Covenant, meaning a solemn contract, is the customary word used to translate the Hebrew word berith (ברית, Tiberian Hebrew bərîṯ, Standard Hebrew bərit) as it is used in the Hebrew Bible. The Bible has been translated into many languages. ... Hebrew (עִבְרִית, ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. ... Tiberian Hebrew is an oral tradition of pronunciation for ancient forms of Hebrew, especially the Hebrew of the Bible, that was given written form by masoretic scholars in the Jewish community at Tiberias in the early middle ages, beginning in the 8th century. ... The Modern Hebrew language is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family. ... 11th century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible with Targum This article discusses usage of the term Hebrew Bible. For the article on the Hebrew Bible itself, see Tanakh. ...

While the word is used to identify treaties or similar contracts between rulers or individuals, the primary covenants mentioned in the Bible are the one between God and the Israelites (Old Testament) and the one between God and the Christian Church (New Testament). This covenant was the basis for the Torah, and the claimed status of the Israelites as God's "chosen people." According to the terms of the covenant, Israelites understand that God had promised to undertake certain things on behalf of the people of Israel, and that the Israelites owed God obedience and worship in return. It has been suggested that Protocol (treaty) be merged into this article or section. ... The Gutenberg Bible owned by the United States Library of Congress The Bible (Hebrew: תנ״ך tanakh, Greek: η Βίβλος hē biblos, the book) (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Work of God, The Word of God, The Word, The Good Book, Scripture, or The Scriptures), is the name used by Jews and Christians... God denotes the deity believed by monotheists to be the sole creator and ruler of the universe. ... The Twelve Tribes redirects here; for other uses, see The Twelve Tribes (disambiguation). ... Note: Judaism commonly uses the term Tanakh, but not Old Testament, because it does not recognize the concept of a New Testament. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus, whom they regard as a/the Christ. ... A church building (or simply church) is a building used in Christian worship. ... John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ... Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. It is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ... Chosen People refers to a group of people who have been chosen by G-d to act as G-ds agent on earth. ... Worship usually refers to specific acts of religious praise, honour, or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as a god or goddess. ...

The Biblical covenants could be subdivided into several sub-headings:

The Noahic Covenant, found in Genesis 8-9 completes the Noahide Laws and applies to the whole mankind. God: Noahs Ark, Französischer Meister (The French Master), Magyar Szépmüvészeti Múzeum, Budapest. ... Genesis (Greek: Γένεσις, having the meanings of birth, creation, cause, beginning, source and origin), also called The First Book of Moses, is the first book of Torah (five books of Moses), and is the first book of the Tanakh, part of the Hebrew Bible; it is also the first book of... The Seven Noahide Laws (Hebrew: שבע מצוות בני נח Šbaˤ mişwōt bnē-Noḥ), also called the Brit Noah (Covenant of Noah) or Law of the First Covenant, are the Jewish mitzvot (commandments) and halakhot (laws) that are morally binding on non-Jews. ...

1. forbids eating blood.
2. forbids murder and adopts blood revenge.
3. promises that he will never again destroy life on earth by flood.
4. adopts the rainbow as sign of the covenant.

The Abrahamic Covenant, found in Genesis 15, granting the Israelites a promised land in the Land of Israel. In this covenant, God promises (see Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-18; 15:1-21; 17:1-22): Tomb of Abraham Abraham (ca. ... This article concerns the concept of The Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ ישראל Eretz Yisrael) in Jewish and Christian thought throughout the history from its Biblical sources to the present day. ...

1. To make of Abraham into a great nation and to multiply his seed exceedingly and to make him a father of great many nations.
2. To bless Abraham and make him great.
3. To make Abraham a blessing to all the families of the earth.
4. To bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.
5. To give Abraham and his seed forever all the land which he could see.
6. To give him a sign of the covenant (circumcision).

The Mosaic Covenant, found in Exodus 19 through 24, which contained the foundations of the Torah. In this covenant, God promises: Moses or Móshe (מֹשֶׁה, Standard Hebrew, Tiberian Hebrew Mōšeh, Arabic موسى Mūsa, Geez ሙሴ Musse) is a legendary Hebrew liberator, leader, lawgiver, prophet, and historian, and also one of the greatest figures in Jewish history. ... Exodus is the second book of the Torah (the Pentateuch) and also the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible), and the Christian Old Testament. ... Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. It is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ...

1. To make Israel His special possession among the people of the land.
2. To make Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. God followed it up with requirements and laws.

The Palestinian Covenant is an unconditional covenant enlarging upon the Abrahamic Covenant promising the seed of Abraham eternal possession in the land (Deuteronomy 30:1-10). This covenant says: Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible. ...

1. Israel will be dispersed among the nations.
2. Israel will repent and turn to the Lord.
3. Israel will be regathered from its dispersion.

and in this covenant, God promises:

1. To bring the Israelites to the land which their fathers possessed.
2. To prosper the Israelites above their fathers.
3. To restore the Israelites spiritually so that Israel will love the Lord with all their heart and soul.
4. To put all the curses upon Israel's enemies.

The Davidic Covenant, found in 2 Samuel 7, establishing David and his lineage as the rightful kings of Israel and Judah and extends the covenant of Abraham to David's lineage. David and Goliath by Caravaggio, c. ... The Books of Samuel (Hebrew: Sefer Shmuel ספר שמואל), are part of the Tanakh (part of Judaisms Hebrew Bible) and also of the Old Testament (of Christianity). ... Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Kingdom of Judah (Hebrew מַלְכוּת יְהוּדָה, Standard Hebrew Malḫut Yəhuda, Tiberian Hebrew Malḵûṯ Yəhûḏāh) in the times of the Hebrew Bible, was the nation formed from the territories of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin after the Kingdom of Israel was divided, and was named after Judah...

According to Christianity, the Davidic Covenant is an important element of Jesus's claim to be the Messiah. Jesus, by his death and atonement created a New Covenant of faith in which Gentiles as well as Israelites could participate, and under which God promised to grant the faithful eternal life. Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recounted in the Gospels. ... Jesus (8-2 BC/BCE — 29-36 AD/CE),[1] also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ Standard Hebrew , Tiberian Hebrew , Aramaic ) initially meant any person who was anointed by a prophet of God. ... The Atonement, arguably the single greatest act of love, was initiated and accomplished by Jesus Christ as a means for members of the human family to reunite with God, as documented by the Bible and testified by other Christian scripture. ... Some Bible translations use the term New Covenant. ... The word faith has various uses; its central meaning is similar to belief, trust or confidence, but unlike these terms, faith tends to imply a transpersonal rather than interpersonal relationship – with God or a higher power. ... The word Gentile from the Latin gentilis, can either be a translation of the Hebrew Goy/גוי or of the Hebrew word Nochri/נכרי. In the most common modern use it refers to the former being derived from the Latin term gens (meaning clan or a group of families) and it is... The afterlife (or life after death) is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual and experiential, beyond this world, or after death. ...

See also

• Alliance (Bible)
• Covenant Theology

This entry incorporates text from Eastons Bible Dictionary, 1897, with some modernisation. ... Covenant Theology (also known as Covenantalism or Federal theology) is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible. ...

External links

• "What is a Covenant" from Kingdom Prologue by Meredith G. Kline
• The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man by Hermann Witsius
• Nave's Topical Bible on covenants
• An online Bible study of the word "covenant" using Jack Van Impe's Dictionary of Prophecy Terms