בְּרִית (H1285) — Hebrew Lexicon

בְּרִית

𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤕

bᵉrîyth

H1285 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A formal agreement or treaty, especially one instituting a binding relationship between parties; in many cases, designates a solemn and binding arrangement between a deity and humans (often, between the God of Israel and the Israelite people), but also used for agreements between individuals or groups. Berit encompasses legal, political, and social dimensions, and is characterized by conditions, obligations, and, in some cases, associated ceremonies.

Semantic Range

covenant, treaty, agreement, compact, pact, alliance, formal arrangement, binding relationship, legal contract

Root / Etymology

The word בְּרִית derives from the root ברת (likely from בָּרָה or possibly ברה/ברא in another sense), generally associated with the concept 'to cut.' The original sense is probably related to the ancient practice of ratifying treaties or covenants by the symbolic cutting or dividing of animals (see Genesis 15:10). However, the precise derivation remains debated. The lexical meaning of בְּרִית ('covenant, treaty, agreement') has developed beyond the concrete act to denote the established relationship or arrangement itself. Etymology uncertain in finer detail; associations with Assyrian birītu ('fetter, bond') have also been proposed.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, בְּרִית refers to diverse types of agreements: between individuals (e.g., Genesis 21:27, a pact between Abraham and Abimelech); between groups (such as treaties between kings or peoples); and preeminently, between the deity and the Israelite people (notably the 'Sinaitic covenant' or 'covenant with Abraham'). The concept is not legalistic alone but often carries ethical, religious, and communal implications. In historical development, the term serves as a central feature of Israelite identity, mediating legal, theological, and ancestral obligations. Lexically, בְּרִית differs from related terms such as חֹק (statute) or מִצְוָה (commandment), in that it denotes a relationship or arrangement, not just a code or rule. Later translations sometimes render בְּרִית as 'testament' or 'Jewish covenant,' but these renderings impose later theological and national concepts upon an earlier, broader term. In post-exilic, Second Temple, and later periods, the term becomes increasingly identified with specific traditions and doctrinal developments, but the biblical usage remains broader. English 'covenant' is an approximate translation but often fails to communicate the complexity and variety of the Hebrew term's use.

Translation Consistency

primary "covenant" 50 occurrences

‘Covenant’ is the standard, natural English noun that best captures the primary biblical sense: a solemn, binding arrangement (often between God and people) while also covering human treaties and agreements. It is widely used in English Bibles and conveys the legal, relational, and ceremonial dimensions in the SILEX range better than more generic words like ‘agreement’ or adjectival forms like ‘binding.’

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָּרָה (in the sense of cutting (like בָּרָא)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

ברת (Beroti) — to cut, to divide, to establish an agreement

Root ברת to cut, to divide, to establish an agreement

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1307	בֵּרֹתִי	the Berothite

Word Forms

28 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H1285-02`	בְּרִ֛ית	berit	`HNcfsa`	covenant	binding agreement	covenant	113
`H1285-12`	הַ/בְּרִית֙	haberit	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the covenant	the binding agreement	the covenant	47
`H1285-06`	בְּרִיתִ֣/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant	41
`H1285-24`	בְרִ֖ית	verit	`HNcfsa`	a covenant	binding treaty of	covenant	18
`H1285-07`	בְּרִית֔/וֹ	berito	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his covenant	his binding agreement	his covenant	15
`H1285-26`	בְרִיתִ֖/י	veriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding-agreement	my covenant	7
`H1285-16`	לִ/בְרִ֣ית	liverit	`HR/Ncfsc`	as-a-covenant	for a binding treaty	for a binding covenant	5
`H1285-25`	בְרִֽיתְ/ךָ֙	veritekha	`HNcfsc/Sp2ms`	your covenant	your binding covenant	your binding covenant	5
`H1285-03`	בְּרִֽיתְ/ךָ֙	beritekha	`HNcfsc/Sp2ms`	your covenant	your binding treaty	your covenant	4
`H1285-18`	וּ/בְרִית֙	uverit	`HC/Ncfsa`	and covenant	and binding-agreement of	and covenant of	4
`H1285-22`	בַ/בְּרִ֔ית	vaberit	`HRd/Ncfsa`	in-the-covenant	in the binding covenant	in the covenant	3
`H1285-01`	בַּ/בְּרִ֣ית	baberit	`HRd/Ncfsa`	in the covenant	in the binding agreement	in the covenant	2
`H1285-08`	בִּ/בְרִ֣ית	biverit	`HR/Ncfsc`	in a covenant	in binding agreement of	in the covenant of	2
`H1285-10`	בִּ/בְרִיתִֽ/י	biveriti	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs`	in-my-covenant	in my binding-agreement	in my covenant	2
`H1285-20`	וּ/בְרִיתִ֖/י	uveriti	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs`	and my covenant	my binding agreement	and my covenant	2
`H1285-27`	בְ֝רִית֗/וֹ	verito	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his covenant	his binding-agreement	his binding-agreement	2
`H1285-04`	בְּרִיתֵ֗/ךְ	beritekhe	`HNcfsc/Sp2fs`	of your covenant	your binding treaty	of your covenant	1
`H1285-05`	בְּרִֽיתְ/כֶם֙	beritekhem	`HNcfsc/Sp2mp`	covenant-of-you	your binding-agreement	your covenant	1
`H1285-09`	בִּ/בְרִיתֶֽ/ךָ	biveritekha	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	to your covenant	in your covenant	against your covenant	1
`H1285-11`	בִּ/בְרִיתֽ/וֹ	biverito	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	in his covenant	his binding agreement	in his covenant	1
`H1285-13`	כַ/בְּרִ֗ית	khaberit	`HRd/Ncfsa`	like-the-covenant	like a binding covenant	like a binding covenant	1
`H1285-14`	כִּ/בְרִ֥ית	kiverit	`HR/Ncfsc`	according to the covenant	as binding-agreement of	according to the covenant of	1
`H1285-15`	לַ/בְּרִ֑ית	laberit	`HRd/Ncfsa`	to the covenant	to the binding covenant	to the binding covenant	1
`H1285-17`	מִ/בְּרִיתֵֽ/ךְ	miberitekhe	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp2fs`	on account of your covenant	from your covenant	from your covenant	1
`H1285-19`	וּ/בְרִֽיתְ/ךָ֖	uveritekha	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	and your covenant	and your binding-agreement	and your binding-agreement	1
`H1285-21`	וּ֝/בְרִית֗/וֹ	uverito	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and his covenant	and his covenant	and his covenant	1
`H1285-23`	וְ/הַ/בְּרִ֛ית	vehaberit	`HC/Td/Ncfsa`	and-the-covenant	and the binding treaty	and the binding treaty	1
`H1285-28`	בִ/בְרִ֜ית	viverit	`HR/Ncfsa`	into covenant	binding covenant	into covenant	1

Occurrences in Scripture

284 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H1285-06`	Genesis 6:18	בְּרִיתִ֖/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Genesis 9:9	בְּרִיתִ֖/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Genesis 9:11	בְּרִיתִ/י֙	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-12`	Genesis 9:12	הַ/בְּרִית֙	haberit	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the covenant	the binding agreement	the covenant
`H1285-02`	Genesis 9:13	בְּרִ֔ית	berit	`HNcfsa`	of covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-06`	Genesis 9:15	בְּרִיתִ֗/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-02`	Genesis 9:16	בְּרִ֣ית	berit	`HNcfsc`	covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-12`	Genesis 9:17	הַ/בְּרִית֙	haberit	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the covenant	the binding agreement	the covenant
`H1285-24`	Genesis 14:13	בְרִית	verit	`HNcfsc`	covenant	binding treaty of	covenant
`H1285-02`	Genesis 15:18	בְּרִ֣ית	berit	`HNcfsa`	covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-26`	Genesis 17:2	בְרִיתִ֖/י	veriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	My covenant	my binding-agreement	my covenant
`H1285-26`	Genesis 17:4	בְרִיתִ֖/י	veriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	My covenant	my binding-agreement	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Genesis 17:7	בְּרִיתִ֜/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	My covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-16`	Genesis 17:7	לִ/בְרִ֣ית	liverit	`HR/Ncfsc`	for a covenant	for a binding treaty	for a binding covenant
`H1285-06`	Genesis 17:9	בְּרִיתִ֣/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Genesis 17:10	בְּרִיתִ֞/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	is my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-02`	Genesis 17:11	בְּרִ֔ית	berit	`HNcfsa`	of the covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-26`	Genesis 17:13	בְרִיתִ֛/י	veriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding-agreement	my covenant
`H1285-16`	Genesis 17:13	לִ/בְרִ֥ית	liverit	`HR/Ncfsc`	a covenant	for a binding treaty	for a binding covenant
`H1285-06`	Genesis 17:14	בְּרִיתִ֖/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	My covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Genesis 17:19	בְּרִיתִ֥/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-16`	Genesis 17:19	לִ/בְרִ֥ית	liverit	`HR/Ncfsc`	as an everlasting covenant	for a binding treaty	for a binding covenant
`H1285-06`	Genesis 17:21	בְּרִיתִ֖/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-02`	Genesis 21:27	בְּרִֽית	berit	`HNcfsa`	a covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-24`	Genesis 21:32	בְרִ֖ית	verit	`HNcfsa`	a covenant	binding treaty of	covenant of
`H1285-24`	Genesis 26:28	בְרִ֖ית	verit	`HNcfsa`	a covenant	binding treaty of	covenant
`H1285-24`	Genesis 31:44	בְרִ֖ית	verit	`HNcfsa`	a covenant	binding treaty of	covenant of
`H1285-07`	Exodus 2:24	בְּרִית֔/וֹ	berito	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	His covenant	his binding agreement	his covenant
`H1285-06`	Exodus 6:4	בְּרִיתִ/י֙	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	My covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Exodus 6:5	בְּרִיתִֽ/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	My covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Exodus 19:5	בְּרִיתִ֑/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	My covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-02`	Exodus 23:32	בְּרִֽית	berit	`HNcfsa`	covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-12`	Exodus 24:7	הַ/בְּרִ֔ית	haberit	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the covenant	the binding agreement	the covenant
`H1285-12`	Exodus 24:8	הַ/בְּרִית֙	haberit	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the covenant	the binding agreement	the covenant
`H1285-02`	Exodus 31:16	בְּרִ֥ית	berit	`HNcfsc`	a covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-02`	Exodus 34:10	בְּרִית֒	berit	`HNcfsa`	a covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-02`	Exodus 34:12	בְּרִית֙	berit	`HNcfsa`	covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-02`	Exodus 34:15	בְּרִ֖ית	berit	`HNcfsa`	a covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-02`	Exodus 34:27	בְּרִ֖ית	berit	`HNcfsa`	a covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-12`	Exodus 34:28	הַ/בְּרִ֔ית	haberit	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the covenant	the binding agreement	the covenant
`H1285-02`	Leviticus 2:13	בְּרִ֣ית	berit	`HNcfsc`	covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-02`	Leviticus 24:8	בְּרִ֥ית	berit	`HNcfsc`	covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-06`	Leviticus 26:9	בְּרִיתִ֖/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my-covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Leviticus 26:15	בְּרִיתִֽ/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-02`	Leviticus 26:25	בְּרִ֔ית	berit	`HNcfsa`	of the covenant	binding agreement	covenant
`H1285-06`	Leviticus 26:42	בְּרִיתִ֣/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Leviticus 26:42	בְּרִיתִ֨/י	beriti-2	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Leviticus 26:42	בְּרִיתִ֧/י	beriti-3	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-06`	Leviticus 26:44	בְּרִיתִ֖/י	beriti	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	My covenant	my binding covenant	my covenant
`H1285-02`	Leviticus 26:45	בְּרִ֣ית	berit	`HNcfsc`	covenant	binding agreement	covenant

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