- Jan 7, 2026
God Does NOT "Make" Covenants
- Jeff A. Benner
- Translation
- 11 comments
The phrase "make a covenant," is a good example of how translators of the Bible have ignored the original Hebrew vocabulary and instead chosen words that are less accurate, but more understandable to the average reader. In doing so, the translators have transformed the text from an Ancient Near Eastern document, into a Modern Western one. This, in my opinion, does the reader a disservice.
Let's begin with the word "make," which in Hebrew is the verb asah, but that is not the verb used in this phrase. The word used is karat, which means "to cut."
The Hebrew word behind the word "covenant," is b'riyt. If you look this word up in any lexicon or dictionary, you will find that this word means "covenant." However, while this translation is correct, it is missing context. Hebrew vocabulary is not a collection of individually isolated words, but rather a collection of word families. A word family is a group of words derived from a common root, all of which are closely related in meaning. The root of the word b'riyt is barah and means "to eat." Derived from this root are four Hebrew words. barut and bir'yah mean "meat" and be'rih means "fat." The fourth word, which is our word b'riyt, more concretely means "the meat of the covenant."
Jeremiah 34:18-20 provides insight into the covenantal practices of the Ancient Near East. In this passage we learn that a covenant was initiated by the slaughtering of a sacrificial animal, which was then "cut" into two pieces. The two parties of the covenant then pass through the pieces, and anyone who violates this covenant will, like the sacrificial animal, be cut into two. It is interesting to note that Israel, who violated the terms of their covenant with YHWH, were "cut" into two nations, Israel and Judah.
As you can see, the translation, "make a covenant," lacks clarity. A better, more accurate, translation would be "cutting the meat of the covenant." This translation allows the reader to see the text through the eyes of its author.
Biblical covenants have been a fascinating subject of mine for many years. In-fact, my very first book is titled, The Holy Assembly and the Everlasting Covenant. However, for a number of reasons, I never actually published this work, that is until now. I am in the editing phase of preparing it for publication. If you would like to get on my waitlist for this book and read an excerpt, click the link below and thank you for your interest.
About my Blog
The Bible was written in an ancient eastern culture, which views the world very differently from the way we do in our modern western culture.
My blog objectives:
Expose how our modern translations have ignored the original language of the Bible in order to present a Bible that is more easily readable by modern readers.
Transform your way of thinking to be more in line with the authors of the Bible.
11 comments
Love these short insights to Biblical Hebrew.
Me too!
This is insightful as it helps me to understand better why we must eat of Jesus' flesh and drink of His blood to have eternal life and be raised up on the last day (John 6:54). It gives new depth to taking the communion of which He said it was His body which was torn (or cut) for us and His blood which was shed for us.
Thank you! Please keep these short insights coming!
So, would the translation read more like "Write down these words, in these words I have cut a meat covenant with Israel"?
Having already known about the 2 halves of a covenant sacrifice, this would actually make sense to me.
Anyone who is reading the Bible should know what is the real meaning behind each sentence.
I strongly believe that this is only the "tip" of the darkness which is clouding our heart towards GOD ALMIGHTY and at the same time GOD ALMIGHTY is right in front of everyone.
As the veil separated the holy place - the sacrifice of flesh - from the holy of holies - the presence of YHVH - we cannot enter into the presence of YHVH as long as our heart is yearning for satisfaction of the flesh by worldly rewards.
By worldly standards no difference can be observed between eating a meal to satisfy hunger and eating the "same" meal in the presence of YHVH while effectively man in this two different cases is in different places.
Being cut off from the world means being transferred into heaven. THE HOLY SPIRIT remaining the only guide, only arbiter. As long as "both parts" of man - flesh and spirit, the two halves of our being in comparison to YHVH WHO IS SPIRIT ONLY - are not separated by THE HOLY SPIRIT from the world so YHVH'S gifts of the "flesh" are received in THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT only, man is bound to the world due to his desire of fleshy satisfaction. He will experience heavenly moments as he cannot separate himself from YHVH but he will always fall back into the world looking for salvation anew - addiction to whatever comes momentarily to his heart based on the level of propaganda and indoctrination he has fallen prey to.
Not being able to recognise THE LORD JESUS CHRIST as THE WAY and THE DOOR - by trusting the world instead of relying SOLELY upon YHVH'S WORD - prevents man's SALVATION.
THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ONLY FOREVER AND EVER - AMEN HALLELU-YAH!
Here is how Paul describes man's transformation from flesh to THE HOLY SPIRIT:
1Now I say, for as long a time as the heir is a child, he differs not from a slave, though being owner of everything. 2Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time appointed by his father. 3So also, we when we were children, were held in bondage under the principlesa of the world.
4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under the Law, 5that He might redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive the divine adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, also an heir through God.
8But at that time indeed, not knowing God, you were enslaved to those by nature not being gods. 9But now, having known God, but rather having been known by God, how do you turn again to the weak and destitute principles, to which you desire to be enslaved again anew? 10You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11I fear for you, lest perhaps I have toiled for you in vain. 12I implore you, brothers, become as I am, because I also have become as you. You have wronged me in nothing.
13Now you know that in weakness of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel the first time to you. 14And of your test in my flesh, you did not despise me nor reject me with contempt, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15What has become then of your blessedness? For I bear witness to you that, if possible, having gouged out your eyes, you would have given them to me. 16So have I become your enemy speaking truth to you?
17They zealously seek you, not rightly. But they desire to isolate you from us, so that you might be zealous after them. 18Now it is good to be zealous in a right thing, at all times and not only in my being present with you.
19My children, of whom I travail again until that Christ shall have been formed in you, 20I was wishing indeed to be present with you presently and to change my tone, because I am perplexed as to you.
21Tell me, those wishing to be under the Law, do you do not listen to the Law? 22For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one of the slave woman and one of the free. 23But indeed, the one of the slave woman has been born according to flesh, but the one of the free, through the promise, 24which things are allegorized, for these are two covenants: one indeed from Mount Sinai, begetting unto slavery, which is Hagar. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, who is our mother. 27For it has been written:
“Rejoice O barren woman, the one not bearing; break forth and call aloud, the one not travailing; because many more are the children of the desolate woman than of her having the husband.”
28Now you,c brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29But just as at that time the one having been born according to flesh was persecuting the one born according to Spirit, so also it is now.
30But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will never inherit along with the son of the free.”d 31So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free.
(Gal 4)
THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE - THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ONLY FOREVER AND EVER - AMEN HALLELU-YAH!
The Covenant of the Seed of Abraham and the "SEED" was made by the cutting of the flesh in the act of circumcision. Not all covenants were made under conditions of sacrificing an animal. In general, a covenant is an agreement between two parties. How ironic is it that even unconditional covenants with their future blessings required acts of obedience as evidence of faith? For example, Abraham was promised to be a father of nations. Yet he had to leave Ur. He could have said "no" to circumcision at 90 years old, but he said yes. His last choice, in obeying God, was to offer his only begotten son from Sarah as a sacrifice. He chose obedience because of his faith, though God provided the Ram. The Scriptures are replete with covenants not requiring sacrificial "cutting" of animals. Most covenantal blessings are accompanied by the "yes" of our obedience to the faith. One more note. In Romans 1, grace was given to the benefactor (us) to help us become obedient to the faith. Christ was cut as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, but we are joined to this covenant by our faith choice to believe. For by grace are we saved through faith... There is another question I would like Jeff to comment on. Can covenants be man-initiated? Can believers make covenants with God that God would honor?
What more of a covenant than THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST does man need?
9And I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. 10For everyone asking receives; and the one seeking finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened.
11And which father among you, if the son will ask for a fish, and instead of a fish, will give to him a serpent? 12Or also if he will ask for an egg, will he give to him a scorpion? 13Therefore if you, being evil, know to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father who is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those asking Him!”
(Lk 11)
THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE - THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ONLY FOREVER AND EVER - AMEN HALLELU-YAH!
One - What religion are you? I'm curious...do you go to any particular church (such as Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.)? Thanks.
Frederick - Interesting. I'm curious about your question at the end as well. Thanks.