TR: beriyth → diatheke (Covenant)

The Chain

Hebrew OT          LXX (Greek OT)         Greek NT
───────────        ───────────────         ────────
בְּרִית (beriyth) →  διαθήκη (diatheke)  →  διαθήκη (diatheke)
H1285, 284x         246x as translation     33x in NT
"covenant"          of beriyth              "covenant/testament"

OT Usage (Hebrew)

Strong's	Word	Occurrences	Primary Meaning
H1285	בְּרִית (beriyth)	284	covenant, league, compact

Key OT passages: - Gen 15:18 — "In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram" - Exo 24:8 — "Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you" - Jer 31:31 — "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel"

[Full study: H1285-beriyth.md]

LXX Bridge

Hebrew	Greek Translation	Count	Notes
beriyth (H1285)	διαθήκη (G1242)	246x	Primary — near-exclusive equivalent
beriyth (H1285)	διατίθεμαι (G1303)	67x	Verbal form used in covenant-making contexts

Semantic shift in translation: The Greek word διαθήκη carries a dual meaning absent in Hebrew: (1) covenant/compact (matching beriyth), and (2) a unilateral disposition or "last will and testament." This ambiguity becomes theologically significant in Heb 9:16–17, where the author exploits both senses. The Hebrew beriyth is strictly bilateral/relational — a solemn compact between parties — while diatheke can also emphasize the sovereign disposition of one party.

NT Usage (Greek)

Strong's	Word	Occurrences	Primary Meaning
G1242	διαθήκη (diatheke)	33	covenant, testament

Translation in KJV: "covenant" (15x, 45%), "testament" (11x, 33%), "covenants" (3x), other forms (4x).

Key NT passages: - Matt 26:28 — "this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many" - Heb 8:6 — "he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" - Heb 8:8 — "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel" (quoting Jer 31:31) - Heb 9:15 — "he is the mediator of the new testament" - Heb 12:24 — "Jesus the mediator of the new covenant" - Heb 13:20 — "through the blood of the everlasting covenant"

Hebrews dominates NT usage with 17 of 33 occurrences (52%).

Direct OT→NT Quotations

NT Verse	Quotes OT	Shared Word	Significance
Heb 8:8–10	Jer 31:31–33	beriyth → diatheke	"new covenant" — most theologically central quotation
Heb 9:20	Exo 24:8	beriyth → diatheke	"blood of the covenant" — covenant ratification by blood
Heb 10:16	Jer 31:33	beriyth → diatheke	Law written on hearts — new covenant fulfillment
Luke 1:72	Gen 17:7; Ps 105:8	beriyth → diatheke	"to remember his holy covenant" — Zacharias' prophecy
Acts 3:25	Gen 22:18	beriyth → diatheke	"the covenant which God made with our fathers"
Rom 11:27	Jer 31:33; Isa 59:21	beriyth → diatheke	"this is my covenant unto them"

Continuity and Shifts

What stays the same across testaments: - The concept of a solemn, binding agreement initiated by God - "Blood of the covenant" language (Exo 24:8 → Matt 26:28, Heb 9:20) - The "new covenant" promise of Jer 31:31 carried directly into NT via identical Greek - God as the primary covenant-maker; human obligation to faithfulness

What shifts: - KJV translates diatheke as "testament" 11x in the NT (never in OT), introducing a "last will" nuance absent from beriyth - Heb 9:16–17 exploits the "will/testament" meaning: the covenant requires the death of the testator - The NT concentrates covenant language in Hebrews (52% of NT uses), shifting from narrative/prophetic contexts to theological exposition - NT emphasizes mediation: Christ as "mediator of the new covenant" (Heb 8:6, 9:15, 12:24) — a role without a direct OT parallel for beriyth

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Generated from: search_strongs.py (--lxx-map, --hebrew-source, --lookup, --lexicon), KJV text Last updated: 2026-03-31