Biblical Covenants Between God and Man

Some Observations About Biblical Covenants Between God and Man:

A biblical covenant between God and man is made between God and a specific person or group of people.

The giving of a covenant sometimes (though not always) included a solemn ceremony involving:

Animal sacrifices
Pronouncement of curses that would accompany the violation of the covenant

A covenant was often accompanied by a sign that served as a symbol and future reminder of the covenant.

Two types of covenants:

Conditional

Unconditional
Note: Sometimes a covenant can have both conditional and unconditional aspects to it.

It is best not to call an agreement between God and man a "covenant", unless the Bible calls it a covenant!

An Example of a Biblical Covenant Between God and Man Involving Animal Sacrifices and Solemn Pronouncements:

After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.“ . . . He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.“ But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?“ So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.“ Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other . . . Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. . . When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land . . .” (Genesis 15:1-18)

The Major Covenants in the Bible Between God and Man:

Noahic (Genesis 9:8-17)

Abrahamic (Genesis 12-17)

Mosaic (Exodus 19-24)

Often referred to in the New Testament as the “Old Covenant”

Davidic (2Samuel 23:5, Psalm 89:3)

New (Jer.31:31-34 ; Heb.7-13; 2Cor.3:6-18)