Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrew Roots

Hebrew Roots FAQ's and Myths

Basic Doctrinal Issues

Myth. It is a Renewed Covenant, not a New Covenant. It a Renewed Covenant not a New Testament.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to 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; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

 

In Jeremiah 31:31 the Hebrew clearly says brit (covenant) chadasha (new). If you were to ask any fluent Hebrew speaker, regardless of their religious beliefs, what chadasha means, they will agree it means "new". Further, the words following it say "lo k´brit ", not like the covenant , that I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand…"

New> H2319 חדשׁ châdâsh khaw-dawsh'  From H2318; new: - fresh, new thing.

Covenant >H1285  בּרית  b^{erîyth  ber-eeth'  From H1262 (in the sense of cutting (like H1254)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh): - confederacy, [con-]feder[-ate], covenant, league.}

This tells us that the prophecy that was being laid out by God through Jeremiah, was that it was going to be a new and different covenant to the one made when God took the Israelites out of Egypt..  Scripture records how they did break the covenant, and hence the need of a new covenant.

Some compare the concept of the renewed covenant with the moon being 'renewed' therefore it correlates to the covenant not being new, but renewed. However, they neither study to understand the Scriptures nor know them. Most have access to a Strong's Concordance, Thayer's or Brown's Driver Brigg's (BDB), which can help with word studies. If you look at the word Renew, we find it is translated ten times in total from Hebrew.

Ten times we find the word chadash, used in the OT in the KJV: 3 times as "renew"; 3 times as "repair"; 2 times as "renewed"; 2 times as "renewest".

Strong's H2318  חדשׁ    châdash   khaw-dash'    A primitive root; to be new; causatively to rebuild: - renew, repair

H2318 חדשׁ châdash  BDB Definition:   1) to be new, renew, repair...

Strong's H2498  חלף   châlaph  khaw-laf'    A primitive root; properly to slide by, that is, (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or change: - abolish, alter change, cut off, go on forward, grow up, be over, pass (away, on, through), renew, sprout, strike through.

BDB Definition :H2498 1) to pass on or away, pass through, pass by, go through, grow up, change, to go on from...

Renew:   Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 41:1 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.

Renewed:  Job 29:20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

The word NEW is found translated from seven different words in the OT. For space, Strong's concordance will be used:

H1069 בּכר  bâkar baw-kar'   A primitive root; properly to burst the womb, that is, (causatively) bear or make early fruit (of woman or tree); also (as denominatively from H1061) to give the birthright: - make firstborn, be firstling, bring forth first child (new fruit).

Of the six occurrences in the KJV, it is found as new once in Ezekiel 47:12  "...it shall bring forth NEW fruit according to his months, ..."

H1278 בּריאה   berîy'âh   ber-ee-aw'  Feminine from H1254; a creation, that is, a novelty: - new thing.

New is found only once in Numbers 16:30 "...But if the LORD make a new thing,..."

It ( chădâth) was originally Aramaic. which means new. It corresponds to H2319 which is châdâsh which BDB defines as "new, new thing, fresh" .

Jesus speaks of the new testament, which means new covenant, in His blood.

Mat 26:27-28

(27) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Strong's Greek > new G2537 -  kainos    kahee-nos'    Of uncertain affinity; new (especially in freshness; while G3501 is properly so with respect to age): - new.

^{testament, G1242  diathēkē  dee-ath-ay'-kay  From G1303; properly a disposition, that is, (specifically) a contract (especially a devisory will): - covenant, testament.}

In the second chapter of Corinthians we see where Paul lists three differences between these two covenants.

2Corinthians 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

...6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

What Paul was saying was that the Old Covenant which was engraved in stones was glorious but that the ministry of the Spirit was more glorious, because the glory of the ministry of the law given Moses was passing away .The glory of the New overshadows the glory of the old. Thus we see that the first was a temporary one whose glory passed away, yet the New being eternal, remains.

The Old was a ministry of condemnation (v9) and death (v7), the New is the ministry of life(v6) and righteousness(v9).The law is holy but due to man´s inability to adhere to it, it became a ministry of death, showing us that man can never be righteous by his own efforts. As Isaiah the prophet said, all our righteousness is as filthy rags. Hence the need for God to provide the only way to Him, based on the righteousness of Christ.

It has been suggested that some who propagate the faulty scholarship regarding renew do so because if it is called a renewed covenant, they can then justify telling their adherents that they have to obey the Torah of Moses given at Sinai. Those who don't agree are considered non-believers and lost.

Some posit that God would never break His promise, so the Mosaic law or old covenant is still in effect. It is true that God cannot break His Word, which is what sealed the covenant with Abraham, Moses and for all other covenants. But people do break their word and promises, and the Scriptures do show that Israel was not faithful in keeping the Mosaic covenant. God repeatedly prefaced His instructions with "if" you do this, or "if" you don't. 

God showed He could change the covenant because of their disobedience--and He broke it so that a better way would be known.

Zechariah 11:7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took to me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. 8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me. 9 Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dies, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another. 10 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. 11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited on me knew that it was the word of the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to 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; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

The idea of a new covenant which also meant a change from the Old Law to the New Law, with the new priesthood, was expanded on in the the letter to the Hebrews:

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. [ change>G3331 μετάθεσις metathesis met-ath'-es-is From G3346; transposition, that is, transferral (to heaven), disestablishment (of a law): - change, removing, translation. ]

Hebrews 7:15-25 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. [disannulling > G115 ἀθέτησις athetēsis ath-et'-ay-sis From G114; cancellation (literally or figuratively): - disannulling, put away.]

20. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21. (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24. But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

A. The old covenant, based in the Levitical system, sacrificed animals for a blood atonement. The blood of animals sealed the old covenant between God and b’nai Israel. The New Covenant was sealed in the blood of Christ, and a new Priesthood [Melchezidek] in which all sin is covered once and for all aka forever. If the New Covenant is not here yet, then we have no forgiveness of sin. To put it simply, the New Covenant is the remission of sins through the blood of Christ Jesus, and Jesus Christ IS the New Covenant..

Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament [covenant], which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Heb 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 under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (4) And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: (5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (6) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

One of the arguments for a new covenant not being in effect is Jeremiah 31:34

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, said the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Many omit the preceding verses to that text, in order to bring focus on the above verse:

(30) But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. (31) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: (32) Not according to 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; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: (33) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

However; we also see in Hebrews 8 that this Promise is defined as being in the New Covenant of Christ. If one is in Christ, then all those in Christ will know the Lord and He will forgive their iniquities.

Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

 

John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
 

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Further, we see that Christ is The Promised Covenant. He wasn't just bringing in the New Covenant--He was and IS the New Covenant.

Note: "Strong's" for Hebrew and Greek Word definitions from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong

"Thayers" >  Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament

"BDB" >Brown-Driver-Brigg's Hebrew Definitions

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