Jeremiah's new covenant

[TheInquisitor]

jewsforjudaism.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85:is-jeremiahs-qnew-covenantq-jeremiah-3131-34-a-prophecy-fulfilled-by-the-new-testament&catid=51:jeremiah&Itemid=493

Can I get a Catholic response to this?

Thanks for your time

 

[Wesley1982]

I have the book of Jeremiah.

 

[John7]

from JFJ:
“Jeremiah’s ‘new covenant’ is not a replacement of the existing covenant,
but merely a figure of speech expressing the reinvigoration and revitalization
of the existing covenant.”
But, Jeremiah 31:31 says,
הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם־יְהוָה
וְכָרַתִּי אֶת־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת־בֵּית יְהוּדָה
בְּרִית חֲדָשָֽׁה׃

“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;” (Jer 31:31 JPS)

The qal verb karat meaning from ‘to cut’, here translated by JPS as ‘I will make’.
Doesn’t make sense to talk about ‘I will cut a renewed/reinvigorated/revitalized covenant’
Can ‘cut a covenant’ or ‘cut a new covenant’ or ‘renew a covenant’
but you don’t ‘cut a renewed covenant’.
Anyway, that’s my opinion.

from BDB lex.
4. with Berith, cut, or make a covenant (because of the cutting up and distribution of the flesh of the victim for eating in the sacrifice of the covenants)

Here’s a summation of ‘cutting a covenant’
calvinzelie.blogspot.com/2008/11/cutting-covenant.html

 

[TheInquisitor]

Thanks for your reply, that clears some things up.

What about the claims that the Mosaic Covenant was eternal and never supposed to be changed?

 

[John7]

Thanks for your reply, that clears some things up.

What about the claims that the Mosaic Covenant was eternal and never supposed to be changed?

The covenant with Abe was eternal
Psa 105:8-9
“He hath remembered his covenant for ever (l’Olam Berithu),
the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;”

JFJ also lists 1Chronicles 13:16-18. Yes, these verses speak of an eternal
covenant, but they are clearly referring to the covenant made with Abe.

-But-

The Mosaic covenant, on the other hand, was not eternal (AFAIK).
In scripture it is never referred to as a Berith Olam (eternal covenant).
The closest is Psalm 111.9 but can’t be sure that the Psalm/verse is
talking about the Mosaic cov.