Covenant Types: Kinship, Treaty, Grant

Covenants may be classified according to which party swears the oath that ratifies the covenant. When both parties swear, a “kinship” (or “parity”) covenant results. This type of covenant is classified as “kinship” on account of the mutual pledge sworn by both parties rather than a unilateral obligation sworn by one party to another. In a kinship covenant, both parties jointly pledge themselves to each other, resulting in a bond with reciprocal responsibilities. Scripture offers many examples of kinship covenants (Gen 26:30; 31:54; Exod 24:11), which typically include a family meal in the covenant ritual.

When a subordinate party alone swears the covenant oath, the result is a “vassal” covenant. In such a situation, the superior party imposes a unilaterally sworn covenant oath upon the inferior, frequently with a ritual of self-malediction. Ancient Near Eastern examples of this covenant include the famous Vassal Treaties of Esarhaddon (king of Assyria, 681–669 bc), who imposed covenant loyalty oaths on rebellious vassals to guarantee their acceptance of his heir, Ashurbanipal. Biblical examples of the vassal covenant include the covenant of circumcision (Gen 17), where Abraham alone performs the ritual, along with the Deuteronomic covenant, where Israel alone swears an oath of self-malediction (Deut 27:11–26; Josh 8:30–35).

When the superior party alone swears the oath, a “grant” covenant results. Various grant covenants are found in ancient Near Eastern sources, in which suzerains reward the loyal service of vassals by swearing a covenant oath, granting them royal lands (or offices) in perpetuity. In such a covenant, the superior party unilaterally binds himself to bless the inferior for heroic deeds of loyal service. Biblical examples include God’s sworn covenant oath with Abraham and Isaac on the occasion of the Aqedah (Gen 22:15–18; Luke 1:72–73; Heb 6–7), and with David and Solomon (Pss 89:3–37; 110:4; 132:1–11)