Is it the New or Renewed covenant?
Some Hebrew roots “scholars” are teaching that we are under a renewed covenant, not new, therefore we must follow the Old Covenant laws as well. Some have gone so far as to teach that the New Covenant will not be in effect until the return of Jesus. B’riyt Chadashah is the phrase that appears in Jeremiah 31:
Jeremiah 31
31 Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
32 not according to the covenant that I cut with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt (which covenant of Mine they broke, although I was a husband to them, says the LORD).
B’riyt means covenant, which is the equivalent for the word testament. Chadash in the context of Jeremiah 31:31 does not mean renewed but new, and in this passage the adjectival form for renewed would have to appear as mechudeshet to make it mean renewed, and not chadashah as found in the Hebrew text. We can determine that the meaning is something completely new because following verse 31, the negative “lo” appears in the Hebrew text (lo kabriyt) Contextually, this makes it clear that the writer is differentiating between an existing and a “new” covenant. The new covenant referred to in verse 31 is referred to in the Hebrew of verse 32 as lo meaning “not” the previous covenant and is defined in the passage below as not being:
“the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; my covenant which they broke”
There are two separate and distinct forms of chadash listed in the Hebrew lexicon for new (H2319) and renewed (H2318). Another Biblical Hebrew form for renewed is mechudash, the pu`al particple from the root (shoresh) chet-dalet-shin. Chidesh is a modern Hebrew word that is also used for renewed.
H2319
חדשׁ
châdâsh
BDB Definition:
1) new, new thing, fresh
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H2318
Same Word by TWOT Number: 613a
Here is the Hebrew lexicon listing of the word that is translated as renewed:
H2318
חדשׁ
châdash
BDB Definition:
1) to be new, renew, repair
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to renew, make anew
1a2) to repair
1b) (Hithpael) to renew oneself
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root
Same Word by TWOT Number: 613
Let’s take a look at how the Jewish scholars that made up the translation team for the 1917 Jewish Publication Society TeNaKh translated chadash (H2319) contextually:
30 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant (b’riyt chadashah) with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah;
Here is the Hebrew:
הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים, נְאֻם-יְהוָה; וְכָרַתִּי, אֶת-בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת-בֵּית יְהוּדָה–בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה.
Just to be sure, I referenced the latest version of the JPS TeNaKh (1985). It says new there as well. As a matter of fact, it says new in every translation I reviewed, with the exception of a few Hebrew Roots translations which are filled with faulty language scholarship, and are purely agenda driven.
So using the Hebrew roots teacher’s logic, shouldn’t this passage below also be renewed then?
Isaiah 43
18 Do not remember former things, nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new 2319 (chadashah) thing; now it shall sprout. Shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
Using the same reasoning, wouldn’t it be a renewed song in the following passages as well?
Psalms 33
3 Sing to Him a new (H2319) song; play skillfully, with shouts of joy.
Psalms 40
3 And He put a new (H2319) song of praise to our God in my mouth; many shall see and shall fear and shall trust in the LORD.
Psalms 96
1 O sing to the LORD a new (H2319) song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Psalms 98
1 O sing to the LORD a new (H2319) song, for He has done wondrous things; His right hand and His holy arm has saved Him.
Psalms 144
9 I will sing a new (H2319) song to You, O God; I will sing praises to You on a harp of ten strings
Psalms 149
1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new (H2319) song, His praise in the assembly of the saints.
Isaiah 42
10 Sing a new (H2319) song to the LORD; His praise from the end of the earth, you who go to sea, and all that is in it; the coasts and their people.
Below are some of the words, that the Hebrew scribes used when translating the Hebrew word chadash into a Greek equivalent for the Septuagint (LXX) and their definitions:
H2319
chadash G2537 kainos
chadash G3501 neos
G2537
καινοìς
kainos
Thayer Definition:
1) new
1a) as respects form
1a1) recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn
1b) as respects substance
1b1) of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: of uncertain affinity
Citing in TDNT: 3:447, 388
Now from the New Testament writings we have these passages using the Greek equivalent for chadash listed above, which is kainos (G2357):
Rev 5:9 And2532 they sung103 [5719] a new 2537 song 5603, saying3004 [5723], Thou art1488 [5748] worthy514 to take2983 [5629] the book975, and2532 to open455 [5658] the seals4973 thereof846: for3754 thou wast slain4969 [5648], and2532 hast redeemed59 [5656] us2248 to God2316 by1722 thy4675 blood129 out of1537 every3956 kindred5443, and2532 tongue1100, and2532 people2992, and2532 nation1484;
Rev 14:3 And2532 they sung103 [5719] as it were5613 a new 2537 song 5603 before1799 the throne2362, and2532 before1799 the four5064 beasts2226, and2532 the elders4245: and2532 no man3762 could1410 [5711] learn3129 [5629] that new 5603 but1508 the hundred1540 and forty5062 and four5064 thousand5505, which3588 were redeemed59 [5772] from575 the earth1093.
Mat 26:28 For1063 this5124 is2076 [5748] my3450 blood129 of the new2537 testament1242, which3588 is shed1632 [5746] for4012 many4183 for1519 the remission859 of sins266.
Heb 8:8 For1063 finding fault3201 [5740] with them846, he saith3004 [5719], Behold2400 [5628], the days2250 come2064 [5736], saith3004 [5719] the Lord2962, when2532 I will make4931 [5692] a new2537 covenant1242 with1909 the house3624 of Israel2474 and2532 with1909 the house3624 of Judah2455
Heb 8:13 In1722 that he saith3004 [5721], A new2537 covenant , he hath made3822 the first4413 old3822 [5758]. Now1161 that which decayeth3822 [5746] and2532 waxeth old1095 [5723] is ready1451 to vanish away854.
And the now another equivalent word for chadash (neos
G3501) is used (see definition below):
Heb 12:24 And2532 to Jesus2424 the mediator3316 of the new3501 covenant1242, and2532 to the blood129 of sprinkling4473, that speaketh2980 [5723] better things2909 than3844 that of Abel6.
G3501
νεìος / νεωìτερος
neos / neōteros
Thayer Definition:
1) recently born, young, youthful
2) new
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: a primary word
Citing in TDNT: 4:896, 628
Hebrew roots question:
So what happens to the “Chodesh” moon? does it just go poof when its cycle is done?
Actually, chodesh is listed as a totally different word in the Hebrew lexicon, that has its derivation from a word that is listed as meaning renewed.
H2320
חדשׁ
chôdesh
BDB Definition:
1) the new moon, month, monthly
1a) the first day of the month
1b) the lunar month
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from *H2318*
Same Word by TWOT Number: 613b
I once read that a Jewish person living in Israel on a good day could only fulfill about 240 of the 613 commandments established by the rabbis. That is because there is no Temple, no Priesthood, and other various reasons. If you do the math on that, it means that a person living in the US could probably only fulfill 40 +- percent of the Law on a good day.
James 2
8 If you truly fulfill the royal Law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
9 But if you have partiality you work sin, being reproved by the Law as transgressors.
10 For whoever shall keep all the Law, but stumbles in one, he has become guilty of all.
To believe that you are keeping the Law (which one is not capable of) and then switching to grace when someone points that out, is a terrible witness for the price that Christ paid (in my personal opinion). This is where the whole Hebrew roots concept of a “renewed covenant” got its start. What do the scriptures say, and what is truly your final authority? Let’s look to the book of Hebrews just to be sure:
11 Truly, then, if perfection was through the Levitical priestly office (for the people had been given Law under it), why yet was there need for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?
12 For the priestly office having been changed, of necessity a change of law also occurs.
19 For the Law perfected nothing, but a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
20 And by how much it was not without oath-taking;
21 for they truly becoming priests are without oath-taking, but He with oath-taking, through the One saying to Him, The Lord swore, and will not care to change, “You are a priest to the age according to the order of Melchizedek;”
22 by so much Jesus has become Surety of a better covenant.
Hebrews 8
6 But now He has gotten a more excellent ministry, also by so much as He is a Mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
7 For if that first was faultless, place would not have been sought for a second.
8 For finding fault, He said to them, “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, and I will make an end on the house of Israel and on the house of Judah; a new covenant shall be,
9 not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day of My taking hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I did not regard them, says the Lord.
10 Because this is the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, giving My Laws into their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
11 “And they shall no more teach each one their neighbor, and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord; because all shall know Me, from the least of them to their great ones.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesses, and I will not at all remember their sins and their lawless deeds.”
13 In the saying, New, He has made the first old. And the thing being made old and growing aged is near disappearing.
A covenant cannot be changed after the death of the testator:
Hebrews 9
15 And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were covered under the first testament, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead, otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator is living.
18 And so not even the first testament was dedicated without blood.
Galatians 3
15 Brothers, I speak according to man, a covenant having been ratified, even among mankind, no one sets aside or adds to it.
* This article is posted with permission from an original source.
Yes Thank you for this artical !!! I was starting to wonder if Strongs had gotten it wrong ! Never ,parrish the thought and thanks to you guys ,I have confidence again. See , it is 2319 in Strongs Hebrew side !
I am going to an old testament Bible group that I later found out were trying to convince me I should become Jewish .I stayed just long enough to get information as to what they believe . They twisted the meaning of jere, 31:31 to say it was a re-newed covenant (2320) instead of new covenant (2319). Thats not all ,then they choped up the true meaning of Greek word (kainos) and said its also re-new ,which it is not .In luke 22:20-22. In that scripture it means – new ,never existed before ,fresh.
They have an agenda , and look what they resort to. !They can not mess with the word with out getting caught by the presicement of Greek and hebrew !! Glory to God !
Just a brief response. I found your website when trying to find out if the Jewish people know which tribe they are decendant from. I thought your article was good, but the scriptures do make a distinction between the the two kingdoms. The verse you quoted in Jer. 31:31 as well as many others show a distinction between the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel. It is also shown that it will be David’s greater son who will once again unite two distinct kingdoms.”Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.” (Ezekiel 37:19) “And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.Ezekiel 37:24 I do believe this had partial fulfilment when the Lord Jesus was on earth, the women at the well was a daughter of Jacob but not a Jew she was a daughter of Ephriam or of the kingdom of Samaria. The full fulfillment will come with the second coming of Christ.
The two kingdoms were separate until the time of Nehemiah and Ezra. In the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple, the remnant of all the twelve tribes gathered together. After that point, they were considered one nation under the tribe of Judah {Israel}, although there were still the distinction of Judah, Benjamin and Levi within that “one nation” and still to this day > within Judaism. In Christ, however; there is no division or distinction of tribal affiliation. He is the Son of David, of David’s line of the Tribe of Judah, King over all nations and inclusive of all the tribes.
The New Covenant gathered all tribes, nations, and tongues together as one in the blood of Christ. There was no longer a distinction between Jew and Gentile [one new man – Eph 2]. The mystery of the Gospel as taught by Paul was “the one new man” concept. Christ is the head of all who believe – there is no longer a Jewish nation only, but all people groups are now one nation in Christ. There are bunches of NT verses that show this.
Jesus is *now* King over all, for all eternity. This is not a future event. When He returns, then all the nations will recognize His Kingship. The so-called “two sticks in one hand yet to come” has already been accomplished. [John 11] There will not be a 100% salvation for “all” Jews —- only a remnant [per Isaiah]. Paul’s “all Israel will be saved” refers not to tribal affiliation, but those who by faith believe in Christ including both Jews and Gentiles – “one is a Jew inwardly” – not a physical identifier [Rom 9 & Gal 3].
“Israel” when used in the NT refers to all 12 tribes. There is no separation in the NT between the “House of Israel” and the “House of Judah” – again, this is due to the gathering of all 12 tribes during the time of Nehemiah and Ezra, known as “Israel”, and reiterated by Caiaphas in John 11 [near the end of the chapter].
sheep
But Paul says in Hebrew 4:9, that there reMains a Sabbath keeping for the believer!
And Exodus 31:16, says that shabbat is eternal.
Psalm 111:7-9, says his covenant is for eternity!
Genesis 17:9-10, says Gods covenant is eternal and aka Paul also kept Torah.
Matthew 5:17 says that Jesus did not come to abolish the law or the prophets. But to fullfill.
And also! God’s covenants are not canceled out because they are eternal and they can never go away.
I think that within context, Paul is stating that the Sabbath Rest is no longer a day, but when one is in belief or in Christ.
The Shabbat as given to *ISRAEL*, not to the Gentiles, was eternal IF they kept the covenant/the Law of Moses. That covenant was *conditional* dependent on Israel’s compliance. If she turned against the covenant, they would be cut off, dispersed, etc, Which is exactly what happened. However; Paul also stated that God still made a way for Israel to becomes part of the new covenant in Christ by belief in Him. The Sabbath was simply a shadow of what was to come in Christ. There was not full revelation of that until after Christ died, although Jesus told the disciples that He is Lord of the Sabbath, meaning He is the Sabbath.
Paul did not keep Torah. He did not comply with many of the commands and taught against Torah, specifically circumcision. There are other instances of Paul not keeping Torah, but too much information to discuss here.
Matt 5:17 — the emphasis is on fulfilled, not abolish. It was all fulfilled. Heaven and earth will pass away at the end of this age because all is fulfilled. Just as God told Adam and Eve that if they ate from the tree they would die, they did not physically die until 100s of years later. Jesus also clearly explained to the disciples after His resurrection that He fulfilled ALL the Law and Prophets. He did not abolish the Law – it still remains recorded for us to see the pattern, the shadow of what was to come, but we no longer follow that pattern/shadow – but are IN Jesus, are made righteous IN Him, take up our cross and follow Him by reaching out to the world in His love. This is the simplicity of the New Covenant which was built upon better promises that cannot be taken away by the faithlessness of man like the old covenant was.
Covenants can either be conditional or unconditional. God sets them up both ways. For instance, Abraham’s covenant was unconditional. It would come to pass regardless of his unfaithfulness [with Hagar] and the unfaithfulness of Israel [in regard to the Messiah coming through one of the tribes].
However; the covenant that God made with Israel at Mt Sinai was conditional based on their obedience to it. They broke it over and over again. God constantly told them that if they did not return to Him and keep the Law per His commands, then they would lose that covenant – be forsaken and dispersed. This is exactly what happened. Then God gave them yet one more opportunity during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah and the remnant returned for the rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and parts of the Temple. Israel was once again compliant, but for only a brief time when she began to intermingle and marry outside of her community. That is when God broke the covenant Himself as recorded in Zech 10. It was His grace and mercy that allowed the sacrificial system to continue even though the Temple service and the priests were corrupted [other than a remnant] until Jesus came. Once Jesus died, the old covenant or the Mosaic Law was absolved, replaced, waxed old, done away with and in its stead, a new covenant in Christ’s blood was implemented. There is much more to it, of course, but space limits more attention to it.
Another example of an unconditional covenant was the covenant of salt that God made with David that prophesied the eternal King would come through his “loins” and we can see this was fulfilled in Christ through the genealogical records of the Bible.
The New Covenant is unconditional. Not like the one given at Mt Sinai, even though God was faithful, Israel broke it. No one can take the new covenant away or change it or reverse it or break it. It is secure, indestructible for all eternity.
Love this, thank you