Covenants, nature of

A solemn agreement or promise, sometimes confirmed by sacrifice or by sharing in a meal, by which two or more parties commit themselves to the rights and responsibilities demanded by their relationship and their agreed course of action, and accept the serious consequences of breaking faith.

Kinds of covenant relationship

The relationship between king and people

2 Samuel 5:3 parallel 1 Chronicles 11:3 See also 2 Samuel 3:21; 2 Kings 11:17; 2 Chronicles 23:3

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

Terms for peace granted to a weaker party

Joshua 9:15 See also 1 Samuel 11:1; 1 Kings 15:19–20, 1 Kings 20:34; Ezekiel 17:13–14

And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

A mutual commitment to peaceful relations

1 Kings 5:12 See also Genesis 21:27, Genesis 26:28–29, Genesis 31:44; Amos 1:9

And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

An agreement on a common course of action

Jeremiah 34:8 See also 2 Kings 11:4 parallel 2 Chronicles 23:1; Ezra 10:3; Nehemiah 9:38; Psalm 83:5

After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD

The relationship between husband and wife

Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14; Jeremiah 2:2; Ezekiel 16:8

An expression of friendship

1 Samuel 18:3 See also 1 Samuel 20:16–17

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

Sealing a covenant

By sharing a meal

Genesis 26:30, Genesis 31:53–54; Matthew 26:26–29 parallels Mark 14:22–25, Luke 22:17–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–25

By offering a sacrifice

Jeremiah 34:18–19 The Hebrew expression for making a covenant means, literally, “to cut a covenant”. This may refer to the solemn practice, described here, of cutting an animal in half and walking between its pieces; Genesis 15:9–18; Exodus 24:4–8; Psalm 50:5; Hebrews 12:24 Sacrifice is an important part in sealing covenants made by God.

By making an oath

Genesis 21:31, Genesis 26:31; Joshua 9:15; 2 Kings 11:4; Nehemiah 10:28–29

The obligations of a covenant

Covenant responsibilities must be honoured

Numbers 30:2; 1 Samuel 20:8 See also Joshua 9:18; Matthew 5:33–37; Galatians 3:15

If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”

Covenant obligations are watched over by God

1 Samuel 20:42 See also Genesis 31:48–54; Joshua 9:19; Jeremiah 34:15–16; Malachi 2:14–16

And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

The consequences of breaking covenant faith

Joshua 9:20 See also Jeremiah 34:18–22; Ezekiel 17:16–18; Amos 1:9

This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

Covenants with other nations are forbidden

Exodus 34:12 See also Deuteronomy 23:6; Joshua 9:7

Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.