COVENANT

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.

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Covenant. Covenant
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 (Gen. 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 (Gen. 21:32), or between tribes or nations (1 Sam. 11:1; Josh. 9:6, 15). In entering into a convenant, Jehovah was solemnly called on to witness the transaction (Gen. 31:50), and hence it was called a “covenant of the Lord” (1 Sam. 20:8). The marriage compact is called “the covenant of God” (Prov. 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 (Gen. 9; Jer. 33:20, “my covenant”). We have an account of God’s covernant with Abraham (Gen. 17, comp. Lev. 26:42), of the covenant of the priesthood (Num. 25:12, 13; Deut. 33:9; Neh. 13:29), and of the covenant of Sinai (Ex. 34:27, 28; Lev. 26:15), which was afterwards renewed at different times in the history of Israel (Deut. 29; Josh. 1:24; 2 Chr. 15; 23; 29; 34; Ezra 10; Neh. 9). In conformity with human custom, God’s covenant is said to be confirmed with an oath (Deut. 4:31; Ps. 89:3), and to be accompanied by a sign (Gen. 9; 17). Hence the covenant is called God’s “counsel,” “oath,” “promise” (Ps. 89:3, 4; 105:8-11; Heb. 6:13-20; Luke 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 (Gen. 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 (Num. 18:19; Lev. 2:13; 2 Chr. 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 (Rom. 5:12-19). (2.) The promise was “life” (Matt. 19:16, 17; Gal. 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 (Gen. 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 (John 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 (Luke 22:43); and (c) a glorious reward in the exaltation of Christ when his work was done (Phil. 2:6-11), his investiture with universal dominion (John 5:22; Ps. 110:1), his having the administration of the covenant committed into his hands (Matt. 28:18; John 1:12; 17:2; Acts 2:33), and in the final salvation of all his people (Isa. 35:10; 53:10, 11; Jer. 31:33; Titus 1:2). (2.) On the part of the Son the conditions were (a) his becoming incarnate (Gal. 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; John 9:4, 5), and (d) suffering its penalty (Isa. 53; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 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.)

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COVENANT. → Sacred Jos 9:18-21; Ga 3:15 → Binding Jos 9:18-20; Jer 34:8-21; Eze 17:14-18; Ga 3:15 → Binding, not only on those who make them, but on those who are represented De 29:14,15 → Blood of Ex 24:8 → Book of Ex 24:7 → The Mosaic law called a covenant Ex 34:28 → See CONTRACTS → See VOWS → OF MEN WITH MEN
* Breach of, punished 2Sa 21:1-6; Jer 34:8-22; Eze 17:13-19
* National

See ALLIANCES
* Ratified

By giving the hand Ezr 10:19; La 5:6; Eze 17:18 Loosing the shoe Ru 4:7-11 Written and sealed Ne 9:38; Jer 32:10-12 By giving presents Ge 21:27-30; 1Sa 18:3,4 By making a feast Ge 26:30 By a monument Ge 31:45,46,49-53 By salting Le 2:13; Nu 18:19; 2Ch 13:5 By offering a sacrifice Ge 15:9-17; Jer 34:18,19 By oath
* See OATH
* See CONTRACTS

→ INSTANCES OF
* Abraham and Abimelech Ge 21:22-32
* Abimelech and Isaac Ge 26:26-31
* Jacob and Laban Ge 31:44-54
* Jonathan and David 1Sa 18:3,4; 20:16,42; 2Sa 21:7
* Jews with each other, to serve God 2Ch 15:12-15; Ne 10:28-32
* King Zedekiah and his subjects Jer 34:8
* Ahab with Benhadad 1Ki 20:34
* Subjects with sovereign 2Ch 23:1-3,16

→ OF GOD WITH MEN
* Confirmed with an oath Ge 22:16; 26:3; 50:24; Ps 89:35; 105:9; Lu 1:73; Heb 6:13,17,18
* Binding Le 26; Jer 11:2,3; Ga 3:15
* Everlasting Ge 8:20-22; 9:1-17; Ps 105:8,10; Isa 54:10; 61:8
* God faithful to Le 26:44,45; De 4:31; 7:8,9; Jud 2:1; 1Ki 8:23; Ps 105:8-11; 106:45; 111:5; Mic 7:20
* Repudiated by God on account of Jews' idolatry Jer 44:26,27; Heb 8:9
* Broken by the Jews Jer 22:9; Eze 16:59; Heb 8:9
* Punishments for breaking of Le 26:25-46

→ INSTANCES OF
* Of the sabbath Ex 31:16
* Of the Ten Commandments Ex 34:28; De 5:2,3; 9:9
* With Adam Ge 2:16,17
* Noah Ge 8:16; 9:8-17
* Abraham Ge 12:1-3; 15; 17:1-22; Ex 6:4-8; Ps 105:8-11; Ro 9:7-13; Ga 3
* See CIRCUMCISION
* With Isaac Ge 17:19
* Jacob Ge 28:13-15
* With the Israelites to deliver them from Egypt Ex 6:4-8
* With Phinehas Nu 25:12,13
* With Israel, at Horeb De 5:2,3
* In Moab De 29:1-15
* Of the Levites Ne 13:29; Mal 2:4,5
* With David 2Sa 7:12-16; 1Ch 17:11-14; 2Ch 6:16
* With David and his house 2Sa 23:5; Ps 89:20-37; Jer 33:21
* With his people Isa 55:3; 59:21
* To be confirmed Da 9:27

→ THE SECOND COVENANT Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:4-13; 12:18-24; 13:20 → OF MAN WITH GOD
* Jacob Ge 28:20-22
* Joshua Jos 24:25; with 24:19-28
* Absalom 2Sa 15:7,8
* Jehoiada and Joash 2Ki 11:17
* Josiah 2Ki 23:3
* Asa 2Ch 15:12-15
* Nehemiah Ne 9:38; 10
* Israelites Jer 50:5
* See VOWS

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covenant. Covenant, [o as u] n. a bargain, contract, agree

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Cov″e‐nant (k?v″?–nant), n. [[OF. covenant, fr. F. & OF. convenir to agree, L. convenire. See Convene.]] 1. 1. A mutual agreement of two or more persons or parties, or one of the stipulations in such an agreement.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant. 1 Sam. xviiii. 3. Let there be covenants drawn between us. Shak. If we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe covenants As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Shak. 2. 2. (Eccl. Hist.) An agreement made by the Scottish Parliament in 1638, and by the English Parliament in 1643, to preserve the reformed religion in Scotland, and to extirpate popery and prelacy; — usually called the “Solemn League and Covenant.”
He was born in the days of the Covenant, and was the heir of a covenanted house. Macaulay. 3. 3. (Theol.) The promises of God as revealed in the Scriptures, conditioned on certain terms on the part of man, as obedience, repentance, faith, etc.
I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Gen. xvii. 7. 4. 4. A solemn compact between members of a church to maintain its faith, discipline, etc.
5. 5. (Law) (a) An undertaking, on sufficient consideration, in writing and under seal, to do or to refrain from some act or thing; a contract; a stipulation; also, the document or writing containing the terms of agreement. (b) A form of action for the violation of a promise or contract under seal.
Syn. — Agreement; contract; compact; bargain; arrangement; stipulation. — Covenant, Contract, Compact, Stipulation. These words all denote a mutual agreement between two parties. Covenant is frequently used in a religious sense; as, the covenant of works or of grace; a church covenant; the Solemn League and Covenant. Contract is the word most used in the business of life. Crabb and Taylor are wrong in saying that a contract must always be in writing. There are oral and implied contracts as well as written ones, and these are equally enforced by law. In legal usage, the word covenant has an important place as connected with contracts. A compact is only a stronger and more solemn contract. The term is chiefly applied to political alliances. Thus, the old Confederation was a compact between the States. Under the present Federal Constitution, no individual State can, without consent of Congress, enter into a compact with any other State or foreign power. A stipulation is one of the articles or provisions of a contract.