A covenant is a serious agreement or promise between people, groups, or between humans and God, often with duties on both sides.
From Old French “covenant” (agreement), from Latin “convenire” (to come together, to agree). The word has long been used in religious and legal contexts for solemn, binding promises.
A covenant is deeper than a casual promise; it often defines a relationship itself. In many traditions, identity—being a certain people or community—comes from living inside a covenant, not just signing a contract.
In religious and legal traditions, covenants often assumed male heads of household as the primary or sole parties, with women’s obligations and rights subsumed under male authority. This shaped how commitments and responsibilities were recorded and enforced.
When referring to covenants, recognize that all affected parties, regardless of gender, are stakeholders. Avoid language that assumes only male signatories or leaders unless you are describing a specific historical practice.
["agreement","binding agreement","commitment"]
When discussing historical covenants, note how women and other marginalized people were bound by them without full agency, and acknowledge their often-uncredited roles in sustaining or challenging those agreements.
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