How Many Biblical Covenants are there?
Quick Summary
The Bible describes a series of covenants through which God relates to humanity. While scholars differ slightly in how they count them, most Christian theology identifies six to eight major biblical covenants. These covenants structure the entire biblical story, moving from creation to new creation, and culminate in the new covenant inaugurated by Jesus Christ.
Introduction
The Bible is not a random collection of stories, laws, and poems. It is a unified narrative held together by covenant. From Genesis to Revelation, God binds himself to humanity through promises, obligations, and signs that shape Israel’s identity and the church’s faith.
When people ask how many biblical covenants there are, they are usually asking a deeper question: how does God relate to humanity over time? Scripture answers that question not with abstract theory, but through a series of concrete relationships established in history. These covenants are not all the same. Some are universal, others particular. Some are unconditional promises, others include clear responsibilities. Together, they form the backbone of biblical theology.
What Is a Covenant in the Bible?
A covenant in the Bible is a formal relationship established by God that includes promises and, often, obligations. The Hebrew word berit refers to a binding agreement, often ratified by an oath or sign. In the ancient Near East, covenants were commonly used to define relationships between kings and subjects, families, or nations.
Biblical covenants share similarities with these ancient forms, but they differ in one crucial respect: God is always the initiator. Humanity does not negotiate these agreements. God establishes them, defines their terms, and commits himself to their fulfillment.
Covenants function as the organizing framework of Scripture. They explain why certain commands matter, why particular people are chosen, and how God’s purposes unfold across generations. (Genesis 9; Exodus 19; Jeremiah 31; Mendenhall)
The Adamic Covenant
The first covenant is often called the Adamic covenant. While the word covenant does not appear explicitly in Genesis 1–3, later biblical texts treat Adam’s relationship with God in covenantal terms. Adam is given a vocation, a command, and a consequence.
This covenant establishes humanity’s role as God’s image-bearer, tasked with stewardship over creation. Life is presented as a gift sustained by obedience and trust. When Adam and Eve violate this trust, the covenant is fractured, but not abandoned.
Even in judgment, God preserves relationship. The promise that evil will ultimately be overcome sets the trajectory for the rest of Scripture. (Genesis 1–3; Hosea 6:7; Walton)
The Noahic Covenant
After the flood, God establishes a covenant with Noah, his descendants, and all living creatures. This covenant is explicitly universal. It applies to all humanity and to the entire created order.
The Noahic covenant is unconditional. God promises never again to destroy the earth by flood, regardless of human faithfulness. The sign of this covenant is the rainbow, a visible reminder of divine restraint and mercy.
This covenant affirms the stability of the world as the stage on which God’s redemptive work will continue. Creation will endure long enough for God’s purposes to unfold. (Genesis 9; Wenham)
The Abrahamic Covenant
The covenant with Abraham marks a decisive narrowing of focus. God chooses one family through whom blessing will come to all nations. This covenant includes promises of land, descendants, and divine presence.
Unlike ancient treaties based on mutual power, the Abrahamic covenant is grounded in divine promise. God binds himself to Abraham’s future, even when Abraham’s faith falters. Circumcision serves as the covenant sign, marking belonging to the promise.
This covenant introduces the theme of election, not as exclusion, but as vocation. Israel is chosen for the sake of the world. (Genesis 12; Genesis 15; Genesis 17; Kitchen)
The Mosaic Covenant
The Mosaic covenant is established at Mount Sinai after the Exodus. Here, God forms Israel into a nation and gives the law as a guide for covenant life. This covenant is conditional, shaped by blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience.
The law does not replace grace; it follows deliverance. Israel is not freed because it obeys, but is given the law because it has been freed. The covenant defines how a redeemed people are to live.
The Mosaic covenant includes sacrificial systems, festivals, and ethical commands, all designed to sustain Israel’s relationship with God and one another. (Exodus 19–24; Deuteronomy; Wright)
The Davidic Covenant
God’s covenant with David establishes a royal dimension within Israel’s story. God promises that David’s dynasty will endure and that his throne will be established forever.
This covenant reshapes Israel’s hope. Kingship is not merely political; it becomes theological. The future of God’s people is tied to a righteous ruler who will embody covenant faithfulness.
Even after the monarchy collapses, this promise remains alive in prophetic expectation. The Messiah is envisioned as a son of David who will restore justice and peace. (2 Samuel 7; Psalms; Brueggemann)
The New Covenant
The prophets speak of a new covenant in response to Israel’s repeated failure. This covenant will not abolish God’s law, but internalize it. God promises to write the law on the heart and forgive sin decisively.
Jesus identifies his death as the inauguration of this new covenant. At the Last Supper, he speaks of his blood as the covenant sign, echoing Sinai while transforming its meaning.
The new covenant fulfills and reframes all previous covenants. It extends the promise to all nations and grounds obedience in renewed hearts rather than external compulsion. (Jeremiah 31; Luke 22; Hebrews 8; Wright)
Are There Six, Seven, or Eight Covenants?
Scholars differ slightly in how they count biblical covenants. Some combine the Adamic and Noahic covenants. Others distinguish additional covenants, such as the priestly covenant with Phinehas.
Most Christian theological frameworks identify six major covenants: Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New. Others count up to eight by separating creation and redemption covenants or including lesser covenantal moments.
These differences reflect categorization rather than contradiction. The core covenantal structure of Scripture remains consistent across traditions. (Robertson)
How Covenants Shape the Whole Bible
Covenants are not isolated agreements. They build upon one another. Each covenant deepens the story without canceling what came before. Later covenants clarify and fulfill earlier promises.
The Bible’s timeline, theology, and ethics all flow from this covenantal structure. To read Scripture without attention to covenant is to miss its inner logic.
Ultimately, covenant reveals God’s character. God is faithful across generations, committed to relationship, and willing to bind himself to humanity for the sake of redemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many covenants are mentioned in the Bible?
Most Christian theologians identify six major biblical covenants, though some count up to eight depending on how they categorize them.
What is the most important covenant?
The new covenant is central to Christian faith because it fulfills the earlier covenants and is inaugurated through Jesus Christ.
Are biblical covenants conditional or unconditional?
Some covenants are unconditional, such as the Noahic and Abrahamic covenants, while others, like the Mosaic covenant, include explicit conditions.
Do covenants replace one another?
Biblical covenants build upon each other rather than canceling earlier ones. Later covenants fulfill and deepen previous promises.
Works Consulted
Mendenhall, George E. Law and Covenant in Israel and the Ancient Near East.
Walton, John H. The Lost World of Genesis One.
Kitchen, Kenneth A. On the Reliability of the Old Testament.
Wright, N. T. Scripture and the Authority of God.
Brueggemann, Walter. First and Second Samuel.
Robertson, O. Palmer. The Christ of the Covenants.
