Covenant (biblical)  

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-A '''biblical covenant''' is an agreement found in the Bible "between [[God]] and [[People of God|His people]] in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from his people in return (conditional covenant)".<ref>Christiane Fellbaum (1998). WordNet: An Electronic Lexical Database. Bradford Books.</ref> It is the customary word used to [[Bible translations|translate]] the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word ''berith'' (''ברית'' [[Tiberian Hebrew]] ''bərîṯ'' [[Standard Hebrew]] ''bərit'') as it is used in the [[Tanakh]] 135 times (see appended list), thus it is important to all [[Abrahamic religions]]. The equivalent word in the [[Septuagint]] and the [[Greek New Testament]] is {{polytonic|διαθήκη}}/''diatheke'' ([http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/words.pl?word=1242 Strong's G1242]).+A '''biblical covenant''' is an agreement found in the Bible "between [[God]] and [[People of God|His people]] in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from his people in return (conditional covenant)".
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-In [[theology]] and [[Biblical studies]], the word "covenant" principally refers to any of a number of solemn agreements made between [[God]] and the [[children of Israel]] in the Hebrew Bible, as well as to the [[New Covenant]], which some [[Christians]] consider to be the ''replacement'' or ''final fulfilment'' of these, see [[Supersessionism]]. Likewise, some Christians use the term "Old Covenant" to collectively refer to the covenants described in their "[[Old Testament]]".+
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-The foundation of the [[Torah]] is the belief that God chose the Children of Israel, in His wisdom and for His purposes, and made His covenant with them. This covenant requires the Children of Israel not to practice [[idolatry]] and to live their lives according to the [[613 mitzvot|commandments]].{{bibleref2c|Lev|26|NIV}} This covenant is essentially one-sided, since its terms are dictated by God, though performance is left to the free will of each person. By contrast, at many points in the Hebrew Scripture, human covenants are made, and in such covenants, the terms are agreed upon mutually.+
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-==Noahic covenant==+
-[[File:Rainbow123.JPG|right|thumb|150px|The [[Rainbow]] set as the symbol of the Covenant with Noah after the [[Great Flood (Biblical)|Great Flood]] of the Bible.]]+
-{{seealso|Noahide Laws|Council of Jerusalem}}+
-The ''Noahic covenant''{{bibleref2c|Gen|8-9}} applies to the whole of humankind. In this covenant, God:+
-#blesses [[Noah]] and his [[Sons of Noah|sons]], and tells them to populate the earth{{bibleref2c|Gen|9:1}}+
-#places all [[Creation care|plants and animals under human command]]{{bibleref2c|Gen|9:2-3}}+
-#[[Taboo food and drink#Blood|forbids eating meat with the blood still in it]]{{bibleref2c|Gen|9:4}}+
-#forbids [[murder]]{{bibleref2c|Gen|9:5}}+
-#Says that violent men will be repayed by violence{{bibleref2c-nb|Gen|9:6}}+
-#promises that he will never again destroy all life on earth by flood{{bibleref2c|Gen|9:11}}+
-#creates the [[rainbow]] as the sign of this covenant for all ages to come{{bibleref2c|Gen|9:12-17}}+
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-On this topic, [[Jubilees]] (part of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox]] Bible but generally considered to be [[2nd century BC]] Jewish [[apocrypha]]) states:+
-{{quotation|And in the twenty-eighth [[Jubilee (Biblical)|jubilee]] [1324-1372 [[Anno Mundi|A.M.]]] Noah began to enjoin upon his sons' sons the ordinances and commandments, and all the judgments that he knew, and he exhorted his sons to observe [[righteousness]], and to cover the shame of their flesh, and to bless their Creator, and honour father and mother, and [[Great Commandment|love their neighbour]], and guard their souls from [[fornication]] and [[Ritual washing in Judaism|uncleanness]] and all [[sin|iniquity]]. For owing to these three things came the flood upon the earth ... For whoso sheddeth man's blood, and whoso eateth the blood of any flesh, shall all be destroyed from the earth.|Jubilees 7:20-28}}+
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-This is [[R. H. Charles]]' 1913 translation from the [[Koine Greek]], but ''Jubilees'' is also extant in [[Geez]] and multiple texts found at [[Qumran]] which are still being examined.+
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-==Abrahamic covenant==+
-[[File:Greater Israel map.jpg|thumb|200px|An interpretation of the borders of the [[Promised Land]], based on God's promise to [[Abraham]] (Genesis 15).]]+
-{{seealso|Abrahamic religions}}+
-The ''Abrahamic covenant'', found in {{bibleref2|Genesis|15-17|NIV}}, is known as the ''Brit bein HaBetarim'', the "Covenant Between the Parts" in Hebrew, and is a commandment for [[Brit milah]] in [[Judaism]]. The covenant was restated for the descendants of his son [[Isaac]] found in {{bibleref2|Genesis|17:2-9|ESV}} and {{bibleref2|Deuteronomy|1:7-8|ESV}}.+
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-===Covenant with Isaac===+
-*To make of [[Abraham]] a great nation and to bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him and all peoples on earth would be blessed through Abraham.{{Bibleref2c|Gen|12:1-3|NIV}}+
-*To give Abraham's descendants all the land from the river (or [[wadi]]) of Egypt to the [[Euphrates]]. {{Bibleref2c|Gen|15:18-21|NIV}} Wadi means seasonal river in reference to the Nile Delta which flooded seasonally during those days. Later, this land came to be referred to as the [[Promised Land]] or the [[Land of Israel]], however the land specified by the Abrahamic Covenant also includes the modern nations of Saudi Arabia, Omen, Yemen, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, UAE, and several other nations within the Middle East Region. +
-*To make Abraham a father of many nations and of many descendants and the land of Canaan as well as the entire middle-east to his descendant.{{bibleref2c|Gen|17:2-9|NIV}}+
-*The Abrahamic Covenant of Isaac did not pass to all the descendants of Isaac, however. From Isaac the Covenant passed to Jacob {{bibleref2c|Gen|27|NIV}} and from Jacob the Covenant passed to Joseph {{bibleref2c-nb|Gen|48:3-4|NIV}}and then to his son Ephraim {{bibleref2c-nb|Gen|48:17-19|NIV}} so that while it was prophesied that the Messiah would come from Jacob's descendant Judah a.k.a. the Jewish people the birthright of many nations remained with Joseph's son Ephraim. {{bibleref2c-nb|1Chronicles|5:1-2|NIV}} However the [[Ephraimites]] were defeated by the Assyrians in 556 BC and systematically dispersed throughout the [[Assyrian Empire]] (which included parts of the modern nations of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, etc.) so that their modern day identity has been lost. Many groups have attempted to claim this identity, see [[Ten Lost Tribes]], however, most of these groups in America, Britain and Australia do not correspond to the locations specified in the Abrahamic Covenant.+
-*[[Circumcision in the Bible|Circumcision]] is to be the permanent sign of this everlasting covenant with Abraham and his male descendants.{{bibleref2c|Gen|17:9-14|NIV}}+
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-==Covenant with Jacob==+
-[[God]] appears to [[Jacob]] in a dream, and promises:+
- +
-*To give him and his descendants the land on which he is lying+
-*That his descendants will be numerous like the dust of the earth+
-*That all peoples on earth will be blessed through him and his offspring.+
-*To watch over him wherever he goes.{{bibleref2c|Gen|28:12-15}}+
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-==Mosaic covenant==+
-[[File:Ten Commandments Monument.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The [[Ten Commandments]] on a monument on the grounds of the [[Texas State Capitol]]. The third non-indented commandment listed is "Remember the [[Biblical Sabbath|Sabbath day]], to keep it holy".]]+
-The [[Mosaic Covenant]], beginning in {{bibleref2|Exodus|19-24}}, contains the foundations of the [[Torah]]. In this covenant, God promises:+
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-*To make the [[children of Israel]] His special possession among all people if they obey God and keep his covenant {{bibleref2c|Exo|19:5}}+
-*To make the children of Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation{{bibleref2c|Exo|19:6}}+
-*To give the children of Israel the [[Biblical Sabbath|Sabbath]] as the permanent sign of this covenant {{bibleref2c-nb|Exo|31:12-17}}+
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-As part of the terms of this covenant, God gives [[Moses]] the [[Ten Commandments]]. These will later be elaborated in the rest of the [[Pentateuch]]. The fullest account of the Mosaic covenant is given in the book of [[Deuteronomy]], the form of which resembles an Ancient Near Eastern [[suzerainty]] treaty.<ref>Kline, Meredith. "Deuteronomy". ''The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary'' http://www.covopc.org/Kline/Deuteronomy_Zondervan_Dictionary.html</ref> Many [[Christians]] believe that the [[Sermon on the Mount]] is a form of commentary on the Ten Commandments, however the topic of [[Biblical law in Christianity]] is disputed.+
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-== The Israel covenant ==+
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-The Israel covenant{{Bibleref2c|Deut.|29:1-29}} {{Bibleref2c-nb|Deut.|30:1-10}} is a conditional covenant between God and the children of Israel. After warning that Israel will be dispersed among the nations, and conditional to Israel's repentance, return to God, and obedience to the [[613 Commandments|Mosaic law]]. In regard to this covenant Israel and the Jewish people are referenced separately so that when God refers to Israel he is referencing the descendants of Ephraim.{{bibleref2c|Jer|31:9-10|NIV}} The Lord also references that he has chosen Israel over Judah a.k.a. the Jewish people in regard to the return to the land. {{bibleref2c|Jer|3:11-14|NIV}} God promises:+
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-# That Israel would lose their identity{{bibleref2c|Isa|7:8|NIV}}+
-# That while Israel (Ephraim) will become many nations between the Nile and the Euphrates, yet only a remnant of the people of Ephraim will return{{bibleref2c|Isa|10:22|NIV}}+
-# That Israel and Judah will be at war with each other, but that the Lord would bring about a peace between Israel and Judah{{bibleref2c|Zech|9:10|NIV}} {{bibleref2c-nb|Zechariah|11:14|NIV}} {{bibleref2c|Jer|30:1-7|NIV}}+
-# That Ephraim would return to Lebanon and Gilead, which is located in Western Jordan {{bibleref2c|Zech|10:7-10|NIV}} However, the only people living in these areas now are the Arab peoples. The Palestinian Refugee camps are also located in these locations+
-# That there would be a conflict between Ephraim and many other nations of the World{{bibleref2c|Deut|33:17|NIV}} {{bibleref2c|Zech|9:13|ESV}}+
-# The remnant that will return from Ephraim will be the descendants of those who did not bow to Baal{{bibleref2c|1Kings|19:10-18|NIV|1 Kings 19:10-18}}+
-# That a new nation of Ephraim will form south of Israel in Saudi Arabia or Egypt. A nation the Jewish people will refer to as Sodom{{bibleref2c|Ezek|16:46,49|NIV}}+
-# To regather Israel from its dispersion and unite them with Judah, but that Judah would not recognize them {{bibleref2c|Ezek|16:59-63|ESV}} {{bibleref2c|Deut|33:9|ESV}}+
-# That a people who are called "Not his people" will be called his people{{bibleref2c|Hos|1:10|NIV}}+
-# To bring the Israelites to the land which their fathers possessed (here named Land of [[Canaan]]){{bibleref2c|Hos|1:11|NIV}}+
-# To prosper the Israelites above their fathers.+
-# To restore the Israelites spiritually so that Israel will love the Lord with all their heart and soul+
-# To put all the curses of Israel upon Israel's enemies+
-# That the descendants of Judah, a.k.a. the Jewish people would return to where their family "Israel" already was {{bibleref2c|Deut|33:7|NIV}}+
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-==Davidic covenant==+
-The ''Davidic covenant''{{bibleref2c|2Sam|7||2 Sam 7}} establishes [[David]] and his descendants as the rightful [[monarch|king]]s of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] until the Messiah comes.{{bibleref2c|Gen|49:10|NIV}} In [[Christianity|Christian]] theology, the Davidic covenant is an important element of [[Jesus]]' claim to be the [[Messiah]] (see also [[Nativity of Jesus]]). Christian scholar [[John F. Walvoord]] maintains that the Davidic covenant deserves an important place in determining the purposes of God and that its exegesis confirms the doctrine of a future reign of Christ on earth.<ref name=Walvoord>Walvoord, John F. "Eschatological Problems VII: The Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant." Web: 19 Mar 2010. [http://bible.org/seriespage/eschatological-problems-vii-fulfillment-davidic-covenant Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant]</ref> According to Christian theology, the "features" or provisions of the Davidic covenant are found in {{Bibleref2|2Sam|7:12-16|NIV|2 Samuel 7:12-16}}. Among conservative theologians, the opinion is unanimous that Christ fulfills the Davidic Covenant, the provisions of which include the following items:+
-# David is to have a child, yet to be born, who shall succeed him and establish his kingdom.+
-#This son (Solomon) shall build the temple instead of David.+
-#The throne of his kingdom shall be established forever. +
-#The throne will not be taken away from him (Solomon) even though his sins justify chastisement. +
-#David’s house, throne, and kingdom shall be established forever.<ref name=Walvoord />+
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-==National covenants==+
-National covenants by the nations of Israel and Judah can be found in texts such as {{bibleref2|Exodus|19:8}}, {{bibleref2|Joshua|24:24}}, {{bibleref2|2|Ki||2 Kings 3:3}} (Josiah), {{bibleref2|2Chr|15:8-15||2 Chron. 15:8-15}}, {{bibleref2-nb|2Chr|23:16}}, {{bibleref2-nb|2Chr|34:31-32}}, {{bibleref2|Nehemiah|10:29}} and {{bibleref2|Jeremiah|50:5}}. National covenants were often associated with times of spiritual renewal or revival.+
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-==Personal covenants==+
-Personal covenants or commitments abound in the Scriptures and are prominent in the Psalms. They may be prefaced with expressions such as "I will". One example is: "I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works."{{bibleref2c|Ps|9:1|KJV}} Another is: "I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever." {{bibleref2c|Ps|145:1-2|KJV}}+
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-==Promise of a new Covenant==+
-{{main|New Covenant}}+
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-The ''New Covenant'' has been a significant feature of [[Jewish eschatology]], as part of the belief that eventually all Jews will know and follow the [[Torah]] without the need to study.{{bibleref2c|Jer|31:32-33|HE}} For example, the article [http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=245&letter=N&search=New%20Testament#717 Jewish Encyclopedia: New Testament] states: "The idea of the new covenant is based chiefly upon {{bibleref2|Jeremiah|31:31-34|HE}} (comp. {{bibleref2|Hebrews|8:6-13|NIV}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Heb|10:16|NIV}}). That the prophet's words do not imply an [[Antinomianism|abrogation of the Law]] is evidenced by his emphatic declaration of the immutability of the covenant with Israel ({{bibleref2|Jeremiah|31:35-36|HE}}; comp. {{bibleref2-nb|Jer|33:25|HE}}); he obviously looked for a renewal of the Law through a regeneration of the hearts of the people." It is mentioned several times in the [[Mishna]] and [[Talmud]], and had been used extensively in kabbalistic literature due to the [[Gematria]] value of 135 (number of occurrences in Tanakh) being equal to the word HaSinai (הסיני) in {{Bibleref2|Genesis|10:17}}. Brit also has the numeric value of [[613 Mitzvot|612]], which is suggested by some to mean that it is the 'first' [[mitzvah]] which is true for the [[Judaism#Life-cycle_events|Jewish life cycle]]. The other use is in relationship to the merit of [[Book of Ruth|Ruth]] being an ancestor to [[David|King David]], with the name again having same gematria as Brit, linking Davidic covenant with that of all previous, since Ruth was a [[Moabite]] by birth, and related to [[Noah]] also.+
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-==Covenant in Islam==+
-As an Abrahamic faith Islam continues the belief of the Covenant with Abraham. Circumcision is still carried out as a symbol of this Covenant, although not compulsory. A blood link is not required either. Any person confessing to faith can become a Muslim and partake of this Covenant with God: +
-{{quote|Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We Covenanted with Abraham and Isma'il, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).{{Cite quran|2|125}}}}+
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==See also== ==See also==
* [[Alliance (Bible)]] * [[Alliance (Bible)]]

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A biblical covenant is an agreement found in the Bible "between God and His people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from his people in return (conditional covenant)".

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