International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Covenant of Salt

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Covenant of Salt


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sôlt (בּרית מלח, berı̄th melaḥ; ἅλας, hálas, classical Greek ἅλς, háls): As salt was regarded as a necessary ingredient of the daily food, and so of all sacrifices offered to Yahweh (), it became an easy step to the very close connection between salt and covenant-making. When men ate together they became friends. Compare the Arabic expression, “There is salt between us”; “He has eaten of my salt,” which means partaking of hospitality which cemented friendship; compare “eat the salt of the palace” (). Covenants were generally confirmed by sacrificial meals and salt was always present. Since, too, salt is a preservative, it would easily become symbolic of an enduring covenant. So offerings to Yahweh were to be by a statute forever, “a covenant of salt for ever before Yahweh” (). David received his kingdom forever from Yahweh by a “covenant of salt” (). In the light of these conceptions the remark of our Lord becomes the more significant: “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another” ().