cov·e·nant /ˈkʌvnənt, ˈkʌvə-/
 契約,盟約(vt.)(vi.)立契約,締結盟約


 Cov·e·nant v. i. [imp. & p. p. Covenanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Covenanting.] To agree (with); to enter into a formal agreement; to bind one's self by contract; to make a stipulation.
    Jupiter covenanted with him, that it should be hot or cold, wet or dry, . . . as the tenant should direct.   --L'Estrange.
    And they covenanted with him for thyrty pieces of silver.   --Matt. xxvi. 15.
 Syn: -- To agree; contract; bargain; stipulate.


 Cov·e·nant, v. t. To grant or promise by covenant.
    My covenant of peace that I covenanted with you.   --Wyclif.

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 Cov·e·nant n.
 1. A mutual agreement of two or more persons or parties, or one of the stipulations in such an agreement.
    Then Jonathan and David made a covenant.   --1 Sam. xviiii. 3.
    Let there be covenants drawn between us.   --Shak.
 If we conclude a peace,
 It shall be with such strict and severe covenants
 As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.   --Shak.
 2. Eccl. Hist. An agreement made by the Scottish Parliament in 1638, and by the English Parliament in 1643, to preserve the reformed religion in Scotland, and to extirpate popery and prelacy; -- usually called the “Solemn League and Covenant.”
    He [Wharton] was born in the days of the Covenant, and was the heir of a covenanted house.   --Macaulay.
 3. Theol. The promises of God as revealed in the Scriptures, conditioned on certain terms on the part of man, as obedience, repentance, faith, etc.
    I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.   --Gen. xvii. 7.
 4. A solemn compact between members of a church to maintain its faith, discipline, etc.
 5. Law (a) An undertaking, on sufficient consideration, in writing and under seal, to do or to refrain from some act or thing; a contract; a stipulation; also, the document or writing containing the terms of agreement. (b) A form of action for the violation of a promise or contract under seal.
 Syn: -- Agreement; contract; compact; bargain; arrangement; stipulation.
 Usage: -- Covenant, Contract, Compact, Stipulation. These words all denote a mutual agreement between two parties.  Covenant is frequently used in a religious sense; as, the covenant of works or of grace; a church covenant; the Solemn League and Covenant. Contract is the word most used in the business of life. Crabb and Taylor are wrong in saying that a contract must always be in writing. There are oral and implied contracts as well as written ones, and these are equally enforced by law. In legal usage, the word covenant has an important place as connected with contracts. A compact is only a stronger and more solemn contract. The term is chiefly applied to political alliances. Thus, the old Confederation was a compact between the States. Under the present Federal Constitution, no individual State can, without consent of Congress, enter into a compact with any other State or foreign power. A stipulation is one of the articles or provisions of a contract.


 covenant
      n 1: a signed written agreement between two or more parties
           (nations) to perform some action [syn: compact, concordat]
      2: (Bible) an agreement between God and his people in which God
         makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from
         them in return
      v 1: enter into a covenenant
      2: enter into a covenant or formal agreement; "They covenanted
         with Judas for 30 pieces of silver"; "The nations
         covenanted to fight terrorism around the world"


 Covenant
    a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old
    Testament the Hebrew word _berith_ is always thus translated.
    _Berith_ is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence
    a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or
    dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties
    passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18,
    19).

      The corresponding word in the New Testament Greek is
    _diatheke_, which is, however, rendered "testament" generally in
    the Authorized Version. It ought to be rendered, just as the
    word _berith_ of the Old Testament, "covenant."

      This word is used (1) of a covenant or compact between man and
    man (Gen. 21:32), or between tribes or nations (1 Sam. 11:1;
    Josh. 9:6, 15). In entering into a convenant, Jehovah was
    solemnly called on to witness the transaction (Gen. 31:50), and
    hence it was called a "covenant of the Lord" (1 Sam. 20:8). The
    marriage compact is called "the covenant of God" (Prov. 2:17),
    because the marriage was made in God's name. Wicked men are
    spoken of as acting as if they had made a "covenant with death"
    not to destroy them, or with hell not to devour them (Isa.
    28:15, 18).

      (2.) The word is used with reference to God's revelation of
    himself in the way of promise or of favour to men. Thus God's
    promise to Noah after the Flood is called a covenant (Gen. 9;
    Jer. 33:20, "my covenant"). We have an account of God's
    covernant with Abraham (Gen. 17, comp. Lev. 26:42), of the
    covenant of the priesthood (Num. 25:12, 13; Deut. 33:9; Neh.
    13:29), and of the covenant of Sinai (Ex. 34:27, 28; Lev.
    26:15), which was afterwards renewed at different times in the
    history of Israel (Deut. 29; Josh. 1:24; 2 Chr. 15; 23; 29; 34;
    Ezra 10; Neh. 9). In conformity with human custom, God's
    covenant is said to be confirmed with an oath (Deut. 4:31; Ps.
    89:3), and to be accompanied by a sign (Gen. 9; 17). Hence the
    covenant is called God's "counsel," "oath," "promise" (Ps. 89:3,
    4; 105:8-11; Heb. 6:13-20; Luke 1:68-75). God's covenant
    consists wholly in the bestowal of blessing (Isa. 59:21; Jer.
    31:33, 34).

      The term covenant is also used to designate the regular
    succession of day and night (Jer. 33:20), the Sabbath (Ex.
    31:16), circumcision (Gen. 17:9, 10), and in general any
    ordinance of God (Jer. 34:13, 14).

      A "covenant of salt" signifies an everlasting covenant, in the
    sealing or ratifying of which salt, as an emblem of perpetuity,
    is used (Num. 18:19; Lev. 2:13; 2 Chr. 13:5).

      COVENANT OF WORKS, the constitution under which Adam was
    placed at his creation. In this covenant, (1.) The contracting
    parties were (a) God the moral Governor, and (b) Adam, a free
    moral agent, and representative of all his natural posterity
    (Rom. 5:12-19). (2.) The promise was "life" (Matt. 19:16, 17;
    Gal. 3:12). (3.) The condition was perfect obedience to the law,
    the test in this case being abstaining from eating the fruit of
    the "tree of knowledge," etc. (4.) The penalty was death (Gen.
    2:16, 17).

      This covenant is also called a covenant of nature, as made
    with man in his natural or unfallen state; a covenant of life,
    because "life" was the promise attached to obedience; and a
    legal covenant, because it demanded perfect obedience to the
    law.

      The "tree of life" was the outward sign and seal of that life
    which was promised in the covenant, and hence it is usually
    called the seal of that covenant.

      This covenant is abrogated under the gospel, inasmuch as
    Christ has fulfilled all its conditions in behalf of his people,
    and now offers salvation on the condition of faith. It is still
    in force, however, as it rests on the immutable justice of God,
    and is binding on all who have not fled to Christ and accepted
    his righteousness.

      CONVENANT OF GRACE, the eternal plan of redemption entered
    into by the three persons of the Godhead, and carried out by
    them in its several parts. In it the Father represented the
    Godhead in its indivisible sovereignty, and the Son his people
    as their surety (John 17:4, 6, 9; Isa. 42:6; Ps. 89:3).

      The conditions of this covenant were, (1.) On the part of the
    Father (a) all needful preparation to the Son for the
    accomplishment of his work (Heb. 10:5; Isa. 42:1-7); (b) support
    in the work (Luke 22:43); and (c) a glorious reward in the
    exaltation of Christ when his work was done (Phil. 2:6-11), his
    investiture with universal dominion (John 5:22; Ps. 110:1), his
    having the administration of the covenant committed into his
    hands (Matt. 28:18; John 1:12; 17:2; Acts 2:33), and in the
    final salvation of all his people (Isa. 35:10; 53:10, 11; Jer.
    31:33; Titus 1:2). (2.) On the part of the Son the conditions
    were (a) his becoming incarnate (Gal. 4:4, 5); and (b) as the
    second Adam his representing all his people, assuming their
    place and undertaking all their obligations under the violated
    covenant of works; (c) obeying the law (Ps. 40:8; Isa. 42:21;
    John 9:4, 5), and (d) suffering its penalty (Isa. 53; 2 Cor.
    5:21; Gal. 3:13), in their stead.

      Christ, the mediator of, fulfils all its conditions in behalf
    of his people, and dispenses to them all its blessings. In Heb.
    8:6; 9:15; 12:24, this title is given to Christ. (See DISPENSATION.)