Topical Encyclopedia
The term "foreskin" refers to the fold of skin that covers the glans of the male genitalia. In the biblical context, the foreskin holds significant theological and cultural importance, particularly in relation to the covenant between God and Abraham, as well as the practice of circumcision among the Israelites.
Biblical References and Significance1.
Covenant with Abraham: The foreskin is first mentioned in the context of God's covenant with Abraham. In
Genesis 17:10-11 , God commands Abraham, "This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you." The removal of the foreskin through circumcision serves as a physical sign of the covenant, symbolizing the Israelites' unique relationship with God and their commitment to His laws.
2.
Cultural and Religious Practice: Circumcision, the removal of the foreskin, became a defining practice for the Jewish people, distinguishing them from surrounding nations. It was typically performed on the eighth day after a male child's birth, as instructed in
Leviticus 12:3 : "On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised." This rite of passage was not only a physical act but also a spiritual one, representing purity and dedication to God.
3.
Symbolism and Spiritual Meaning: Beyond its physical implications, the foreskin and its removal carry deeper spiritual symbolism. In
Deuteronomy 10:16 , Moses exhorts the Israelites, "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more." Here, the foreskin represents the barrier of sin and disobedience that separates individuals from God. The call to "circumcise your hearts" emphasizes the need for inner transformation and repentance, aligning one's heart with God's will.
4.
New Testament Perspective: In the New Testament, the physical act of circumcision is reinterpreted in light of Christ's redemptive work. The Apostle Paul addresses the issue in
Romans 2:28-29 , stating, "A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code." This shift highlights the transition from the Old Covenant's physical requirements to the New Covenant's emphasis on spiritual renewal and faith in Christ.
5.
Controversy and Debate: The early Christian church faced significant debate over the necessity of circumcision for Gentile converts. The Jerusalem Council, as recorded in
Acts 15, ultimately decided that circumcision was not required for salvation, affirming that faith in Jesus Christ was sufficient for both Jews and Gentiles. This decision underscored the universality of the Gospel and the breaking down of barriers between different ethnic and cultural groups.
ConclusionThe concept of the foreskin in the Bible is deeply intertwined with themes of covenant, identity, and spiritual transformation. While its physical removal through circumcision was a critical aspect of Jewish identity under the Old Covenant, the New Testament redefines its significance, focusing on the inward change brought about by faith in Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) The fold of skin which covers the glans of the penis; the prepuce.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FORESKINfor'-skin (`orlah; akrobustia, often euphemistically translated "uncircumcision"):
(1) In the literal sense the word is frequently mentioned owing to the rite of circumcision in vogue in Israel since the days of Abraham (Genesis 17:9-14) and among several other peoples of antiquity and modern times. The act of circumcision is represented in the temple of Khonsu, a medical deity, at Karnak. Among the Jews of antiquity circumcision had to be performed by means of a flint or stone knife (Exodus 4:25Joshua 5:2, 3) on the eighth day after birth (Genesis 17:12;Genesis 21:4Leviticus 12:3Luke 2:21Philippians 3:5), even if this day was the Sabbath (John 7:23).
Very early we find the practice one of which the descendants of Abraham became proud (Genesis 34:14), so that we see the uncircumcised despised and scorned (1 Samuel 17:26), and in the time of oppression under King Antiochus Epiphanes many Israelites suffered martyrdom rather than give up the distinctive sign of their people (APC 1Macc 1:48, 60, 612Macc 6:10). Among the Arabs and all Mohammedans the custom of circumcision prevails from pre-Islamic times, for it is nowhere ordered in the Koran, and the appellation "uncircumcised" ghalaf)is considered the greatest possible insult.
A peculiar martial custom is mentioned in1 Samuel 18:25, 27 (compare2 Samuel 3:14), where Saul is represented as asking "a hundred foreskins of the Philistines" as a dowry from David for the hand of Michal. This does not seem to have been an exceptional booty in war, especially if it meant that no very careful operation was expected to be performed, but the act became practically equivalent to extermination. We find in Egyptian history at the time of Ramses III, that an invasion into Egypt had been made by several Libyan tribes (see Diimichen, Histor. Inschr., I, plates I-VI, and II, plates 47). The Egyptian army sent against the invaders defeated them and returned with a large number of karnatha which is a transcription into hieroglyphics of the Semitic word, qarenoth, the word being used euphemistically as is proven by the accompanying determinative sign of a phallus. See Chabas, Etudes sur l'antiquite historique d'apres lee sources egyptienne,, etc., 234; Bondi, Hebr.-Phoen. Lehnworte im Egyptischen, Leipzig, 1886, 72-74. (2) Metaphorically the word is used in a variety of ways: (a) In the sense of "unlawful," "forbidden as food," "taboo." The fruit of newly planted trees was not to be eaten (Leviticus 19:23-25). (b) In the sense of "obstinacy," "opposition to God's law." The rite of circumcision meant submission under the law. While an outward form could not be identical with an inward attitude toward God, the use of the word "circumcision" was soon extended to that of purity and obedience of the heart (Deuteronomy 10:16;Deuteronomy 30:6Colossians 2:11, where this circumcision is called a "circumcision not made with hands,. the circumcision of Christ"). The uselessness of outward circumcision, which does not include obedience and purity, is shown by Paul (Romans 2:251 Corinthians 7:18; compareActs 7:51). (c) In the sense of "Gentiles," "non-Israelites" (Galatians 2:7Ephesians 2:11Colossians 3:11).
SeeCIRCUMCISION;CONCISION.
H. L. E. Luering
Greek
203. akrobustia -- the prepuce,foreskin, hence uncircumcision... the prepuce,
foreskin, hence uncircumcision. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: akrobustia Phonetic Spelling: (ak-rob-oos-tee'-ah) Short Definition
...564. aperitmetos -- uncircumcised
... [564 () literally refers to an uncircumcisedforeskin, which stands for "being
of God's covenant" -- ie without the promise of His salvation.]....
1986. epispaomai -- to draw over, to become as uncircumcised
... From epi and spao; to draw over, ie (with akrobustia implied) efface the mark of
circumcision (by recovering with theforeskin) -- become uncircumcised....
4061. peritome -- circumcision
... Cognate: 4061 -- properly, cut around, ie the removal of the maleforeskin in
(the visible sign of God's covenant in the OT). See 4059 ()....
Strong's Hebrew
6190. orlah --foreskin... 6189, 6190. orlah. 6191 .
foreskin. Transliteration: orlah Phonetic
Spelling: (or-law') Short Definition:
foreskin. Word Origin
...6188. aral -- to count asforeskin (as uncircumcised)
... 6187, 6188. aral. 6189 . to count asforeskin (as uncircumcised). Transliteration:
aral Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rale') Short Definition: count....
6189. arel -- havingforeskin (uncircumcised)
... 6188, 6189. arel. 6190 . havingforeskin (uncircumcised). Transliteration:
arel Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rale') Short Definition: uncircumcised....
Library
Origin of Errors; a Simile Sought from theForeskin of the...
... Book III. Chapter 16."Origin of Errors; A Simile Sought from theForeskin
of the Circumcised, and from the Chaff of Wheat. "But...
Of Circumcision and the Supercession of the Old Law.
... But again," (you say) "the son of Moses would upon one occasion have been choked
by an angel, if Zipporah, [1165] had not circumcised theforeskin of the...
Book ix. On Jerusalem and Her Enemies
... Theforeskin is the life of the gentile; in the apostle: another in theforeskin
was calledd, not to be circumcised, that is, even one from the gentiles who...
The Ancient Fathers Clement of Alexandria.
... It is, therefore, the circumcision of the inward man; for he who is circumcised
has stripped off the enticements of his whole flesh, as hisforeskin, that he...
The Platonists' Opinion About the Existence of the Soul Previous...
... a forecast of His coming undoubtedly contained not only in other sacred institutions
[2007] of the ancient Jews, but also in their circumcision of theforeskin...
Against the Jews on the Question of the Sabbath.
... For theforeskin is nothing else than the skin which it superfluous to
the organ of lust. And, indeed, every pleasure which does...
Of Faith.
... And then, following upon our faith, we receive like him the spiritual seal, being
circumcised by the Holy Spirit through Baptism, not in theforeskin of the...
Chapter xvii
... suggests in a type or symbol what obligations are laid upon those who stand in covenant
relation, with God, namely primarily to put away theforeskin of their...
True Righteousness is Obtained by Christ.
... Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and circumcise theforeskin of your heart.'
[2019] Do not sow, therefore, among thorns, and in untilled ground, whence you...
In what the True Fasting Consists.
... fat, and shall be as a watered garden, and as a fountain of water, or as a land
where water fails not.' [1981] Circumcise, therefore, theforeskin of your heart...
Thesaurus
Foreskin (12 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
FORESKIN.
...Foreskin (12 Occurrences). Genesis
17:11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your
foreskin.
...Foreskins (7 Occurrences)
... Foreskins (7 Occurrences). Genesis 17:11 And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh
of yourforeskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt Me and you....
Circumcised (58 Occurrences)
... Every male among you shall be circumcised. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV
NIV). Genesis 17:11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of yourforeskin....
Circumcise (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To cut off the prepuce offoreskin of, in the
case of males, and the internal labia of, in the case of females....
Ish'mael (40 Occurrences)
... born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the
men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of theirforeskin in the...
Flint (12 Occurrences)
... but tsur is used also for flint knives in Exodus 4:25, "Then Zipporah took a flint
(the King James Version "sharp stone"), and cut off theforeskin of her son...
Male (303 Occurrences)
... Genesis 17:14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh
of hisforeskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people....
Circumcision (98 Occurrences)
... commonwealth. Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The act of cutting off the prepuce
orforeskin of males, or the internal labia of females. 2...
Ishmael (44 Occurrences)
... were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money; every male among
the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of theirforeskin in the...
Vomiting (1 Occurrence)
... Habakkuk 2:16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy
foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned to thee...
Resources
What does the Bible say about circumcision? What is the Christian view of circumcision? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Zipporah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgDid Moses have children? | GotQuestions.orgForeskin: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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