7335 circumcision, physical
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7300 Institutions and culture of OT  »  7334 circumcision  »  7335 circumcision, physical

In the OT, circumcision is seen as an outward sign of membership of Israel, the people of God.

The significance of circumcision in God's covenant with Abraham

Genesis 17:10-14 See also Acts 7:8

Circumcision is also for Abraham's descendants

Genesis 17:7

Circumcision as a sign of national identity

Dinah's brothers and the Shechemites:

Genesis 34:8-9,14-17 Exodus 4:24-26; Joshua 5:4-8

Circumcision is integrated into the Mosaic law

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

Circumcision as an important Passover restriction

Exodus 12:44,48-49; Judges 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

NT accounts of circumcision practised in obedience to the law

Luke 1:59 John; Luke 2:21 Jesus Christ; John 7:23 Circumcision was permitted on the Sabbath; Philippians 3:5 Paul refers to his own circumcision; Acts 16:3 Timothy

The subject of circumcision debated by the first Christians

Acts 10:45; Acts 11:2; Acts 15:5; Galatians 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; Ephesians 2:11; Colossians 3:11; Titus 1:10

See also

1348  covenant with Abraham
1680  types
5378  law, OT
6260  uncircumcised
7140  people of God
7422  ritual
7957  sacraments



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