Appendix E
Notes on Covenants in the Bible
By Lambert Dolphin

The Hebrew word berith, covenant, occurs over 280 times in the Old Testament. (The
English word covenant means “a coming together.”) Covenants can include treaties, alliances,
agreements, compacts, pledges, mutual agreements, promises, and undertakings on behalf of
another. The translators of the OT into the Greek Septuagint chose the Greek word diatheke in
place of the Hebrew berith. In the NT diatheke occurs 33 times.
The term “testament” (as in “Last Will and Testament”) is used in some translations of
the NT 13 times to translate the word diatheke. This adds a new depth of meaning to the idea of
covenants. The New Covenant rests upon the death of the one who made it, namely Jesus. Greek
has another word, syntheke, which means a mutual agreement, however this word is not used in
the NT presumably because covenants with God do not involve joint obligations between two
equals.
Covenants often exist between two unequal parties, for example between God and man,
or between a conqueror and his defeated enemy. Covenants in the Bible can be agreements
between two individuals, between a king or leader and his people; or between God and
individuals, or God and groups of individuals.
Covenants can be conditional or unconditional. Conditional covenants are forfeited if one
party violates or defaults on his part of the agreement. Unconditional covenants are arrangements
in which the default of one party does not negate the ultimate fulfillment and blessing of the
covenant.
In our society we all make use of various types of covenants. Credit cards, automobile
loans, and mortgage agreements are types of covenants. The lending party makes money or
goods available to the borrower. The borrower agrees to pay back the loan, usually with interest.
Covenants of this kind are clearly conditional. A marriage agreement is not only a covenant
between man and wife, but the name and blessing of God are often invoked as well. The state
enters into marriage covenants because it licenses marriage, and the families involved usually
pledge to work together to strengthen the marriage bond between man and wife. Marriage is the
oldest institution in the world, honored in the OT and the NT and approved by God for all
mankind, believers and unbelievers alike, (though believers are not to enter into marriage with
unbelievers). (See especially Malachi, Chapter 2). The marriage covenant gets to the heart of
what God desires in his relationship with Israel (Hosea, Ezekiel 16), with the Church as Bride of
Christ (Ephesians), and with the individual believer (Song of Solomon).
Usually an individual passes along property and benefits to his surviving spouse, children
or other heirs by means of a Last Will and Testament. The kind of covenant does not go into
effect until the death of the Testator. Such covenants usually do not obligate the designated heirs,
but this is not always the case.
All of the covenants between God and Man in the Bible are really based on our Creator’s
unmerited favor and loving-kindness towards his fallen and sinful creatures. Although man’s
expected response to God’s grace may be stated differently in one covenant as compared to
another, God always meets man on the basis of grace. Man’s proper response is always to come

from the heart-resulting in repentance, cleansing, and a renewed spirit and worship as stated
beautifully in Psalm 51.
Examples of Covenants between Men
1. Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech
See Genesis 21:25-33.
2. Joshua’s Covenant with the People at Shechem
See Joshua 24:19-27.
3. David and Jonathan’s Covenant of Friendship
The relationship between David and Jonathan included a personal covenant between
these two friends, which is described in 1 Samuel 23:15-18.
4. The Covenant between Jacob and Laban
Jacob and his uncle Laban agreed to work together under the terms of an agreement, or
covenant described in Genesis 31-44-54.
5. Between Solomon and Shimei
Solomon issued a conditional covenant with Shimei, which the latter violated at the cost
of his life. See 1 Kings 2:36-46.
6. Between Asa and Benhadad
Asa, King of Judah and Benhadad of Syria entered into a compact against Baasha, which
is described in 1 Kings 15:17-22.
Examples of Covenants between God and Individuals
1. With Aaron
Aaron, the first of the Levitical order of priests enjoyed a personal covenant with Yahweh
affecting both him and his descendants described in Numbers 18:19-23.
2. With Isaac
Isaac was personally promised by God that he was the chosen heir to the promises made
to his father Abraham. This is made clear in Genesis 26:1-6.

3. God’s Covenants with Jesus
Central to all the covenants is what is called “the eternal covenant” that exists between
God the Father and God the Son. The following Scriptures describe that covenant: Isaiah 42:1-6,
Isaiah 49:1-11.
4. King Josiah’s Covenant with the Lord
When King Josiah discovered the Torah, or Book of the Law he instituted national
reforms in Judah and made a covenant with God and the people described in 2 Kings 23:1-25.

5. The Beast’s False Covenant (Of Death) With Israel
A future and ill-advised covenant between Israel and the end-times ruler is described in
Daniel.
He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven’ [seven years]. In the middle of the ‘seven’
he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an
abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. – Daniel
9:27
Isaiah’s judgment of this covenant issued earlier than Daniel’s time–in advance–annuls
this covenant, because it denies the place of Jesus as rightful king and heir to the throne. See
Isaiah 28:15-18.
Consequences for Despising the Sinai Covenant
Leviticus 26:3-45 spells out to Israel the consequences they would suffer if the covenant
of Moses was abandoned or forsaken.
The Blessings and Curses under the Old Covenant
Under the terms of the Covenant of the Land, Moses told the people just prior to the entry
of the next generation into the Promised Land that a series of blessings would follow obedience
and adherence to the covenant; and on the other hand curses and terrible consequences would
follow disobedience to this covenant. These are delineated in Deuteronomy 28.
Jeremiah’s Solemn Warning
Jeremiah reinforced the conditional nature of the Covenant of the Land just prior to the
siege of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity. See Jeremiah 11:1-8.
Warnings to Respond To The New Covenant
The New Covenant, superior in every way to the Old Covenant, according to the writer of the
Epistle to the Hebrews. A strong admonition is included, however, about ignoring the grace of
God and the wonderfully adequate and full promises of this covenant. See Hebrews 10:23-39 and
Hebrews 12:12-29.
The New Covenant with Israel—A Covenant of Peace
Although Israel as a nation has not yet been brought under the terms of the New
Covenant, their wonderful future when this does happen is foretold by the prophets. See Isaiah
54:1-17, Ezekiel 34:22-31.

King David, His Perpetual Throne, a Temple In Israel
God made a special covenant with King David, never repealed, never annulled, which
holds to this day. See 2 Samuel 7, Ezekiel 37:21-28, Jeremiah 31.
The New Covenant with Israel–Instituted by Jesus with Israel through the Disciples
The Table of the Lord, or Holy Communion is so familiar to most Christians today that
many have overlooked the momentous importance of the original Last Supper when Jesus placed
this covenant into effect:
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples,
saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I
tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew
with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. – Matthew 26:26-
30.
Gentiles Invited Into the New Covenant Jesus Made with Israel
Romans 9:22-23 indicates that God intended from the beginning to bring many Gentiles
into the family of Abraham through the terms of the New Covenant instituted by Jesus. This is
developed in Romans 11:13-35 and Hebrews 8:6-13.

The New Covenant as a Renewal of the Old Covenant
Note: The term “everlasting covenant” occurs 14 times in the OT. “Everlasting” is
applied
(1) to the covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:16),
(2) to the covenant with Abraham (Gen. 17:7,13,19),
(3) to the covenant God made with David (2 Samuel 23:5), and
(4) to the New Covenant (Isaiah 55:3, 61:8, Jeremiah 32:40, 50:5, Ezekiel 16:60, 37:26).
The book of Hosea is especially clear about God divorcing his unfaithful wife Israel
under the terms of the Old Covenant, but taking her back to himself again under the terms
of the New Covenant (Hosea 2:14-23; See also Ezekiel 16:58-63).
Old Covenant and New Covenant—Compared and Contrasted
The New Testament presents strong and vivid comparisons and contrasts between the Old
and the New Covenants. See especially Hebrews 9 and 2 Corinthians 3.
God’s Faithfulness to His Covenants:
To better understand God’s faithfulness to all his covenants the following Psalms are
especially instructive: 25, 50, 89, and 132.
The Main Covenants of Yahweh Regarding Israel
As we have seen, “A covenant” is a sovereign pronouncement of God by which he
establishes a relationship of responsibility
(1) between himself and an individual,
(2) between himself and mankind in general,
(3) between himself and a nation, or
(4) between himself and a specific human family.
C.I. Scofield wrote:
“A covenant in one category may overlap others…The covenants are normally unconditional in
the sense that God obligates himself in grace, by the unrestricted declaration, ‘I will’ to
accomplish certain announced purposes, despite any failure on the part of the person or people
with whom he covenants. The human response to the divinely announced purpose is always
important, leading as it does to blessing for obedience and discipline for disobedience. But human
failure is never permitted to abrogate the covenant or block its ultimate fulfillment.”
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