Theological Reinterpretation of the Abrahamic Covenant and the Transformation of the Divine–Human Relationship in Jewish Tradition

Subject Areas : Judaism

Qasem Babajanipour ^{1 *} , Ali Farsimadan ²

1 - Ph. D. Student in Comparative Religion Studies (Christian Theology), University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
2 - Department of Law and Comparative Jurisprudence, Faculty of Islamic Denominations, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran

Received: 2025-02-02 Accepted : 2025-08-25 Published : 2025-09-27

Keywords: Divine Covenant, Abraham, Judaism, Monotheism, Divine–Human Relationship, Abrahamic Religions,

Abstract :

This study offers a theological and emic examination of the transformation of the relationship between God and humanity within the Jewish tradition, focusing on the foundational role of the patriarch Abraham in redefining this connection through the concept of the "divine covenant." It analyzes how the notion of covenant evolved from a ritualistic practice in polytheistic societies into a bilateral pact grounded in faith and loyalty within monotheistic frameworks. By exploring the three primary covenants between God and Abraham as narrated in the Book of Genesis, the article demonstrates how these covenants shaped the religious and cultural identity of the Israelites and consolidated the notions of monotheism, moral responsibility, and personal relationship with the divine. Furthermore, through a comparative lens, the study briefly traces the echoes of this covenantal transformation in Christianity and Islam, highlighting Abraham as the spiritual forefather of all Abrahamic faiths. Drawing on scriptural texts, rabbinic interpretations, and historical-theological sources, this article presents a systematic exposition of the emergence of a renewed paradigm of divine–human interaction in Jewish religious thought.

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