1.

A Covenant:
o The term “testament” often refers to a covenant or agreement. For
instance, in the Old Testament, God made a covenant with Israel at Mount
Sinai, establishing them as His people and giving them His laws (Exodus
19:3–6; 20:1–17; 24). The Bible is divided into two parts: the Old
Testament, containing writings associated with the covenant made with
Israel, and the New Testament, which unfolds the agreement God has
made with humankind through Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians
11:23–25; Hebrews 8:6–8).
2. A Will:
o In Galatians 3:15–17, the word “testament” refers to a will or an
agreement for disposing of a person’s property upon death, similar to a
Last Will and Testament. Paul compares the covenant God made with
Abraham to a legally binding will, where promises are set down for an heir.
3. A Blessing:
o Another context for “testament” is a blessing offered by a father to his
children, especially the blessing of a firstborn son. These blessings are
often given when the father is old and nearing death. Examples include
Isaac’s blessing upon Jacob (Genesis 27:1–46) and Jacob’s blessing of
his twelve sons and two grandsons (Genesis 48—49).
4. A Literary Genre:
o The word “testament” also developed into a literary genre in Jewish
literature. Initially centered around parental blessings of patriarchs and
champions of Israel (such as Moses’ final blessing upon the people in
Deuteronomy 33:1–29), this genre expanded to include teachings,
wisdom, and commentary from historical heroes on current events.