What is a covenant?

TL;DR:

A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties that defines their relationship and promises to be fulfilled. In the Bible, God's covenants with humanity, such as those with Noah, Abraham, and through Jesus, offer promises of salvation, forgiveness, and a new heart, inviting us into a lasting relationship with Him.

what does the bible say?

A covenant is a binding agreement between two or more parties, similar to a promise or a contract. A covenant defines the relationship between two parties, how they will act, and the promises they will fulfill with one another. Covenants often contain both conditional and unconditional elements. While covenant relationships are almost obsolete in our culture, there is one that survives that we can understand: Marriage is a covenant relationship between two people; it is legally binding, but more importantly, it defines the relationship between husband and wife. They both make certain promises to each other that they are expected to fulfill, yet even when promises are broken, they vow to love each other unconditionally and continue to fulfill their covenantal relationship.

Covenants are used throughout the Bible to establish a relationship between God and His people, and they form the backbone of the narrative structure. This is made more obvious when we understand that in the Bible the word testament is another word for covenant; the Old Testament could be rendered Old Covenant. This portion of the Bible records when humanity was living in relationship to God under the old covenant. Often in those covenantal relationships, man failed to uphold his part of the promise, but God in His unchanging character upheld the covenantal promises.

from the old testament

An early covenant in Scripture is between God and Noah (Genesis 6:18). Immediately after the flood, God promises Noah, "I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth" (Genesis 9:11). This covenant is between God, Noah, and all of creation; the rainbow still stands in the sky as a sign of this covenant (Genesis 9:13-16). The Noahic covenant does not ask anything of Noah—it is completely dependent upon God.
Parts of the Abrahamic covenant were established at different times: God called Abraham out of his land and promised to make him a great nation from which the whole world will be blessed in Genesis 12. In Genesis 17 the covenant was sealed with the sign of circumcision, but the main event is a dramatic scene in Genesis 15. Abraham asked for reassurance of God's promise to give him a son, and God responded by telling Abraham to gather various animals and sacrifice them, laying their halves on either side of a path. God then put Abraham in a deep sleep and passed through the animal halves to seal the covenant between Him and Abraham. The symbolism of the cut-up animals is saying, "Let my body be cut up if I were to break this covenant."
God made the old covenant with the people of Israel in Exodus 19. God called Moses to Mount Sinai where He laid out the Ten Commandments and other laws of this covenant. God says to Moses about the covenant, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation'" (Exodus 19:3-6).
Later, God made a covenant with David, promising the coming Messiah. God promised to bring a king from David's line whose kingdom would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). This description of the One to come speaks to the hope of a new covenant.
God further described the new covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34. Unlike the old covenant that His people broke, in the new covenant God would put His law within their hearts. There will be no priesthood, for each person will know God, and He will forgive their sins. This new covenant began after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.

from the new testament

The new covenant will last forever. God, more specifically the second person of the Trinity, became man in the form of Jesus Christ so that He could establish His covenant upon His own broken body. Jesus' blood is the "blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28; cf. Mark 14:24). This new covenant both fulfills the first covenant’s requirements and makes it unnecessary because its foundation is upon better promises (Hebrews 8:6, 13). When we take communion, we remember the new covenant (1 Corinthians 11:25).
Jesus fulfilled the Abrahamic covenant by being the seed that blesses all surrounding nations (Galatians 3:16), and through His sacrifice, Abraham's legacy includes not only his blood descendants but also anyone from any nation who proclaims the name of Christ (Galatians 3:24-29).

implications for today

God reveals Himself to us through covenants, showing His commitment to establish an eternal relationship with His people. His covenants offer us a profound understanding of His faithfulness and love, as they serve as promises of salvation, a new heart, and a secure life in Him. Just as a marriage covenant involves mutual promises, God’s covenant with us is one of unconditional love, where He is committed to our well-being and growth. Through the new covenant in Jesus, we are invited into a relationship where our sins are forgiven, and we are made new. This covenant calls us to respond to His offer of salvation and motivates us to live faithfully for Him. We can do so by trusting in His promises and sharing His love with others as a reflection of the faithfulness He shows us.

understand

A covenant is a binding agreement with defined promises.
God revealed His relationship with His people through covenants.
The new covenant in Jesus invites forgiveness, transformation, and faithful living.

reflect

How does God’s unconditional love as seen in the unconditional covenants shape the way you approach your relationship with Him?
What do the conditional covenants teach you about our responsibility in responding to God’s covenants?
In what areas of your life do you struggle to fully trust in God's promises, and how can you better live in light of them?

engage

How do the covenants in the Old Testament demonstrate God's faithfulness, even when humanity failed to keep their part?
How has the new covenant replaced the old covenant, and in which ways has it not?
How does the new covenant in Jesus offer a better relationship with God compared to the old covenant?