What Is Circumcision in the Bible?
What Is Circumcision in the Bible? Circumcision was the sign of God's covenant with Abraham, and in the New Testament it points to the spiritual circumcision of the heart through faith in Christ.
Key verse: Genesis 17:10-11 (KJV)
Circumcision was the sign of God's covenant with Abraham, and in the New Testament it points to the spiritual circumcision of the heart through faith in Christ.
Circumcision was the sign of God's covenant with Abraham, and in the New Testament it points to the spiritual circumcision of the heart through faith in Christ.
"This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you." — Genesis 17:10-11 (KJV)
Meaning
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The Biblical Answer
God instituted circumcision with Abraham as the sign of His covenant: 'This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised' (Genesis 17:10). Every male descendant of Abraham was to be circumcised on the eighth day. It was a physical mark distinguishing God's people from the nations. In the New Testament, Paul argues vigorously that physical circumcision has no saving value — 'circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.' What matters is 'the circumcision of the heart,' the internal work of the Holy Spirit that cuts away sin and enables genuine obedience. Christ is the fulfillment of circumcision — in Him, believers receive a new heart, a new nature, and a new identity that no outward rite can confer.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
What the Bible teaches about salvation, being saved, and how to receive eternal life.
Key Scripture References
"This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you."
"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."
"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ."
Frequently asked questions
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Related Questions
What Is the Abrahamic Covenant?
God's covenant with Abraham promised him land, countless descendants, and that through his seed all nations would be blessed — a promise ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
What Is the New Covenant?
The New Covenant is God's promise, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, to write His law on believers' hearts, forgive sins permanently, and establish a personal relationship with His people.
Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
The Bible presents the resurrection as historical fact, supported by eyewitness testimony, an empty tomb, and transformed lives.
Is Jesus God?
Yes — the Bible teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the second person of the Trinity.
What Is the Trinity?
The Trinity is the doctrine that God exists as three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in one divine being.
Deep Dive Commentary
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