A New Covenant?

Real questions, submitted by actual OU Torah followers, with their real answers. NOTE: For questions of practical halacha, please consult your own rabbi for guidance.

הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם ה וְכָרַתִּי אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת בֵּית יְהוּדָה בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה

Behold, days are coming, says Hashem, that I will forge a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. (Jeremiah 31:30)

Q. The new covenant in Jeremiah 31:30 doesn’t make sense to me since we already have a covenant and a Torah. Why do we need a new covenant?

A. Thanks for your question. Most of the commentators don't say anything on this verse because it's explained in the verses that follow it but the Radak comments and clarifies it. A covenant, as you may be aware, is an agreement. The meaning of the verse, the Radak tells us, is that God will renew our agreement with Him so that it will never be broken. This is unlike our previous agreement with Him, which the people broke through their disobedience. (This is the subject of the next verse - "Not like the covenant that I forged with their fathers on the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, that they broke My covenant, though I was lord over them, says Hashem.") I hope this helps!

Rabbi Jack's latest book, Ask Rabbi Jack, is now available from Kodesh Press and on Amazon.com.