What Does “Covenant” Mean in the Bible?
A pact of love between God and his people. God promises to care for them, and the people promise to be faithful to him.
It can mean
- In the Bible: God made a covenant with Noah, with Abraham, and with Moses. Jesus made the new Covenant at the Last Supper.
- Careful: in Spanish, the same word also means a wedding ring. In the Bible it is the pact.
Where it appears in the Bible
Genesis 9:9; Exodus 24:7-8; Luke 22:20
What the Bible says
Genesis 9:9
Behold I will establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you:
Exodus 24:7-8
7And taking the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people: and they said: All things that the Lord hath spoken we will do, we will be obedient. 8And he took the blood and sprinkled it upon the people, and he said: This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.
Luke 22:20
In like manner the chalice also, after he had supped, saying: This is the chalice, the new testament in my blood, which shall be shed for you.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catechism 56 and 62; Luke 22:20