Circumcision, physical

The significance of circumcision in God’s covenant with Abraham

Genesis 17:10–14 NASB95

“This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. “And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. “And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. “A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. “But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

See also Ac 7:8

Circumcision is also for Abraham’s descendants

Genesis 17:7 NASB95

“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.

Circumcision as a sign of national identity

Dinah’s brothers and the Shechemites:

Ge 34:8–9; Ge 34:14–17

Ex 4:24–26; Jos 5:4–8

Circumcision is integrated into the Mosaic law

Le 12:3; Jn 7:22 It was later sometimes forgotten that circumcision predated the Mosaic law.

Circumcision as an important Passover restriction

Ex 12:44; Ex 12:48–49; Jdg 14:3 Some of Israel’s neighbours practised circumcision, but not the Philistines.

Circumcision was not necessarily a sign of consecration to God

Jeremiah 9:25–26 NASB95

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised— Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”

NT accounts of circumcision practised in obedience to the law

Lk 1:59 John; Lk 2:21 Jesus Christ; Jn 7:23 Circumcision was permitted on the Sabbath; Php 3:5 Paul refers to his own circumcision; Ac 16:3 Timothy

The subject of circumcision debated by the first Christians

Ac 10:45; Ac 11:2; Ac 15:5; Ga 2:3 That Titus, a Greek, was not required to be circumcised illustrates the change in the attitude of the church concerning the relevance of the law to Gentile believers; Eph 2:11; Col 3:11; Tt 1:10