Covenant in the Mirror of History: From Royal Order to Divine Pact

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M. A. Graduated, Department of Philosophy and Religions, Faculty of Theology, Law and Islamic Studies, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

2 Associated Professor, Department of Religions and Comparative Mysticism, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies. University of Sistan and Baluchestan. Zahedan. Iran

10.22108/coth.2026.146219.2018

Abstract

The concept of “covenant,” understood as a sacred pact between humans and the divine, is a foundational theme in both ancient Near Eastern civilizations and Abrahamic religions. This article adopts a comparative and analytical approach to trace the evolution of this concept from Mesopotamian cultures—including Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, and Assyria—to the Hebrew Bible. The findings indicate that in ancient Mesopotamia, covenants typically appeared as bilateral agreements with political, religious, and legal functions. In contrast, the Hebrew tradition transformed the covenant into a unilateral and divine initiative, in which God, as the sole authority, established the terms and obligations. This shift reflects a profound transformation in the understanding of God, humanity, law, and collective identity. The study demonstrates and shows how the covenant evolved from a tool of royal legitimation into a theological and ethical doctrine at the heart of Israelite religion and this concept has been elevated to a theological level.

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Main Subjects

Comparative Theology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 July 2026

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