Covenant

An agreement between two persons that is obligatory on both parties.

The term is most commonly used to refer to an agreement made between God and mankind, which include promises on both sides of their duties under the covenant. The covenant is ratified with a sacrifice and includes a sign.

Jews believe that these covenants are permanent; some Christians believe that God unilaterally abrogated them and selected Christians to be the new chosen people.

There is truly only one covenant (the everlasting covenant) that has been in operation before time. All other covenants were merely temporary ones for humans to use in grasping the meanings through the symbolism until the reality can be experienced.