You may wish to read some of the examples above in different versions. Where the English Standard Version uses the word “covenant,” you may also find words like “pact” or “compact” or “treaty.” These words translate the word berith in the original Hebrew language of the Old Testament.
“Covenant” has many great lessons to explore.
In the Bible, berith most often refers to a solemn agreement made by God with His people. These are not cases of equals working out matters to their mutual satisfaction. Rather, the Creator sets the terms and gives special promises to those entering into the agreement. Men are not able to add to or take away from the conditions (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32). They either accept or reject the covenant. Those who say they accept it either keep it or break it. The Bible mentions a few covenants that God has made with certain people through the course of history.
- Noah (Genesis 6:18; 9:8-17)
- Abraham (Genesis 15:18; 17:1-4)
- Phinehas (Numbers 25:11-13)
- David (Psalms 89:3-4)
The biblical subject of “covenant” has many great lessons to explore. In this course, we focus on the covenant with Israel, and the main covenant that came after it. Of those two, which covenant applies most directly to us today? To which covenant do we belong?