The covenants between God and man constitute one of the main keys to interpretation of the Old Testament, denoting the lines of demarcation between the different dispensations and indicating the different changes of procedure in God's ordering of relations with the earth. There are probably eight covenants made by God referenced in Scripture. Much could be written about these different covenants, but we will only deal with the Genesis covenants. At various times God has deigned to make a covenant with man, and failure to observe the terms and scope of these covenants leads to the utmost confusion. These covenants constitute an important covenant between the relationship of God and man. The Adamic Covenant was not the first covenant in the history of God's relationship with humanity. Rather it was given because of the covenant partner's failure of perfect obedience and had entered into that first covenant with Adam at the time of creation. Some have questioned whether it is appropriate to speak of a covenant when Adam was in Eden. Vavosar Powell preferred to call it command. Thomas Goodwin saw it as the “Law of Creation”. The word covenant itself is not used in the Genesis accounts. However, the essential parts of a pact are all there; a clear definition of the parties involved, a set of legally binding provisions establishing the conditions of their relationship, the promise of blessings for obedience and the condition for obtaining such blessings. Furthermore, in Hosea 6:7, referring to the sins of Israel, it says: “But they as well as men have transgressed the covenant.” The Targum, Talmud, and Vulgate render "like men" as "like Adam." In the Garden of Eden, it seems quite clear that there was a set of legally binding provisions that defined… middle of the paper… between you and me.” (Genesis 17:10) Since the Lord had already initiated His covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:18, this was a further confirmation and ratification of the previously made covenant. Circumcision is the "sign" of the "eternal" alliance of the Lord with Abraham. (Genesis 17:9-13) Significantly, in future generations the uncircumcised “will be cut off from his kindred,” that is, he will be expelled from the community that will experience the blessings of this “eternal” covenant. (Genesis 17:14) In conclusion, the covenants between God and man contain the totality of biblical revelation. Specifically clarified in Genesis, its promises govern the pattern of all that follows from Exodus to Revelation. Everything from creation to the Apocalypse speaks of sin and redemption, of Adam's violation of the first covenant and the following of another.