What does the Bible say about covenant?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that covenant is God’s solemn, gracious bond, establishing His promises and calling His people to faithful obedience under His word. At Sinai, Israel received the covenant through the blood of sacrifice and pledged, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Exodus 24:7-8). God treats covenant promises seriously: Israel was bound to preserve its oath to the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:18-21), and Judah’s breaking of covenant brought righteous judgment (Jeremiah 34:8-21; Ezekiel 17:14-18). Yet God’s covenant mercy extends beyond one generation, embracing those present and those yet to come (Deuteronomy 29:14-15). Above all, human covenants point to God’s unbreakable promise fulfilled in Christ, whose covenant cannot be annulled (Galatians 3:15).
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- Sacred Joshua 9:18-21; Galatians 3:15
- Binding Joshua 9:18-20; Jeremiah 34:8-21; Ezekiel 17:14-18; Galatians 3:15
- Binding, not only on those who make them, but on those who are represented Deuteronomy 29:14; Deuteronomy 29:15
- Blood of Exodus 24:8
- Book of Exodus 24:7
- The Mosaic law called a covenant Exodus 34:28
- See CONTRACTS
- See VOWS
- OF MEN WITH MEN
- Breach of, punished 2 Samuel 21:1-6; Jeremiah 34:8-22; Ezekiel 17:13-19
- National See ALLIANCES
- Ratified By giving the hand Ezra 10:19; Lamentations 5:6; Ezekiel 17:18; Ruth 4:7-11; Nehemiah 9:38; Jeremiah 32:10-12; Genesis 21:27-30; 1 Samuel 18:3; 1 Samuel 18:4; Genesis 26:30; Genesis 31:45; Genesis 31:46
- See OATH
- See CONTRACTS
- INSTANCES OF
- Abraham and Abimelech Genesis 21:22-32
- Abimelech and Isaac Genesis 26:26-31
- Jacob and Laban Genesis 31:44-54
- Jonathan and David 1 Samuel 18:3; 1 Samuel 18:4; 1 Samuel 20:16; 1 Samuel 20:42; 2 Samuel 21:7
- Jews with each other, to serve God 2 Chronicles 15:12-15; Nehemiah 10:28-32
- King Zedekiah and his subjects Jeremiah 34:8
- Ahab with Benhadad 1 Kings 20:34
- Subjects with sovereign 2 Chronicles 23:1-3; 2 Chronicles 23:16
- OF GOD WITH MEN
- Confirmed with an oath Genesis 22:16; Genesis 26:3; Genesis 50:24; Psalms 89:35; Psalms 105:9; Luke 1:73; Hebrews 6:13; Hebrews 6:17; Hebrews 6:18
- Binding Leviticus 26; Jeremiah 11:2; Jeremiah 11:3; Galatians 3:15
- Everlasting Genesis 8:20-22; Genesis 9:1-17; Psalms 105:8; Psalms 105:10; Isaiah 54:10; Isaiah 61:8
- God faithful to Leviticus 26:44; Leviticus 26:45; Deuteronomy 4:31; Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 7:9; Judges 2:1; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalms 105:8-11; Psalms 106:45; Psalms 111:5; Micah 7:20
- Repudiated by God on account of Jews’ idolatry Jeremiah 44:26; Jeremiah 44:27; Hebrews 8:9
- Broken by the Jews Jeremiah 22:9; Ezekiel 16:59; Hebrews 8:9
- Punishments for breaking of Leviticus 26:25-46
- INSTANCES OF
- Of the sabbath Exodus 31:16
- Of the Ten Commandments Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 5:2; Deuteronomy 5:3; Deuteronomy 9:9
- With Adam Genesis 2:16; Genesis 2:17
- Noah Genesis 8:16; Genesis 9:8-17
- Abraham Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15; Genesis 17:1-22; Exodus 6:4-8; Psalms 105:8-11; Romans 9:7-13; Galatians 3
- See CIRCUMCISION
- With Isaac Genesis 17:19
- Jacob Genesis 28:13-15
Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.
Related topics
Go deeper
Ask Explain Bible AI about covenant and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.
Ask what the Bible says about covenant