Bible Lexicons

בְּרִית f.

(1)  a covenant, so called from the idea of cutting (see the root No. 1), since it was the custom in making solemn covenants to pass between the divided parts of victims (see the root כָּרַת [“and Genesis 15:9, etc.”]). [“But the idea suggested by Lee (Heb. Lex. h. v.) deserves attention, viz. that בְּרִית is strictly nothing more than an eating together, banquet, from בָּרָה No. 2, since among Orientals, to eat together is almost the same as to make a covenant of friendship. The Hebrews too were accustomed to eat together when entering into a covenant, see Genesis 31:54 and in this way we obtain an explanation of בְּרִית מֶלַח covenant (an eating?) of salt; see מֶלַח.” Ges. add.] It is used of a covenant entered into between nations, Joshua 9:6, seq.; between individuals and friends, 1 Samuel 18:3, 23:18 of a marriage covenant, Malachi 2:14 בַּעֲלֵי בְּרִית פ׳ Genesis 14:13, and אַנְשֵׁי בְּרִית פ׳ Obadiah 1:7, those joined by league to any one. אֵל בְּרִית Judges 9:46, i.q. בַּעַל בְּרִית verse Judges 9:4, “God of covenant,” see בַּעַל No. 5,. In speaking of the making of a covenant, the verbs כָּרַת, הֵקִים, נָתַן, שׂוּם are used, 2 Samuel 23:5 בּוֹא בְּ, עָבַר בְּ Deuteronomy 29:11, which see; of its violation, הֵפֵר, חִלֵּל, עָזַב, שִׁקֵּר בְּ. The covenant of any one is the covenant entered into with him, Leviticus 26:45; Deuteronomy 4:31 בְּרִית יְהֹוָה “a covenant entered into with Jehovah,” Deuteronomy 4:23, 29:24, etc. Specially and most frequently used of the covenant and league made between God and Abraham (Genesis 15:18), confirmed by Moses (Exodus 24:7, Exodus 24:8 [This is another covenant]; 34:27 Deuteronomy 5:2), to be renewed and amended after the exile, by the intervention of prophets (Isaiah 42:6, 49:8 ) and the Messiah (Malachi 3:1 comp. Jeremiah 31:33). [Gesenius has utterly confused the old covenant with the new.] The land promised and given to the people by this covenant is called אֶרֶץ הַבְּרִית Ezekiel 30:5 and the people itself[?] בְּרִית קֹדֶשׁ “(the people) of the holy covenant,” Daniel 11:28, 30 Daniel 11:30 מַלְאַךְ הַבִּרִית “the messenger, μεσίτης, of the (new) covenant,” i.e. Messiah, Malachi 3:1.

(2) In other places it is the condition of this covenant, namely

(a) the promise of God, Isaiah 59:21 and very often

(b) the precepts of God which Israel had to keep, i.e. the divine law, i.q. תּוֹרָה. Hence לוּחוֹת הַבְּרִית Deuteronomy 9:9, 15 אֲרוֹן בְּרִית יְהֹוָה and אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית the ark in which the law or the tables of the law were kept (see אָרוֹן ). דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית “the words of the law,” -Jer. 11:28 ; 34:18 Exodus 34:28 דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים “the precepts of the law, ten precepts;” סֵפֶר הַבְּרִית “the book of the law,” used both of its earliest beginnings, Exodus 24:7 and of the whole collection of laws, 2 Kings 23:2, 21 2 Kings 23:21; 2 Chronicles 34:30.

As to a covenant of salt, see under מֶלַח.

(3) Sometimes ellipt.

(a) i.q. מַלְאַךְ בְּרִית messenger, herald, declarer and μεσίτης of the new covenant, or of a new law and religion, Isaiah 42:6, 49:8 compare Malachi 2:8.

(b) i.q. אוֹת בְּרִית “sign of the covenant,” used or circumcision, Genesis 17:10, 13 Genesis 17:13 compare 11 Genesis 17:11.