuals of the "everlasting covenant," with temporal types and pledges of its fulfilment. Thus God covenanted with Noah, Abraham, and David, Ge 9:8-9; 17:4-5; Ps 89:3-4, and gave them faith in the Savior afterwards to be revealed, Ro 3:25; Heb 9:15.
In common discourse, we usually say the old and new testaments, or covenants-the covenant between God and the posterity of Abraham, and that which he has made with believers by Jesus Christ; because these two covenants contain eminently all the rest, which are consequences, branches, or explanations of them. The most solemn and perfect of the covenants of God with men is that made through the mediation of our Redeemer, which must subsist to the end of time. The Son of God is the guarantee of it; it is confirmed with his blood; the end and object of it is eternal life, and its constitution and laws are more exalted than those of the former covenant.
Theologians use the phrase "covenant of works" to denote the constitution established by God with man before the fall, the promise of which was eternal life on condition of obedience, Ho 6:7; Ro 3:27; Ga 2:19. They also use the phrase, "covenant of grace or redemption," to denote the arrangement made in the counsels of eternity, in virtue of which the Father forgives and saves sinful men redeemed by the death of the Son.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And God spake unto Noah, and unto his sons with him saying: I, therefore, behold me! establishing my covenant with you, - and with your seed after you;
After these things, came the word of Yahweh unto Abram, in a vision saying, - Do not fear Abram, am a shield to thee, thine exceeding great reward. And Abram said My Lord Yahweh, what canst thou give me, when, I, am going on childless, - and the heir of my house, is Eliezer, of Damascus, read more. And Abram said - Lo, to me, hast thou not given seed, - And lo! a son of my household, is mine heir! And lo! the word of Yahweh came unto him, saying, This one, shall not be thine heir: But one who cometh forth of thy body - hell shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad and said - Look steadfastly. I pray thee towards the heavens, and number the stars, if thou be able to number, them, And he said to him, Thus, shall be thy seed. And he had faith in Yahweh, - so he reckoned it to him as righteousness. And he said unto him, - I, am Yahweh, who brought thee forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. And he said, My Lord Yahweh, whereby, can I know that I shall inherit it?
As for me, lo! my covenant is with thee, - So shalt thou become - father of a multitude of nations; And thy name shall no more be called Abram, - but thy name shall become Abraham, for father of a multitude of nations, have I appointed thee;
Then took Moses half of the blood, and put it in basins, and half of the blood, dashed he over the altar: then took he the book of the covenant, and read in the ears of the people. And they said, All that Yahweh hath spoken, will we do, and will hearken, read more. Then Moses took the blood, and dashed over the people, and said, Lo! the blood of the covenant which Yahweh hath solemnised with you, over all these words.
I have solemnised a covenant, for my chosen one, I have sworn unto David my servant: Unto times age-abiding, will I establish thy seed, And will build up, unto generation after generation, thy throne. Selah.
And as for me, this, shall be my covenant with them, Saith Yahweh: My spirit that is upon thee, And my words which I have put in thy mouth, - Shall not he taken out of thy mouth - Nor out of the mouth of thy seed. Nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed, Saith Yahweh, From henceforth even unto times age-abiding.
For, this, is the covenant which I will solemnize with the house of Israel after those days Declareth Yahweh, I will put my law within them, Yea, on their heart, will I write it, - So will I become their God, And they shall become my people. Then shall they no longer teach Every man his neighbour, and Every man his brother, saying, Know ye Yahweh, - For, they all, shall know me, From the least of them Even unto the greatest of them, Declareth Yahweh, For I will forgive their iniquity, And their sin, will I remember, no more.
But, they, like Adam, have transgressed a covenant, - There, have they dealt treacherously with me.
Whom God hath set forth as a propitiatory covering, through faith in his blood, for a showing forth of his righteousness, by reason of the passing-by of the previously committed sins,
Where, then, the boasting! It is excluded. Through what kind of law? Of works? Nay! but through a law of faith:
For, I, through means of law, unto law, died, that, unto God, I might live: -
Brethren! in human fashion, am I speaking: yet still, a man's confirmed covenant, no one setteth aside or addeth unto: Now, unto Abraham, were spoken the promises - and unto his seed; - He saith not - and unto thy seeds, as of many, but, as of one - and unto thy seed, which is Christ: read more. And, this, I say - a covenant previously confirmed by God, the law which, after four hundred and thirty years, hath been brought into being, doth not annul, so as to do away with the promise. For, if, by law, is the inheritance, it is, no longer, by promise; but, unto Abraham, through promise, hath God favoured it.
Which things, indeed, may bear another meaning; for, the same, are two covenants, - one, indeed, from Mount Sinai, into bondage, bringing forth, the which is Hagar, -
But, now, hath he attained unto, a more distinguished public ministry, - by as much as of a better covenant also he is, mediator, which indeed, upon better promises, hath been legislated. For, if, that first, had been, faultless, not, in that case, for a second, had there been sought, a place. read more. For, finding fault with them, he saith - Lo! days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will conclude, for the house of Israel and the house of Judah, a covenant of a new sort: Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by their hand, to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt, - because, they, abode not in my covenant, and, I, disregarded them, saith the Lord. Because, this, is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord: - giving my laws into their understanding, upon their hearts also, will I inscribe them: and I will become their God, and, they, shall become my people; And in nowise shall they teach - every one his fellow-citizen, and every one his brother, saying, - Get to know the Lord! Because, all, shall know me, from the least unto the greatest of them; Because, propitious, will I be as to their unrighteousnesses, and, of their sins, in nowise will I be mindful, any more. In saying, Of a new sort, he hath made obsolete, the first; but, the thing that is becoming obsolete and aged, is near, disappearing!
Now, these things having been thus prepared, into the first tent, indeed, continually do the priests enter, the divine services completing;
And, for this cause, of a new covenant, is he mediator, - to the end that, death coming to pass for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance;
And, for this cause, of a new covenant, is he mediator, - to the end that, death coming to pass for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance; For, where a covenant is, it is necessary for, the death, to be brought in, of him that hath covenanted; read more. For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted. Whence, not even the first, apart from blood, hath been consecrated; For, when every commandment according to the law had been spoken by Moses unto all the people, taking the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, both, the scroll itself, and all the people, he sprinkled; Saying - This, is the blood of the covenant which, God, hath sent in command unto you: Yea, the tent also, and all the utensils of the public ministry, with blood, in like manner, he sprinkled: And, nearly, all things, with blood, are purified, according to the law, and, apart from blood-shedding, cometh no remission. It was indeed therefore necessary for the glimpses of the things in the heavens with these to be purified; but, the heavenly things themselves, with better sacrifices than these.
Easton
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 (Ge 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 of the Old Testament, "covenant."
This word is used (1) of a covenant or compact between man and man (Ge 21:32), or between tribes or nations (1Sa 11:1; Jos 9:6,15). In entering into a convenant, Jehovah was solemnly called on to witness the transaction (Ge 31:50), and hence it was called a "covenant of the Lord" (1Sa 20:8). The marriage compact is called "the covenant of God" (Pr 2:17), because the marriage was made in God's name. Wicked men are spoken of as acting as if they had made a "covenant with death" not to destroy them, or with hell not to devour them (Isa 28:15,18).
(2.) The word is used with reference to God's revelation of himself in the way of promise or of favour to men. Thus God's promise to Noah after the Flood is called a covenant (Ge 9; Jer 33:20, "my covenant"). We have an account of God's covernant with Abraham (Ge 17, comp. Le 26:42), of the covenant of the priesthood (Nu 25:12-13; De 33:9; Ne 13:29), and of the covenant of Sinai (Ex 34:27-28; Le 26:15), which was afterwards renewed at different times in the history of Israel (De 29; Jos 1:18; 2Ch 15; 23; 29; 34; Ezr 10; Ne 9). In conformity with human custom, God's covenant is said to be confirmed with an oath (De 4:31; Ps 89:3), and to be accompanied by a sign (Ge 9; 17). Hence the covenant is called God's "counsel," "oath," "promise" (Ps 89:3-4; 105:8-11; Heb 6:13-20; Lu 1:68-75). God's covenant consists wholly in the bestowal of blessing (Isa 59:21; Jer 31:33-34).
The term covenant is also used to designate the regular succession of day and night (Jer 33:20), the Sabbath (Ex 31:16), circumcision (Ge 17:9-10), and in general any ordinance of God (Jer 34:13-14).
A "covenant of salt" signifies an everlasting covenant, in the sealing or ratifying of which salt, as an emblem of perpetuity, is used (Nu 18:19; Le 2:13; 2Ch 13:5).
COVENANT OF WORKS, the constitution under which Adam was placed at his creation. In this covenant, (1.) The contracting parties were (a) God the moral Governor, and (b) Adam, a free moral agent, and representative of all his natural posterity (Ro 5:12-19). (2.) The promise was "life" (Mt 19:16-17; Ga 3:12). (3.) The condition was perfect obedience to the law, the test in this case being abstaining from eating the fruit of the "tree of knowledge," etc. (4.) The penalty was death (Ge 2:16-17).
This covenant is also called a covenant of nature, as made with man in his natural or unfallen state; a covenant of life, because "life" was the promise attached to obedience; and a legal covenant, because it demanded perfect obedience to the law.
The "tree of life" was the outward sign and seal of that life which was promised in the covenant, and hence it is usually called the seal of that covenant.
This covenant is abrogated under the gospel, inasmuch as Christ has fulfilled all its conditions in behalf of his people, and now offers salvation on the condition of faith. It is still in force, however, as it rests on the immutable justice of God, and is binding on all who have not fled to Christ and accepted his righteousness.
CONVENANT OF GRACE, the eternal plan of redemption entered into by the three persons of the Godhead, and carried out by them in its several parts. In it the Father represented the Godhead in its indivisible sovereignty, and the Son his people as their surety (Joh 17:4,6,9; Isa 42:6; Ps 89:3).
The conditions of this covenant were, (1.) On the part of the Father (a) all needful preparation to the Son for the accomplishment of his work (Heb 10:5; Isa 42:1-7); (b) support in the work (Lu 22:43); and (c) a glorious reward in the exaltation of Christ when his work was done (Php 2:6-11), his investiture with universal dominion (Joh 5:22; Ps 110:1), his having the administration of the covenant committed into his hands (Mt 28:18; Joh 1:12; 17:2; Ac 2:33), and in the final salvation of all his people (Isa 35:10; 53:10-11; Jer 31:33; Tit 1:2). (2.) On the part of the Son the conditions were (a) his becoming incarnate (Ga 4:4-5); and (b) as the second Adam his representing all his people, assuming their place and undertaking all their obligations under the violated covenant of works; (c) obeying the law (Ps 40:8; Isa 42:21; Joh 9:4-5), and (d) suffering its penalty (Isa 53; 2Co 5:21; Ga 3:13), in their stead.
Christ, the mediator of, fulfils all its conditions in behalf of his people, and dispenses to them all its blessings. In Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24, this title is given to Christ. (See Dispensation.)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Yahweh God laid command on the man, saying, - Of every tree of the garden, thou mayest eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not cat of it, - for in the day thou eatest thereof, thou shelf die.
And God said unto Abraham, But, as for thee, my covenant, must thou keep, thou and thy seed after thee, to their generations: - This, is my covenant which ye shall keep, betwixt me and you, and thy seed after thee, - To circumcise to you every male:
And when they had solemnised a covenant in Beer-sheba, - then arose Abimelech, with Phicol chief of his host, and returned unto the land of the Philistines.
If thou oppress my daughters, or if thou take wives besides my daughters, - there may be no man with us - see! God, be witness betwixt me, and thee!
Therefore shall the sons of Israel keep the sabbath, - by making it a Day of Rest to your generations, as an age-abiding covenant:
And Yahweh said unto Moses, Write for thyself these words, for according to the tenor of these words, have I solemnized with thee, a covenant, and with Israel. So then he was there, with Yahweh, forty days and forty nights, bread, did he not eat and, water, did he not drink, and he wrote upon the tables, the words of the covenant, the ten words.
And, every meal-offering oblation of thine, with salt, shalt thou season, and thou shelf not suffer to be lacking the salt of the covenant of thy God, from upon thy meal-offering, - upon every oblation of thine, shalt thou offer salt.
And if, my statutes, ye refuse, And, my regulations, your souls shall abhor, - So that ye will not do all my commandments, But shall break my covenant
Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob Yea moreover, my covenant with Isaac, Yea moreover, my covenant with Abraham, will I remember; And the land, will I remember.
all the heave-offerings of the holy things which the sons of Israel shall heave up unto Yahweh, have I given unto thee and unto thy sons and unto thy daughters with thee by a statute age-abiding, - an age-abiding covenant of salt, it is before Yahweh, for thee and for thy seed with thee.
Wherefore say, - Behold me! giving unto him my covenant of peace; so shall it prove to be unto him and unto his seed after him, the covenant of our age-abiding priesthood, because he was jealous for his God, and did put a propitiatory-covering over the sons of Israel.
For, a GOD of compassion, is Yahweh thy God, he will not forsake thee neither will he destroy thee, - nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
Who saith of his father and of his mother, I behold them not, And, his own brethren, regardeth he not, And, his own sons, observeth he not, - Because they watch thy speech, That, thy covenant, they may preserve,;
Any man who shall rebel against thy bidding, and not hearken unto thy words in all that thou shalt command him, shall be put to death, - only be firm and bold.
So they took their journey unto Joshua, unto the camp, at Gilgal, - and said unto him, and unto the men of Israel, From a far country, are we come, Now, therefore, solemnise with us a covenant.
And Joshua made peace with them, and solemnised with them a covenant to let them live, - and the princes of the assembly, entered into an oath with them.
Then came up Nahash the Ammonite, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead, - and all the man of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Solemnise with us a covenant, that we may serve thee.
Thus shalt thou do a lovingkindness for thy servant, for, into a covenant of Yahweh, hast thou brought thy servant, with thee, - But, if there is in me transgression, put me to death, thyself, for, unto thy father, wherefore shouldst thou bring me in?
Remember them, O my God, - on account of the Defilings of the Priesthood, and the Covenant of the Priesthood, and of the Levites.
To do thy good-pleasure, O my God, is my delight, And, thy law, is in the midst of mine inward parts:
I have solemnised a covenant, for my chosen one, I have sworn unto David my servant:
I have solemnised a covenant, for my chosen one, I have sworn unto David my servant:
I have solemnised a covenant, for my chosen one, I have sworn unto David my servant: Unto times age-abiding, will I establish thy seed, And will build up, unto generation after generation, thy throne. Selah.
He hath remembered, unto times age-abiding, his covenant, The word he commanded, to a thousand generations;
And confirmed if unto Jacob for a statute, To Israel, as a covenant age-abiding; Saying, To thee, will I give the land of Canaan, As your inherited portion;
The declaration of Yahweh to my Lord - Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Who forsaketh the friend of her youth, and, the covenant of her God, hath forgotten;
Because ye have said - We have solemnised a covenant with death, And with hades, have we effected a vision, - The overflowing scourge when it sweepeth by, shall not reach unto us, For we have made lying our refuge. And in falsehood, have we hid ourselves,
So shall be wiped out your covenant with death, And your vision with hades, not stand, - When the overflowing scourge, sweepeth past, then shall ye be thereby beaten down:
And the ransomed of Yahweh! shall return, And shall enter Zion with shouting, With gladness age-abiding, upon their head, Joy and gladness shall overtake them, And sorrow and sighing, shall flee away.
Lo! my Servant, I will uphold him, My chosen, well-pleased is my soul, - I have put my spirit upon him, Justice - to the nations, will he bring forth: He will not cry out nor will he speak loud, - Nor cause to be heard, in the street, his voice: read more. Cane that is crushed, will he not break, And wick that is fading, will he not quench, - Faithfully, will he bring forth justice: He will not fade, nor will he be crushed, Until he establish, in the earth, justice, And for his instruction, Coastlands, wait. Thus, saith GOD himself - Yahweh, - Creator of the heavens that stretched them forth, Out-spreader of earth, and the products thereof, - Giver of breath to the people thereon, And of spirit to them who walk therein, I - Yahweh, have called thee in righteousness, And will firmly grasp thy hand, - And will keep thee And give thee - As the covenant of a people, As the light of nations:
I - Yahweh, have called thee in righteousness, And will firmly grasp thy hand, - And will keep thee And give thee - As the covenant of a people, As the light of nations: To open eyes that are blind, - To bring forth Out of the dungeon the captive Out of the prison, the dwellers in darkness.
Yahweh, is well-pleased for his own righteousness sake, He magnifieth instruction and maketh it majestic.
Yet, Yahweh, purposed to bruise him, He laid on him sickness: - If his soul become an offering for guilt, He shall see a seed, He shall prolong his days, - And the purpose of Yahweh, in his hand, shall prosper: Of the travail of his soul, shall he see He shall be satisfied with his knowledge, A setting right when set right himself, shall my Servant win for the Many, Since of their iniquities, he, taketh the burden.
And as for me, this, shall be my covenant with them, Saith Yahweh: My spirit that is upon thee, And my words which I have put in thy mouth, - Shall not he taken out of thy mouth - Nor out of the mouth of thy seed. Nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed, Saith Yahweh, From henceforth even unto times age-abiding.
For, this, is the covenant which I will solemnize with the house of Israel after those days Declareth Yahweh, I will put my law within them, Yea, on their heart, will I write it, - So will I become their God, And they shall become my people.
For, this, is the covenant which I will solemnize with the house of Israel after those days Declareth Yahweh, I will put my law within them, Yea, on their heart, will I write it, - So will I become their God, And they shall become my people. Then shall they no longer teach Every man his neighbour, and Every man his brother, saying, Know ye Yahweh, - For, they all, shall know me, From the least of them Even unto the greatest of them, Declareth Yahweh, For I will forgive their iniquity, And their sin, will I remember, no more.
Thus, saith Yahweh, If ye can break, My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night, That there be not day and night in their season,
Thus, saith Yahweh, If ye can break, My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night, That there be not day and night in their season,
Thus, saith Yahweh God of Israel, - I myself, solemnised a covenant with your fathers, in the day when I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves saying: At the end of seven years, shall ye let go every man his brother, being a Hebrew, who shall sell himself unto thee and serve thee, six years, then shalt thou let him go, free, from thee, Howbeit your fathers hearkened not unto me neither inclined their ear.
and will give the men who are transgressing my covenant, in that they have not confirmed the words of the covenant, which they solemnised, before me, when they cut the calf, in twain, and passed between the parts thereof; even the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs and the priests, and all the people of the land, - who passed between the parts of the calf,
And lo! one coming near unto him, said, Teacher! what good thing shall I do, that I may have life age-abiding? And, he, said unto him - Why dost thou question me concerning that which is good? There is, One, that is good! But, if thou desirest, into life, to enter, be keeping the commandments.
And Jesus, coming near, spake unto them, saying - All authority, in heaven and on earth, hath been given unto me;
Blessed, be the Lord, the God of Israel! Because he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, In the house of David his servant: read more. According as he hath spoken by mouth of his holy ancient prophets, - Of salvation from among our foes, and out of the hand of all them that hate us: To perform mercy with our fathers, and to be mindful of his holy covenant, - The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, To grant us, without fear, from the hand of enemies rescued, to be rendering divine service unto him, in lovingkindness and righteousness before him, all our days.
But, as many as did receive him, he gave, unto them, authority, children of God, to become, - unto them who were believing on his name:
For neither doth, the Father, judge anyone, - but, all the judging, hath given unto the Son:
We must needs be working the works of him that sent me, while it is, day: There cometh a night, when, no one, can work. Whensoever I may be, in the world, I am, the light, of the world.
Even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that, as touching whatsoever thou hast given him, he might give unto them, life age-abiding.
I, glorified thee on the earth, The work, finishing, which thou hast given me that I should do.
I manifested thy name, unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: Thine, they were, and, to me, thou gavest them, and, thy word, have they kept:
I, concerning them, make request: not, concerning the world, do I make request, but concerning them whom thou hast given me, because, thine, they are, -
By the right hand of God, therefore, having been exalted, also, the promise of the Holy Spirit, having received from the Father, He hath poured out this which, yourselves, do see and hear.
For this cause, - just as, through one man, sin into the world entered, and through sin, death, - and, so, unto all men death passed through, for that all had sinned; - For, until law, sin was in the world, although sin is not reckoned when there is no law, - read more. Yet still, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them who had not sinned after the likeness of the transgression of Adam, - who is a type of the Coming One; - But, not as the fault, so, alsothe decree of favour, for, if, by the fault of the one, the many died, much more, the favour of God and the free-gift in favour, by the one man Jesus Christ, unto the many superabounded; And, not as through one that sinned, is that which is freely given, for, the sentence of judgment, indeed, was - out of one fault into condemnation, whereas, the decree of favour, is - out of many faults, into a recovery of righteousness. For, if, by the fault of the one, death reigned through the one, much more, they who the superabundance of the favour and of the free-gift ofthe righteousness do receive, in life, shall reign through the one, Jesus Christ. Hence then, as through one fault, the sentence was unto all men unto condemnation, so, also, through one recovery of righteousness, the decree of favour is unto all men for righteous acquittal unto life; For, just as, through the disobedience of the one man, sinners, the many were constituted, so, also, through the obedience of the one, righteous, the many shall be constituted -
Him who knew not sin, in our behalf, he made to be, sin, that we might become God's righteousness in him.
And, the law, is not of faith, but - he that hath done them, shall live in them, Christ, hath redeemed, us, out of the curse of the law, having become, in our behalf, a curse; - because it is written - Cursed, is every one that hangeth upon a tree; -
But, when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, who came to be of a woman, who came to be under law, - That, them who were under law, he might redeem, that, the sonship, we might duly receive; -
Who, in form of God, subsisting, not, a thing to be seized, accounted the being equal with God, But, himself, emptied, taking, a servant's form, coming to be, in men's likeness; read more. And, in fashion, being found, as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient as far as death, yea, death upon a cross. Wherefore also, God, uplifted him far on high, and favoured him with the name which is above every name, - In order that, in the name of Jesus, every knee might bow - of beings in heaven, and on earth, and underground, - And, every tongue, might openly confess - that Jesus Christ is, Lord, unto the glory of God the Father.
In hope of life age-abiding; which God, who cannot lie, promised before age-during times,
For, when to Abraham God made promise, seeing he had no one greater by whom to swear, He sware, by himself, - saying - Truly, if blessing I will bless thee, and, multiplying, I will multiply thee; read more. And, thus, being patient, he attained unto the promise. For, men, by the greater one, swear, and, with them, an end of all gainsaying by way of confirmation is, the oath: Wherein God, being, more abundantly disposed to shew forth unto the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his counsel, mediated, with an oath, - In order that, through means of two unchangeable things, in which it was impossible for God to make himself false, a mighty consolation, we might have, who have fled along to grasp, the fore-lying hope, Which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into the interior of the veil: Where a forerunner in our behalf hath entered, even Jesus, who, according to the rank of Melchizedek, hath become, a high-priest unto times age-abiding.
But, now, hath he attained unto, a more distinguished public ministry, - by as much as of a better covenant also he is, mediator, which indeed, upon better promises, hath been legislated.
And, for this cause, of a new covenant, is he mediator, - to the end that, death coming to pass for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance;
Wherefore, coming into the world, he saith: Sacrifice and offering, thou willedst not, but, a body, hast thou fitted for me, -
Fausets
Hebrew berit, Greek diatheekee. From baarah "to divide" or" cut in two" a victim (Gesenius), between the parts of which the covenanting parties passed (Ge 15:9, etc.; Jer 34:18-19). Probably the covenanting parties eating together (which barah sometimes means) of the feast after the sacrifice entered into the idea; compare Ge 31:46-47, Jacob and Laban.
A COVENANT OF SALT, taken in connection with the eastern phrase for friendship, "to eat salt together," confirms this view. Salt, the antidote to corruption, was used in every sacrifice, to denote purity and perpetuity (Le 2:13; Mr 9:49). So a perpetual covenant or appointment (Nu 18:19; 2Ch 13:5). The covenant alluded to in Ho 6:7 margin is not with Adam (KJV "men" is better, compare Ps 82:7), for nowhere else is the expression "covenant" applied to Adam's relation to God, though the thing is implied in Ro 5:12-19; 1Co 15:22; but the Sinaitic covenant which Israel transgressed as lightly as "men" break their every day covenants with their fellow men, or else they have transgressed like other "men," though distinguished above all men by extraordinary spiritual privileges.
Covenant in the strict sense, as requiring two independent contracting parties, cannot apply to a covenant between God and man. His covenant must be essentially one of gratuitous promise, an act of pure grace on His part (Ga 3:15, etc.). So in Ps 89:28 "covenant" is explained by the parallel word "mercy." So God's covenant not to destroy the earth again by water (Genesis 9; Jer 33:20). But the covenant, on God's part gratuitous, requires man's acceptance of and obedience to it, as the consequence of His grace experienced, and the end which He designs to His glory, not that it is the meritorious condition of it. The Septuagint renders berit by diatheekee (not suntheekee, "a mutual compact"), i.e. a gracious disposal by His own sovereign will. So Lu 22:29, "I appoint (diatithemai, cognate to diatheekee, by testamentary or gratuitous disposition) unto you a kingdom."
The legal covenant of Sinai came in as a parenthesis (pareiselthee; Ro 5:20) between the promise to Abraham and its fulfillment in his promised seed, Christ. "It was added because of the (so Greek) transgressions" (Ga 3:19), i.e. to bring them, and so man's great need, into clearer view (Ro 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:7-9). For this end its language was that, of a more stipulating kind as between two parties mutually covenanting, "the man that doeth these things shall live by them" (Ro 10:5). But the promise to David (2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89; 2; 72; Isaiah 11) took up again that to Abraham, defining the line, the Davidic, as that in which the promised seed should come.
As the promise found its fulfillment in Christ, so also the law, for He fulfilled it for us that He might be "the Lord our righteousness," "the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Jer 23:6; 1Co 1:30; Ro 10:4; Mt 3:15; 5:17; Isa 42:21; 45:24-25). In Heb 9:15-18 the gospel covenant is distinguished from the legal, as the New Testament contrasted with the Old Testament "Testament" is the better translation here, as bringing out the idea of diatheekee, God's gracious disposal or appointment of His blessings to His people, rather than suntheekee, mutual engagement between Him and them as though equals.
A human "testament" in this one respect illustrates the nature of the covenant; by death Christ chose to lose all the glory and blessings which are His, that we, who were under death's bondage, might inherit all. Thus the ideas of "mediator of the covenant," and "testator," meet in Him, who at once fulfills God's "covenant of promise," and graciously disposes to us all that is His. In most other passages "covenant" would on the whole be the better rendering. "Testament" for each of the two divisions of the Bible comes from the Latin Vulgate version. In Mt 26:28, "this is My blood of the new testament" would perhaps better be translated "covenant," for a testament does not require blood shedding. Still, here and in the original (Ex 24:8) quoted by Christ the idea of testamentary disposition enters.
For his blood was the seal of the testament. See below. Moses by "covenant" means one giving the heavenly inheritance (typified by Canaan) after the testator's death, which was represented by the sacrificial blood he sprinkled. Paul by testament means one with conditions, and so far a covenant, the conditions being fulfilled by Christ, not by us. We must indeed believe, but even this God works in His people (Eph 2:8). Heb 9:17, "a testament is in force after men are dead," just as the Old Testament covenant was in force only in connection with slain sacrificial victims which represent the death of Christ. The fact of the death must be "brought forward" (Heb 9:16) to give effect to the will. The word" death," not sacrifice or slaying, shows that "testament" is meant in Heb 9:15-20. These requisites of a "testament" here concur:
1. The Testator.
2. The heirs.
3. Goods.
4. The Testator's death.
5. The fact of His death brought forward. In Mt 26:28 two additional requisites appear.
6. Witnesses, His disciples.
7. The seal, the sacrament of the Lord's supper, the sign of His blood, wherewith the testament is sealed. The heir is ordinarily the successor of him who dies, and who so ceases to have possession. But Christ comes to life again, and is Himself (including all that He had), in the power of tits now endless life, His people's inheritance; in His being heir (Heb 1:2; Ps 2:8) they are heirs.
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And he said unto him, Take for me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove and a young pigeon.
And he said unto him, Take for me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove and a young pigeon.
Then said Jacob to his brethren - Gather stones. And they took stones and made a heap, - and they did eat there, by the heap.
Then said Jacob to his brethren - Gather stones. And they took stones and made a heap, - and they did eat there, by the heap. And Laban called it, Jegar-sahadutha, - but, Jacob, called it, Galeed.
Then Moses took the blood, and dashed over the people, and said, Lo! the blood of the covenant which Yahweh hath solemnised with you, over all these words.
Then Moses took the blood, and dashed over the people, and said, Lo! the blood of the covenant which Yahweh hath solemnised with you, over all these words.
And, every meal-offering oblation of thine, with salt, shalt thou season, and thou shelf not suffer to be lacking the salt of the covenant of thy God, from upon thy meal-offering, - upon every oblation of thine, shalt thou offer salt.
And, every meal-offering oblation of thine, with salt, shalt thou season, and thou shelf not suffer to be lacking the salt of the covenant of thy God, from upon thy meal-offering, - upon every oblation of thine, shalt thou offer salt.
all the heave-offerings of the holy things which the sons of Israel shall heave up unto Yahweh, have I given unto thee and unto thy sons and unto thy daughters with thee by a statute age-abiding, - an age-abiding covenant of salt, it is before Yahweh, for thee and for thy seed with thee.
all the heave-offerings of the holy things which the sons of Israel shall heave up unto Yahweh, have I given unto thee and unto thy sons and unto thy daughters with thee by a statute age-abiding, - an age-abiding covenant of salt, it is before Yahweh, for thee and for thy seed with thee.
Ask of me, and let me give nations as thine inheritance, and, as thy possession, the ends of the earth:
Ask of me, and let me give nations as thine inheritance, and, as thy possession, the ends of the earth:
But indeed, like the earth-born, shall ye die! And, like one of the princes, shall ye fall!
But indeed, like the earth-born, shall ye die! And, like one of the princes, shall ye fall!
Age-abidingly, will I keep for him my lovingkindness, And, my covenant, hath been made steadfast for him;
Age-abidingly, will I keep for him my lovingkindness, And, my covenant, hath been made steadfast for him;
Yahweh, is well-pleased for his own righteousness sake, He magnifieth instruction and maketh it majestic.
Yahweh, is well-pleased for his own righteousness sake, He magnifieth instruction and maketh it majestic.
Only in Yahweh - for me, Hath one said, Is there righteousness and strength, Unto him, shall come and turn pale - All who have been incensed against him:
Only in Yahweh - for me, Hath one said, Is there righteousness and strength, Unto him, shall come and turn pale - All who have been incensed against him: In Yahweh, shall be justified and shall boast themselves - All the seed of Israel.
In Yahweh, shall be justified and shall boast themselves - All the seed of Israel.
In his days, Shall Judah be saved, And Israeli abide securely, - And, this, is his name whereby he shall be called Yahweh, our Righteousness.
In his days, Shall Judah be saved, And Israeli abide securely, - And, this, is his name whereby he shall be called Yahweh, our Righteousness.
Thus, saith Yahweh, If ye can break, My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night, That there be not day and night in their season,
Thus, saith Yahweh, If ye can break, My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night, That there be not day and night in their season,
and will give the men who are transgressing my covenant, in that they have not confirmed the words of the covenant, which they solemnised, before me, when they cut the calf, in twain, and passed between the parts thereof;
and will give the men who are transgressing my covenant, in that they have not confirmed the words of the covenant, which they solemnised, before me, when they cut the calf, in twain, and passed between the parts thereof; even the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs and the priests, and all the people of the land, - who passed between the parts of the calf,
even the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs and the priests, and all the people of the land, - who passed between the parts of the calf,
But, they, like Adam, have transgressed a covenant, - There, have they dealt treacherously with me.
But, they, like Adam, have transgressed a covenant, - There, have they dealt treacherously with me.
But Jesus answering, said unto him, Suffer me even now, - for, thus, it becometh us, to fulfil, all righteousness; then, he suffered him.
But Jesus answering, said unto him, Suffer me even now, - for, thus, it becometh us, to fulfil, all righteousness; then, he suffered him.
Do not think, that I came to pull down the law, or the prophets, - I came not to pull down, but to fulfil.
Do not think, that I came to pull down the law, or the prophets, - I came not to pull down, but to fulfil.
For, this, is my blood of the covenant, which, for many, is to be poured out, for remission of sins.
For, this, is my blood of the covenant, which, for many, is to be poured out, for remission of sins.
For, this, is my blood of the covenant, which, for many, is to be poured out, for remission of sins.
For, this, is my blood of the covenant, which, for many, is to be poured out, for remission of sins.
And, I, covenant unto you - as my Father hath covenanted unto me - a kingdom,
And, I, covenant unto you - as my Father hath covenanted unto me - a kingdom,
Inasmuch as, by works of law, shall no flesh be declared righteous before him, - through law, in fact, is discovery of sin.
Inasmuch as, by works of law, shall no flesh be declared righteous before him, - through law, in fact, is discovery of sin.
For, the law, worketh out anger, but, where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
For, the law, worketh out anger, but, where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
For this cause, - just as, through one man, sin into the world entered, and through sin, death, - and, so, unto all men death passed through, for that all had sinned; -
For this cause, - just as, through one man, sin into the world entered, and through sin, death, - and, so, unto all men death passed through, for that all had sinned; - For, until law, sin was in the world, although sin is not reckoned when there is no law, -
For, until law, sin was in the world, although sin is not reckoned when there is no law, -
For, until law, sin was in the world, although sin is not reckoned when there is no law, -
For, until law, sin was in the world, although sin is not reckoned when there is no law, - Yet still, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them who had not sinned after the likeness of the transgression of Adam, - who is a type of the Coming One; -
Yet still, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them who had not sinned after the likeness of the transgression of Adam, - who is a type of the Coming One; - But, not as the fault, so, alsothe decree of favour, for, if, by the fault of the one, the many died, much more, the favour of God and the free-gift in favour, by the one man Jesus Christ, unto the many superabounded;
But, not as the fault, so, alsothe decree of favour, for, if, by the fault of the one, the many died, much more, the favour of God and the free-gift in favour, by the one man Jesus Christ, unto the many superabounded; And, not as through one that sinned, is that which is freely given, for, the sentence of judgment, indeed, was - out of one fault into condemnation, whereas, the decree of favour, is - out of many faults, into a recovery of righteousness.
And, not as through one that sinned, is that which is freely given, for, the sentence of judgment, indeed, was - out of one fault into condemnation, whereas, the decree of favour, is - out of many faults, into a recovery of righteousness. For, if, by the fault of the one, death reigned through the one, much more, they who the superabundance of the favour and of the free-gift ofthe righteousness do receive, in life, shall reign through the one, Jesus Christ.
For, if, by the fault of the one, death reigned through the one, much more, they who the superabundance of the favour and of the free-gift ofthe righteousness do receive, in life, shall reign through the one, Jesus Christ. Hence then, as through one fault, the sentence was unto all men unto condemnation, so, also, through one recovery of righteousness, the decree of favour is unto all men for righteous acquittal unto life;
Hence then, as through one fault, the sentence was unto all men unto condemnation, so, also, through one recovery of righteousness, the decree of favour is unto all men for righteous acquittal unto life; For, just as, through the disobedience of the one man, sinners, the many were constituted, so, also, through the obedience of the one, righteous, the many shall be constituted -
For, just as, through the disobedience of the one man, sinners, the many were constituted, so, also, through the obedience of the one, righteous, the many shall be constituted - Law, however, gained admission, in order that the fault might abound, but, where the sin abounded, the favour greatly superabounded:
Law, however, gained admission, in order that the fault might abound, but, where the sin abounded, the favour greatly superabounded:
What, then, shall we say? Is the law sin? Far be it! On the contrary, I had not discovered, sin, save through law, for even, of coveting, I had not been aware if, the law, had not kept on saying - Thou shall not covet;
What, then, shall we say? Is the law sin? Far be it! On the contrary, I had not discovered, sin, save through law, for even, of coveting, I had not been aware if, the law, had not kept on saying - Thou shall not covet; Howbeit sin taking, occasion - through the commandment, wrought out in me all manner of coveting; for, apart from law, sin is dead; -
Howbeit sin taking, occasion - through the commandment, wrought out in me all manner of coveting; for, apart from law, sin is dead; - And, I, was alive, apart from law, at one time, but, the commandment coming, sin sprang up to life,
And, I, was alive, apart from law, at one time, but, the commandment coming, sin sprang up to life,
For Christ is an end of law, for righteousness, unto every one that believeth.
For Christ is an end of law, for righteousness, unto every one that believeth. For, Moses, writeth that - as touching the righteousness that is by law, The man that hath done it , shall live thereby;
For, Moses, writeth that - as touching the righteousness that is by law, The man that hath done it , shall live thereby;
Brethren! in human fashion, am I speaking: yet still, a man's confirmed covenant, no one setteth aside or addeth unto:
Brethren! in human fashion, am I speaking: yet still, a man's confirmed covenant, no one setteth aside or addeth unto:
Why, then, the law? Because of the transgressions, it was added, until such time as the seed should come, unto whom the promise had been made, and was given in charge through messengers, at the hand of a mediator;
Why, then, the law? Because of the transgressions, it was added, until such time as the seed should come, unto whom the promise had been made, and was given in charge through messengers, at the hand of a mediator;
For, by his favour, have ye been saved, through means of faith, and this hath come to pass - not from you, of God, the free-gift!
For, by his favour, have ye been saved, through means of faith, and this hath come to pass - not from you, of God, the free-gift!
At the end of these days, He hath spoken unto us in his Son, - whom he hath appointed heir of all things, through whom also he hath made the ages;
At the end of these days, He hath spoken unto us in his Son, - whom he hath appointed heir of all things, through whom also he hath made the ages;
And, for this cause, of a new covenant, is he mediator, - to the end that, death coming to pass for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance;
And, for this cause, of a new covenant, is he mediator, - to the end that, death coming to pass for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance;
And, for this cause, of a new covenant, is he mediator, - to the end that, death coming to pass for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance;
And, for this cause, of a new covenant, is he mediator, - to the end that, death coming to pass for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance; For, where a covenant is, it is necessary for, the death, to be brought in, of him that hath covenanted;
For, where a covenant is, it is necessary for, the death, to be brought in, of him that hath covenanted;
For, where a covenant is, it is necessary for, the death, to be brought in, of him that hath covenanted;
For, where a covenant is, it is necessary for, the death, to be brought in, of him that hath covenanted;
For, where a covenant is, it is necessary for, the death, to be brought in, of him that hath covenanted;
For, where a covenant is, it is necessary for, the death, to be brought in, of him that hath covenanted; For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted.
For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted.
For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted.
For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted.
For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted.
For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted. Whence, not even the first, apart from blood, hath been consecrated;
Whence, not even the first, apart from blood, hath been consecrated; For, when every commandment according to the law had been spoken by Moses unto all the people, taking the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, both, the scroll itself, and all the people, he sprinkled;
For, when every commandment according to the law had been spoken by Moses unto all the people, taking the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, both, the scroll itself, and all the people, he sprinkled; Saying - This, is the blood of the covenant which, God, hath sent in command unto you:
Saying - This, is the blood of the covenant which, God, hath sent in command unto you:
Hastings
The term is of frequent occurrence in the Bible, and is used in the general sense of a compact or agreement between parties, and also in the more technical and legal sense of an arrangement entered into by God, and confirmed or sealed with the due formalities. The Hebrew word (ber
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Yahweh God laid command on the man, saying, - Of every tree of the garden, thou mayest eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not cat of it, - for in the day thou eatest thereof, thou shelf die.
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not cat of it, - for in the day thou eatest thereof, thou shelf die.
therefore will I establish my covenant with thee, - and thou shalt enter into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons wives, with thee.
And God spake unto Noah, and unto his sons with him saying: I, therefore, behold me! establishing my covenant with you, - and with your seed after you; read more. and with every living soul that is with you, of birds, of tame-beasts and of all wild-beasts of the earth that are with you, - of all coming forth out of the ark, even to all wild-beasts of the earth; yea, I will establish my covenant with you, so that all flesh shall not be cut off any more, by reason of the waters of a flood, - neither shall there he any more a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This, is the sign of the covenant which I am granting betwixt me and you, and every living soul that is with you, - to age-abiding generations: -
And God said, This, is the sign of the covenant which I am granting betwixt me and you, and every living soul that is with you, - to age-abiding generations: - My bow, have I set in the cloud, - and it shall be for a sign of a covenant, betwixt me and the earth; read more. and it shall be when I draw a veil of cloud over the earth, - and the bow in the cloud appeareth, then will I remember my covenant which is betwixt me and you, and every living soul among all flesh, - that the waters may no more become a flood, to destroy all flesh: so the bow shall be in the cloud, - and I will behold it, to remember an age-abiding covenant, between God, and every living soul among all flesh that is on the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the sign of the covenant which have established, between me and all flesh that is on the earth.
So he took for him all these, and divided them, in the midst, and placed each piece over against its fellow, hut the birds, divided he not.
So it came to pass when, the sun, had gone in, and Ira thick darkness, had come on, that lo there was a smoking hearth and torch of fire, which passed through between these pieces. In that day, did Yahweh solemnise with Abram a covenant, saying, - To thy seed, have I given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river - the river Euphrates:
That I may set my covenant betwixt me and thee, And may multiply thee, exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face, - and God spake with him, saying: read more. As for me, lo! my covenant is with thee, - So shalt thou become - father of a multitude of nations; And thy name shall no more be called Abram, - but thy name shall become Abraham, for father of a multitude of nations, have I appointed thee; And I will make thee fruitful, exceedingly, and grant thee to be nations, - Yea kings, out of thee, shall come forth; And I will confirm my covenant betwixt me and thee and thy seed after thee to their generations for an age-abiding covenant, - to become to thee a God, and to thy seed after thee;
And I will confirm my covenant betwixt me and thee and thy seed after thee to their generations for an age-abiding covenant, - to become to thee a God, and to thy seed after thee; And I will give to thee and to thy seed after thee the land of thy sojournings - all the land of Canaan, for an age-abiding possession - And I will be to them a God. read more. And God said unto Abraham, But, as for thee, my covenant, must thou keep, thou and thy seed after thee, to their generations: - This, is my covenant which ye shall keep, betwixt me and you, and thy seed after thee, - To circumcise to you every male: So shall ye be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, - So shall it become a sign of a covenant, betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old, shall be circumcised to you every male to your generations, - he that is born of the house, and he that is bought with silver of any son of a stranger, who is, not of thy seed, He must surely be circumcised, born of thy house or bought with thy silver, - So shall my covenant be in your flesh for an age-abiding covenant. But, as for the uncircumcised male who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, - that person shall be cut off from among his people, - my covenant, hath he made void. And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, - but, Sarah, is her name; and I will bless her, yea moreover will give - from her - to thee, a son, - And I will bless her, and she shall become nations. Kings of peoples, from her, shall arise. And Abraham fell on his face and laughed, - and said in his heart To one a hundred years old, shall a child be born? And shall even Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth? And Abraham said unto God, - Oh that, Ishmael, might live before thee! And God said - Truly, Sarah thy wife, is about to bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name, Isaac, - and I will establish my covenant with him as an age-abiding covenant, to his seed after him. Yet as for Ishmael, I have heard thee; o! I have blessed trim and will make him fruitful, and multiply him, exceedingly, - twelve princes, shall he beget, and I will grant him to be a great nation; But my covenant, will I establish with Isaac, - whom Sarah shall bear, to thee, by this set time, in the next year.
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, stud gave to Abimelech, - and they two solemnised a covenant
So he made for them a banquet, and they did eat and drink, - and rose up early in the morning, and took an oath each man to his brother, so Isaac let them go, and they departed from him in peace.
Now, therefore, come on! Let us solemnise a covenant, I and thou, - So shall it be a witness betwixt me and thee. So Jacob took a stone, - and set it up as a pillar. read more. Then said Jacob to his brethren - Gather stones. And they took stones and made a heap, - and they did eat there, by the heap. And Laban called it, Jegar-sahadutha, - but, Jacob, called it, Galeed. Then said Laban: This heap, be witness betwixt me, and thee, to-day. For this cause, is the name thereof called Galeed; also, The Watch Tower, as to which it is said, Yahweh watch betwixt me and thee, when we are parted one from another.
also, The Watch Tower, as to which it is said, Yahweh watch betwixt me and thee, when we are parted one from another.
and Jacob offered sacrifice in the mountain, and called on his brethren to eat bread. So they did eat bread, and tarried the night in the mountain.
And God heard their groaning, - and God remembered his covenant, with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob;
Now, therefore, if ye will, indeed hearken, to my voice, And keep my covenant, Then shall ye be mine as a treasure beyond all the peoples, For, mine, is all the earth;
Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Thus, shalt thou say, unto the sons of Israel, - Ye yourselves, have seen that out of the heavens, have I spoken with you. Ye shall not make aught beside me, - neither gods of silver, nor gods of gold, shall ye make to yourselves.
then took he the book of the covenant, and read in the ears of the people. And they said, All that Yahweh hath spoken, will we do, and will hearken,
then took he the book of the covenant, and read in the ears of the people. And they said, All that Yahweh hath spoken, will we do, and will hearken, Then Moses took the blood, and dashed over the people, and said, Lo! the blood of the covenant which Yahweh hath solemnised with you, over all these words.
And he said - Lo! I, am about to solemnise a covenant,-in presence of all thy people, will I do marvellous things, which have not been created in any part of the earth nor among any of the nations, - so shall all the people in whose midst thou, art see the work of Yahweh for a fearful thing, it is, which I, am doing with thee. Take thou heed what, I, am commanding thee this day, - behold me! driving out from before thee - the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. read more. Take heed to thyself, Lest thou solemnise a covenant with the inhabitant of the land, whereupon, thou, art about to enter, - Lest he become a snare in thy midst; For their altars, shall ye smash, And their pillars, shall ye shiver, - And their sacred-stems, shall ye fell. For thou shalt not bow thyself down to another GOD, - For as for Yahweh, Jealous, is his name, A jealous GOD, he is: Lest thou solemnise a covenant with the inhabitant of the land, - And then as surely as they go unchastely after their gods and sacrifice to their gods, So surely will he invite thee, And thou wilt eat of his sacrifice; And thou wilt take of his daughters for thy sons, - And his daughters will go unchastely after their gods, And will cause thy sons to go unchastely after their gods. Molten gods, shalt thou not make to thee. The festival of unleavened cakes, shalt thou keep, seven days, shalt thou eat unleavened cakes, which I commanded thee, at the set time, in the month Abib, - for in the month Abib, camest thou forth out of Egypt. Every one that is the first to be born, is mine, - and every one of thy cattle that is born a male, firstling of oxen or sheep. But the firstling of an ass, thou mayst redeem with a lamb, and if thou wilt not redeem it, then shalt thou break its neck. Every firstborn of thy sons, shalt thou redeem, and he must not see my face, with empty hand. Six days, shalt thou labour, but on the seventh day, shalt thou rest, - in plowing time and in harvest, shalt thou rest. And the festival of weeks, shalt thou make to thee, the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, - and the festival of ingathering, at the closing in of the year: three times in the year, shall every one of thy males see the face of the Lord Yahweh the God of Israel. For I will root out nations from before thee, and will enlarge thy borders, - and no man shall covet thy land, when thou goes up to see the face of Yahweh thy God, three times in the year. Thou shalt not slay, along with anything leavened, the blood of my sacrifice, - neither shall remain to the morning, the sacrifice of the festival of the passover. The beginning of the firstfruits of thy ground, shalt thou bring into the house of Yahweh, thy God, Thou shalt not boil a kid, in the milk of its dam. And Yahweh said unto Moses, Write for thyself these words, for according to the tenor of these words, have I solemnized with thee, a covenant, and with Israel. So then he was there, with Yahweh, forty days and forty nights, bread, did he not eat and, water, did he not drink, and he wrote upon the tables, the words of the covenant, the ten words.
And, every meal-offering oblation of thine, with salt, shalt thou season, and thou shelf not suffer to be lacking the salt of the covenant of thy God, from upon thy meal-offering, - upon every oblation of thine, shalt thou offer salt.
Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob Yea moreover, my covenant with Isaac, Yea moreover, my covenant with Abraham, will I remember; And the land, will I remember.
And yet even so when they are in the land of their foes I have not refused them Neither have I abhorred them To make an end of them, To break my covenant with them, - For, I - Yahweh, am their God.
all the heave-offerings of the holy things which the sons of Israel shall heave up unto Yahweh, have I given unto thee and unto thy sons and unto thy daughters with thee by a statute age-abiding, - an age-abiding covenant of salt, it is before Yahweh, for thee and for thy seed with thee.
not with our fathers did Yahweh solemnise this covenant, - but with us, ourselves - these here to-day, all of us living.
When I went up into the mountain to receive the tables of stone - the tables of the covenant, which Yahweh had solemnised with you, then abode I in the mountain forty days and forty nights, food, did I not, eat, and water, did I not drink.
So then it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that Yahweh gave unto me the two tables of stone the tables of the covenant.
So I turned, and came down out of the mountain, now the mountain was burning with fire, - and the two tables of the covenant were upon my two hands.
that I may write, upon the tables, the words which were on the first tables which thou brakest in pieces, - then shalt thou put them in the ark.
Then turned I, and came down out of the mountain, and put the tables in the ark which I had made, - and they have remained there, as Yahweh commanded me.
Cursed, be the man that maketh an image - cut or molten - an abomination unto Yahweh the work of the hands of the craftsman and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall respond and say - Amen.
These, are the words of the covenant which Yahweh commanded Moses to solemnise with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, - besides the covenant, which he solemnised with them in Horeb.
Ye must, therefore, keep the words of this covenant, and do them, - that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
So they took their journey unto Joshua, unto the camp, at Gilgal, - and said unto him, and unto the men of Israel, From a far country, are we come, Now, therefore, solemnise with us a covenant.
So then Joshua solemnised a covenant for the people, on that day, - and set for them a statute and a regulation, in Shechem.
And Joshua said unto all the people - Lo! this stone, shall serve against us as a witness, for, it, hath heard all the sayings of Yahweh, which he hath spoken with us, - so shall it serve against you as a witness, lest ye should act deceptively against your God.
And Jonathan and David solemnised a covenant, - because he loved him as his own soul.
So all the elders of Israel came unto the king, in Hebron, and King David solemnised to them a covenant in Hebron, before Yahweh, - and they anointed David to be king over Israel.
And Jehoiada solemnised a covenant between Yahweh, and the king, and the people, that they should become a people unto Yahweh, - also between the king and the people.
And the king took his stand by the pillar, and solemnised a covenant before Yahweh - to follow Yahweh, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all their heart and with all their soul, to confirm the words of this covenant, written in this book. And all the people took their stand in the covenant.
Now, is it near my heart, to solemnise a covenant unto Yahweh, God of Israel, - that he may turn from him the glow of his anger.
Now, therefore, let us solemnize a covenant unto our God - to put away all the women and such as have been born of them, in the counsel of my lord, and them who tremble at the commandment of our God, - and, according to the law, let it be done.
and they gave their hand, that they would put away their wives, - and, being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.
For, with the stones of the field, shall be thy covenant, and, the wild beast of the field, hath been made thy friend;
A covenant, I solemnised for mine eyes, - How then could I gaze upon a virgin?
Will he solemnise a covenant with thee? Wilt thou take him for a life-long servant?
Intimacy with Yahweh, have they who revere him, His covenant also, he letteth them know.
He hath thrust forth his hands, against them he was wont to salute, he hath violated his covenant;
He hath thrust forth his hands, against them he was wont to salute, he hath violated his covenant;
Have respect to thy covenant, For the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of violence.
For they have taken counsel with one heart, Against thee - a covenant, would they solemnize -
I have solemnised a covenant, for my chosen one, I have sworn unto David my servant:
Who forsaketh the friend of her youth, and, the covenant of her God, hath forgotten;
My son, if thou have become surety for thy neighbour, - have struck for a stranger thy hands,
A man lacking sense, is one who striketh hands, giving security, before his neighbour.
Because ye have said - We have solemnised a covenant with death, And with hades, have we effected a vision, - The overflowing scourge when it sweepeth by, shall not reach unto us, For we have made lying our refuge. And in falsehood, have we hid ourselves,
So shall be wiped out your covenant with death, And your vision with hades, not stand, - When the overflowing scourge, sweepeth past, then shall ye be thereby beaten down:
I - Yahweh, have called thee in righteousness, And will firmly grasp thy hand, - And will keep thee And give thee - As the covenant of a people, As the light of nations:
Thus, saith Yahweh - In a time of acceptance, have I answered thee, In a day of salvation, have I helped thee, - That I may preserve thee And give thee as the covenant of a people, To establish the land, To bring into possession the desolate heritages;
For, the waters of Noah, is this unto me, - As to which I sware that the waters of Noah should not again pass over the earth, So have I sworn Not to be vexed with thee Nor to rebuke thee.
Incline your ear, and come unto me, Hearken, That your soul, may live, - That I may solemnise for you a covenant age-abiding, The Lovingkindness to David, well-assured.
And as for me, this, shall be my covenant with them, Saith Yahweh: My spirit that is upon thee, And my words which I have put in thy mouth, - Shall not he taken out of thy mouth - Nor out of the mouth of thy seed. Nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed, Saith Yahweh, From henceforth even unto times age-abiding.
For, I, Yahweh, am a lover of justice, Hating plunder, for an ascending-sacrifice, Therefore will I give their reward with faithfulness, And an age-abiding covenant, will I solemnise for them.
Lo! days are coming, Declareth Yahweh, - When I will solemnize - With the house of Israel and With the house of Judah, A new covenant:
Lo! days are coming, Declareth Yahweh, - When I will solemnize - With the house of Israel and With the house of Judah, A new covenant:
For, this, is the covenant which I will solemnize with the house of Israel after those days Declareth Yahweh, I will put my law within them, Yea, on their heart, will I write it, - So will I become their God, And they shall become my people.
And I will solemnise to them an age-abiding covenant, That I will not turn away from following them, to do them good, - But the reverence of myself, will I put in their heart, so that they shall not turn away from me.
In those days and at that time, will I cause to bud unto David A Bud of righteousness, - And he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land:
Thus, saith Yahweh, If ye can break, My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night, That there be not day and night in their season, My covenant also, may be broken With David my servant, that he shall not have a son, to reign upon his throne, - And with the Levites the priests, mine attendants:
Thus, saith Yahweh, If my covenant of day and night, the ordinances of the heavens and the earth, I did not appoint,
and will give the men who are transgressing my covenant, in that they have not confirmed the words of the covenant, which they solemnised, before me, when they cut the calf, in twain, and passed between the parts thereof;
To Zion, shall they ask the way, Hitherward, their faces, Come and let us join ourselves unto Yahweh, In a covenant age-abiding, which shall not be forgotten.
Therefore will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, - And will establish for thee a covenant age-abiding.
But I myself, will establish my covenant with thee - And thou shalt know that I, am Yahweh:
Seeing he hath despised an oath. by breaking a covenant - yea lo! hath given his hand and all these things hath done he shall not escape.
Just as I contended with yore fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, So will I contend with you, Declareth My Lord Yahweh; And I will cause you to pass under the rod And will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
And I will solemnise for them a covenant of prosperity, And will cause to cease the mischievous wild-beast out of the land, And they shall dwell in the wilderness, securely, And shall sleep in the forests;
Therefore will I take you from among the nations, And gather you out of all the lands,- And will bring you upon your own soil;
Therefore speak thou unto them Thus, saith My Lord Yahweh, Lo! myself am going to take the sons of Israel, from among the nations whither they have gone, - And I will gather them from every side, And will bring them in upon their own so; And will make of them one nation in the land. among the mountains of Israel, And one king, shall they all have for king, - And they shall remain no longer two nations, Nor shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more. read more. Neither shall they defile themselves any more With their manufactured gods or With their detestable things, or With any of their transgressions,- But I will save them out of all their dwelling- places, wherein they have sinned, And I will cleanse them And they shall become nay people, And I, will become their God. And my servant David shall be king over them, And one shepherd, shall they all have, And in my regulations, shall they walk, And my statutes, shall they observe and do them. And they shall dwell upon the land. which I gave to my servant- to Jacob, Wherein your fathers dwelt, - Yea they shall dwell thereupon. They, and their children and their children's children Unto times age-abiding, And David my servant shall be prince unto them Unto times age-abiding. And I will solemnise to them a covenant of prosperity, A covenant age-abiding, shall it be with them, - And I will place them. And multiply them, And set my sanctuary in the midst of them. Unto times age-abiding. And my habitation shall be over them, And I will become their God,- And they, shall become my people, So shall the nations know that I, Yahweh, am hallowing Israel,- When my sanctuary is in the midst of them Unto times age-abiding.
And he will confirm a covenant to the many, for one week, - but, in the middle of the week, will cause sacrifice and present to cease, and, in his stead, shall be the horrid abomination that astoundeth, even till, a full end, and that a decreed one, shall be poured out on him that astoundeth.
and, the arms of an overflowing flood, will sweep all before him, and they shall be broken in pieces, - moreover also, the prince of a covenant;
So then he will return to his own land, with great substance, with, his heart, set upon a holy covenant; yea he will act with effect, and return to his own land.
Then will come in against him the ships of Cyprus, and he will be disheartened, and again have indignation against a holy covenant, and will act with effect, - and again gain intelligence, concerning them who are forsaking a holy covenant.
Thus, saith Yahweh, Because of three transgressions of Tyre, and because of four, will I not turn it back, - Because of their delivering up the whole body of exiles to Edom, and they remembered not the brotherly covenant,
As for thee also, - By the blood of thy covenant, have I sent forth thy prisoners out of a pit, wherein is no water.
Yet ye say, For what cause? Because, Yahweh, hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, with whom, thou, hast dealt treacherously, though, she, was thy consort, and thy covenant wife.
Behold me! sending my messenger, who will prepare a way before me, - and, suddenly, shall come to his temple The Lord whom ye are seeking, even the messenger of the covenant in whom ye are delighting, Lo! he cometh! saith Yahweh of hosts.
Behold me! sending my messenger, who will prepare a way before me, - and, suddenly, shall come to his temple The Lord whom ye are seeking, even the messenger of the covenant in whom ye are delighting, Lo! he cometh! saith Yahweh of hosts.
For, this, is my blood of the covenant, which, for many, is to be poured out, for remission of sins.
And he said unto them - This, is, my blood of the covenant, that is to be poured out in behalf of many.
And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak until the day when these things shall come to pass; because thou didst not believe in my words, - the which shall be fulfilled for their season.
Ye, are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God covenanted unto your fathers, saying unto Abraham - And, in thy seed, shall be blessed, all the families of the ground.
And the High-priest said - Are these things, so?
And he gave unto him a covenant of circumcision; and, thus, he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.
Who, indeed, are Israelites, whose are the sonship, and the glory, and the covenants, and the legislation, and the divine service, and the promises,
And, so, all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written - There shall have come out of Zion the Deliverer, - He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
Who also hath made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant - not of letter, but of spirit, for, the letter, killeth, whereas, the Spirit, maketh alive.
Brethren! in human fashion, am I speaking: yet still, a man's confirmed covenant, no one setteth aside or addeth unto:
Brethren! in human fashion, am I speaking: yet still, a man's confirmed covenant, no one setteth aside or addeth unto:
Which things, indeed, may bear another meaning; for, the same, are two covenants, - one, indeed, from Mount Sinai, into bondage, bringing forth, the which is Hagar, -
That ye were, in that season, separate from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and godless in the world;
Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to the peculiar purpose and favour - which was given to us in Christ Jesus before age-during times,
Wherein God, being, more abundantly disposed to shew forth unto the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his counsel, mediated, with an oath, -
But, now, hath he attained unto, a more distinguished public ministry, - by as much as of a better covenant also he is, mediator, which indeed, upon better promises, hath been legislated.
But, now, hath he attained unto, a more distinguished public ministry, - by as much as of a better covenant also he is, mediator, which indeed, upon better promises, hath been legislated. For, if, that first, had been, faultless, not, in that case, for a second, had there been sought, a place. read more. For, finding fault with them, he saith - Lo! days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will conclude, for the house of Israel and the house of Judah, a covenant of a new sort: Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by their hand, to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt, - because, they, abode not in my covenant, and, I, disregarded them, saith the Lord. Because, this, is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord: - giving my laws into their understanding, upon their hearts also, will I inscribe them: and I will become their God, and, they, shall become my people; And in nowise shall they teach - every one his fellow-citizen, and every one his brother, saying, - Get to know the Lord! Because, all, shall know me, from the least unto the greatest of them; Because, propitious, will I be as to their unrighteousnesses, and, of their sins, in nowise will I be mindful, any more. In saying, Of a new sort, he hath made obsolete, the first; but, the thing that is becoming obsolete and aged, is near, disappearing!
Having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant covered around on every side with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the tables of the covenant;
For, where a covenant is, it is necessary for, the death, to be brought in, of him that hath covenanted; For, a covenant over dead persons, is firm, - since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted.
Saying - This, is the blood of the covenant which, God, hath sent in command unto you:
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be accounted worthy, who hath trampled underfoot the Son of God, and, the blood of the covenant, hath esteemed, a profane thing, by which he had been made holy, and, unto the Spirit of favour, hath offered wanton insult?
But, the God of peace, He that led up from among the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, with the blood of an age-abiding covenant, - our Lord Jesus,
Morish
To this subject as spoken of in scripture there are two branches:
1. man's covenant with his fellow, or nation with nation, in which the terms are mutually considered and agreed to: it is then ratified by an oath, or by some token, before witnesses. Such a covenant is alluded to in Ga 3:15; if a man's covenant be confirmed it cannot be disannulled or added to. When Abraham bought the field of Ephron in Machpelah, he paid the money "in the audience of the sons of Heth" as witnesses, and it was thus made sure unto him. Ge 23:16. In the covenant Jacob made with Laban, they gathered a heap of stones to be witness between them, and "they did eat there upon the heap." Ge 31:46. When the Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the heads of Israel, "the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord, and . . . sware unto them." Jos 9:14-15. So to this day, if a stranger in the East can get the head of a tribe to eat with him, he knows he is safe, the eating is regarded as a covenant. In 2Ch 13:5 we read of 'a covenant of salt;' and to eat salt together is also now regarded as a bond in the East.
2. The covenants made by God are of a different order. He makes His covenants from Himself, without consulting man. With Noah God made a covenant that he would not again destroy the world by a flood, and as a token of that covenant, He set the rainbow in the cloud. Ge 9:8-17. This kind of covenant takes the form of an unconditional promise. Such was God's covenant with Abraham, first as to his natural posterity, Ge 15:4-6; and secondly, as to his seed, Christ. Ge 22:15-18. He gave him also the covenant of circumcision, Ge 17:10-14; Ac 7:8,
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And God spake unto Noah, and unto his sons with him saying: I, therefore, behold me! establishing my covenant with you, - and with your seed after you; read more. and with every living soul that is with you, of birds, of tame-beasts and of all wild-beasts of the earth that are with you, - of all coming forth out of the ark, even to all wild-beasts of the earth; yea, I will establish my covenant with you, so that all flesh shall not be cut off any more, by reason of the waters of a flood, - neither shall there he any more a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This, is the sign of the covenant which I am granting betwixt me and you, and every living soul that is with you, - to age-abiding generations: - My bow, have I set in the cloud, - and it shall be for a sign of a covenant, betwixt me and the earth; and it shall be when I draw a veil of cloud over the earth, - and the bow in the cloud appeareth, then will I remember my covenant which is betwixt me and you, and every living soul among all flesh, - that the waters may no more become a flood, to destroy all flesh: so the bow shall be in the cloud, - and I will behold it, to remember an age-abiding covenant, between God, and every living soul among all flesh that is on the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the sign of the covenant which have established, between me and all flesh that is on the earth.
And lo! a son of my household, is mine heir! And lo! the word of Yahweh came unto him, saying, This one, shall not be thine heir: But one who cometh forth of thy body - hell shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad and said - Look steadfastly. I pray thee towards the heavens, and number the stars, if thou be able to number, them, And he said to him, Thus, shall be thy seed. read more. And he had faith in Yahweh, - so he reckoned it to him as righteousness.
This, is my covenant which ye shall keep, betwixt me and you, and thy seed after thee, - To circumcise to you every male: So shall ye be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, - So shall it become a sign of a covenant, betwixt me and you. read more. And he that is eight days old, shall be circumcised to you every male to your generations, - he that is born of the house, and he that is bought with silver of any son of a stranger, who is, not of thy seed, He must surely be circumcised, born of thy house or bought with thy silver, - So shall my covenant be in your flesh for an age-abiding covenant. But, as for the uncircumcised male who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, - that person shall be cut off from among his people, - my covenant, hath he made void.
Then called out the messenger of Yahweh unto Abraham, - a second time out of the heavens; and said, By myself, have I sworn is the oracle of Yahweh, - Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only one, read more. That I will, richly bless, thee, and, abundantly multiply, thy seed, as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the lip of the sea, - that thy seed may take possession of the gate of his foes: So shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves in thy seed, - Because thou didst hearken unto my voice.
And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver of which he had spoken in the ears of the sons of Heth, - four hundred shekels of silver, current with the merchant,
Then said Jacob to his brethren - Gather stones. And they took stones and made a heap, - and they did eat there, by the heap.
And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people saying, - Observe all the commandment which I am commanding you to-day.
And it shall be, if thou wilt, hearken, unto the voice of Yahweh thy God, to observe to do all his commandments which I am commanding thee to-day, then will Yahweh thy God set thee on high, above all the nations of the earth;
So the men took of their provision, - but, the bidding of Yahweh, had they not asked. And Joshua made peace with them, and solemnised with them a covenant to let them live, - and the princes of the assembly, entered into an oath with them.
Is it not yours to know, that, Yahweh God of Israel gave the kingdom to David, over Israel, unto times age-abiding, - to him and to his sons, by a covenant of salt?
And he gave unto him a covenant of circumcision; and, thus, he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.
And, a sign, he received namely of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while yet uncircumcised; to the end he might be father of all that believe during uncircumcision, to the end the same righteousness might be reckoned unto them, -
Brethren! in human fashion, am I speaking: yet still, a man's confirmed covenant, no one setteth aside or addeth unto: Now, unto Abraham, were spoken the promises - and unto his seed; - He saith not - and unto thy seeds, as of many, but, as of one - and unto thy seed, which is Christ: read more. And, this, I say - a covenant previously confirmed by God, the law which, after four hundred and thirty years, hath been brought into being, doth not annul, so as to do away with the promise.
Now, if, ye, are of Christ, by consequence ye are, Abraham's seed, according to promise, heirs.
Smith
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.
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--
1. 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 men, but was a promise or agreement by God. The principal covenants are the covenant of works --God promising to save and bless men on condition of perfect obedience --and the covenant of grace, or God's promise to save men on condition of their believing in Christ and receiving him as their Master and Saviour. The first is called the Old Covenant, from which we name the first part of the bible the Old Testament, the Latin rendering of the word covenant. The second is called the New Covenant, or New Testament.
2. Covenant between man and man, i.e. a solemn compact or agreement, either between tribes or nations,
or between individuals,
by which each party bound himself to fulfill certain conditions and was assured of receiving certain advantages. In making such a covenant God was solemnly invoked as witness,
and an oath was sworn.
A sign or witness of the covenant was sometimes framed, such a gift,
or a pillar or heap of stones erected.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he said, The seven young sheep, shalt thou take at my hand, - that they may serve as my witness, that I digged this well. On this account, was the name of that place called Beer-sheba, - because there, had they two sworn.
Now, therefore, come on! Let us solemnise a covenant, I and thou, - So shall it be a witness betwixt me and thee.
If thou oppress my daughters, or if thou take wives besides my daughters, - there may be no man with us - see! God, be witness betwixt me, and thee!
A witness, be this heap, and, a witness, the pillar, - That, I, am not to pass, unto thee, over this heap, And, thou, art not to pass, unto me, over this heap and this pillar for harm.
So they took their journey unto Joshua, unto the camp, at Gilgal, - and said unto him, and unto the men of Israel, From a far country, are we come, Now, therefore, solemnise with us a covenant.
And Joshua made peace with them, and solemnised with them a covenant to let them live, - and the princes of the assembly, entered into an oath with them.
and will give the men who are transgressing my covenant, in that they have not confirmed the words of the covenant, which they solemnised, before me, when they cut the calf, in twain, and passed between the parts thereof; even the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs and the priests, and all the people of the land, - who passed between the parts of the calf,
Watsons
COVENANT. The Greek word ??????? occurs often in the Septuagint, as the translation of a Hebrew word, which signifies covenant: it occurs also in the Gospels and the Epistles; and it is rendered in our English Bibles sometimes covenant, sometimes testament. The Greek word, according to its etymology, and according to classical use, may denote a testament, a disposition, as well as a covenant; and the Gospel may be called a testament, because it is a signification of the will of our Saviour ratified by his death, and because it conveys blessings to be enjoyed after his death. These reasons for giving the dispensation of the Gospel the name of a testament appeared to our translators so striking, that they have rendered ??????? more frequently by the word testament, than by the word covenant. Yet the train of argument, where ??????? occurs, generally appears to proceed upon its meaning a covenant; and therefore, although, when we delineate the nature of the Gospel, the beautiful idea of its being a testament, is not to be lost sight of, yet we are to remember that the word testament, which we read in the Gospels and Epistles, is the translation of a word which the sense requires to be rendered covenant. A covenant implies two parties, and mutual stipulations. The new covenant must derive its name from something in the nature of the stipulations between the parties different from that which existed before; so that we cannot understand the propriety of the name, new, without looking back to what is called the old, or first. On examining the passages in Galatians 3, in 2 Corinthians 3, and in Hebrews 8-10, where the old and the new covenant are contrasted, it will be found that the old covenant means the dispensation given by Moses to the children of Israel; and the new covenant the dispensation of the Gospel published by Jesus Christ; and that the object of the Apostle is to illustrate the superior excellence of the latter dispensation. But, in order to preserve the consistency of the Apostle's writings, it is necessary to remember that there are two different lights in which the former dispensation may be viewed. Christians appear to draw the line between the old and the new covenant, according to the light in which they view that dispensation. It may be considered merely as a method of publishing the moral law to a particular nation; and then with whatever solemnity it was delivered, and with whatever cordiality it was accepted, it is not a covenant that could give life. For, being nothing more than what divines call a covenant of works, a directory of conduct requiring by its nature entire personal obedience, promising life to those who yielded that obedience, but making no provision for transgressors, it left under a curse "every one that continued not in all things that were written in the book of the law to do them." This is the essential imperfection of what is called the covenant of works, the name given in theology to that transaction, in which it is conceived that the supreme Lord of the universe promised to his creature, man, that he would reward that obedience to his law, which, without any such promise, was due to him as the Creator.
No sooner had Adam broken the covenant of works, than a promise of a final deliverance from the evils incurred by the breach of it was given. This promise was the foundation of that transaction which Almighty God, in treating with Abraham, condescends to call "my covenant with thee," and which, upon this authority, has received in theology the name of the Abrahamic covenant. Upon the one part, Abraham, whose faith was counted to him for righteousness, received this charge from God, "Walk before me, and be thou perfect;" upon the other part, the God whom he believed, and whose voice he obeyed, beside promising other blessings to him and his seed, uttered these significant words, "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." In this transaction, then, there was the essence of a covenant; for there were mutual stipulations between two parties; and there was superadded, as a seal of the covenant, the rite of circumcision, which, being prescribed by God, was a confirmation of his promise to all who complied with it, and being submitted to by Abraham, was, on his part, an acceptance of the covenant.
The Abrahamic covenant appears, from the nature of the stipulations, to be more than a covenant of works; and, as it was not confined to Abraham, but extended to his seed, it could not be disannulled by any subsequent transactions, which fell short of a fulfilment of the blessing promised. The law of Moses, which was given to the seed of Abraham four hundred and thirty years after, did not come up to the terms of that covenant even with regard to them, for, in its form it was a covenant of works, and to other nations it did not directly convey any blessing. But although the Mosaic dispensation did not fulfil the Abrahamic covenant, it was so far from setting that covenant aside, that it cherished the expectation of its being fulfilled: for it continued the rite of circumcision, which was the seal of the covenant; and in those ceremonies which it enjoined, there was a shadow, a type, an obscure representation, of the promised blessing, Lu 1:72-73.
Here, then, is another view of the Mosaic dispensation. "It was added, because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made," Ga 3:19. By delivering a moral law, which men felt themselves unable to obey; by denouncing judgments which it did not of itself provide any effectual method of escaping; and by holding forth, in various oblations, the promised and expected Saviour; "it was a schoolmaster to bring men unto Christ." The covenant made with Abraham retained its force during the dispensation of the law, and was the end of that dispensation.
The views which have been given furnish the ground upon which we defend that established language which is familiar to our ears, that there are only two covenants essentially different, and opposite to one another, the covenant of works, made with the first man, intimated by the constitution of human nature to every one of his posterity, and having for its terms, "Do this and live;"
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he said unto him, Take for me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove and a young pigeon. So he took for him all these, and divided them, in the midst, and placed each piece over against its fellow, hut the birds, divided he not.
So it came to pass when, the sun, had gone in, and Ira thick darkness, had come on, that lo there was a smoking hearth and torch of fire, which passed through between these pieces. In that day, did Yahweh solemnise with Abram a covenant, saying, - To thy seed, have I given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river - the river Euphrates:
And, Abimelech, came unto him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol, commander of his host. And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore have ye come in mite me, seeing that, ye, hated me, and sent me away from you? read more. And they said: We, saw plainly, that Yahweh was with thee, so we said, Let there be we pray thee an oath betwixt us both, betwixt us and thee, - and let us solemnise a covenant with thee: - That, thou wilt not do wrong by us, according as we touched not thee, and according as we did by thee nothing but good, and then sent thee away in peace, thee who, now, art blessed of Yahweh! So he made for them a banquet, and they did eat and drink, - and rose up early in the morning, and took an oath each man to his brother, so Isaac let them go, and they departed from him in peace.
Now, therefore, come on! Let us solemnise a covenant, I and thou, - So shall it be a witness betwixt me and thee. So Jacob took a stone, - and set it up as a pillar. read more. Then said Jacob to his brethren - Gather stones. And they took stones and made a heap, - and they did eat there, by the heap.
and Jacob offered sacrifice in the mountain, and called on his brethren to eat bread. So they did eat bread, and tarried the night in the mountain.
and bring in thither your ascending-offerings and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, - and your vow-offerings and your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock; and shall eat there before Yahweh your God, and rejoice in all whereunto ye are putting your hand, Ye, and your households, - wherewith Yahweh thy God hath blessed thee.
and will give the men who are transgressing my covenant, in that they have not confirmed the words of the covenant, which they solemnised, before me, when they cut the calf, in twain, and passed between the parts thereof;
To perform mercy with our fathers, and to be mindful of his holy covenant, - The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, To grant us,
Why, then, the law? Because of the transgressions, it was added, until such time as the seed should come, unto whom the promise had been made, and was given in charge through messengers, at the hand of a mediator;
Because, this, is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord: - giving my laws into their understanding, upon their hearts also, will I inscribe them: and I will become their God, and, they, shall become my people;