Circumcision
61 passages listed in Nave’s Topical Bible and Torrey’s New Topical Textbook. Verse text: Berean Standard Bible; links open in your translation.
57 sections
- A Designation of Christians
- A Designation of the Jews
- A Painful and Bloody Rite
- A Prerequisite of the Privileges of the Passover
- A Seal of Righteousness
- A Seal of the Covenant
- Abolished by the Gospel
- Abraham
- Abrogated
- Accompanied with Naming the Child
- Called The: Circumcision in the Flesh
- Called The: Concision
- Called The: Covenant of Circumcision
- Characterized by Paul As a Yoke
- Child Named at the Time of
- Covenant Promises of
- Described
- Enforced by the Law
- Figurative
- First Performed on Abraham and his Family
- Instituted by God
- Institution of
- Introductory Jewish Ordinances
- Inward Grace
- Israelites at Gilgal
- Jesus
- John the Baptist
- Moses
- Necessary to Enjoying the Privileges of the Jewish State
- Necessity of, Asserted by False Teachers
- Necessity of, Denied by Paul
- Necessity of, Falsely Taught by Judaizing Christians
- Neglect of, Punished
- Neglected
- Not Performed in the Wilderness
- Outward Sign of
- Paul
- Paul Denounced for Opposing
- Paul's Argument Against the Continuance of
- Performed by Joshua at Gilgal
- Performed on all Males on the Eighth Day
- Performed on Timothy As a Matter or Expediency Because of The
- Promises to Abraham Previous To
- Punishment for Neglecting
- Purity of Heart
- Purity of Speech
- Readiness to Hear and Obey
- Rite of, Observed on the Sabbath
- Saints the True Spiritual
- Shechemites
- Sometimes Performed on Slain Enemies
- The Jews: Denominated By
- The Jews: Despised As Unclean Those not of The
- The Jews: Held It Unlawful to Intermarry with Those not of The
- The Jews: Held No Intercourse with Those not of The
- Timothy
- Trusting To, a Denial of Christ
A Designation of Christians
- Philippians 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh —
A Designation of the Jews
- Acts 10:45 All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
- Acts 11:2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him
- Galatians 2:9 And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John — those reputed to be pillars — gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
- Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands) —
- Colossians 4:11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
- Titus 1:10 For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,
A Painful and Bloody Rite
- Exodus 4:26 So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)
- Joshua 5:8 And after all the nation had been circumcised, they stayed there in the camp until they were healed.
A Prerequisite of the Privileges of the Passover
- Exodus 12:48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no …
A Seal of Righteousness
- Romans 2:25–29 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. …
- Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness …
A Seal of the Covenant
- Genesis 17:11 You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
- Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness …
Abolished by the Gospel
- Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands) —
- Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace
- Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
Abraham
- Genesis 17:23–27 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money— every male among the members of Abraham’s household— and he circumcised them, just as God had told him. …
- Genesis 21:3–4 And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him. …
Abrogated
- Acts 15:5–29 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” …
- Romans 3:30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
- Romans 4:9–11 Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. …
- 1 Corinthians 7:18–19 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. …
- Galatians 2:3–4 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. …
- Galatians 5:2–11 Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. …
- Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
- Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands) —
- Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace
- Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
- Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
Accompanied with Naming the Child
- Genesis 21:3–4 And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him. …
- Luke 1:59 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
- Luke 2:21 When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
Called The: Circumcision in the Flesh
- Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands) —
Called The: Concision
- Philippians 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
Called The: Covenant of Circumcision
- Acts 7:8 Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
Characterized by Paul As a Yoke
- Acts 15:10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
Child Named at the Time of
- Genesis 21:3–4 And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him. …
- Luke 1:59 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
- Luke 2:21 When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
Covenant Promises of
- Genesis 17:4–14 “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. …
- Acts 7:8 Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
- Romans 3:1 What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
- Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness …
- Romans 9:7–13 Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” …
- Galatians 5:3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
Described
- Genesis 17:11 You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
- Exodus 4:25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.
Enforced by the Law
- Leviticus 12:3 And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.
- John 7:22 But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.)
Figurative
- Exodus 6:12 But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?”
- Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.
- Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
- Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”
- Jeremiah 6:10 To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
- Jeremiah 9:26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and all the inhabitants of the desert who clip the hair of their temples. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”
- Romans 2:28–29 A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. …
- Romans 15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,
- Philippians 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh —
- Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
- Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
First Performed on Abraham and his Family
- Genesis 17:24–27 So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, …
Instituted by God
- Genesis 17:9–10 God also said to Abraham, “You must keep My covenant— you and your descendants in the generations after you. …
Institution of
- Genesis 17:10–14 This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. …
- Leviticus 12:3 And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.
- John 7:22 But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.)
- Acts 7:8 Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
- Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness …
Introductory Jewish Ordinances
- Galatians 5:3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
Inward Grace
- Romans 2:29 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. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
Israelites at Gilgal
- Joshua 5:2–9 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.” …
Jesus
- Luke 2:21 When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
John the Baptist
- Luke 1:59 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
Moses
- Exodus 4:25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.
Necessary to Enjoying the Privileges of the Jewish State
- Exodus 12:48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no …
- Ezekiel 44:7 In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food— the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant.
Necessity of, Asserted by False Teachers
- Acts 15:24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.
- Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
- Titus 1:10 For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,
Necessity of, Denied by Paul
- Galatians 2:3–5 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. …
Necessity of, Falsely Taught by Judaizing Christians
- Acts 15:1 Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Neglect of, Punished
- Genesis 17:14 But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
- Exodus 4:24 Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.
Neglected
- Joshua 5:7 And He raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. Until this time they were still uncircumcised, since they had not been circumcised along the way.
Not Performed in the Wilderness
- Joshua 5:5 Though all who had come out were circumcised, none of those born in the wilderness on the journey from Egypt had been circumcised.
Outward Sign of
- Romans 2:28 A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
Paul
- Philippians 3:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
Paul Denounced for Opposing
- Acts 21:21 But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs.
Paul's Argument Against the Continuance of
- Romans 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
- Romans 2:28 A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
- Galatians 6:13 For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
Performed by Joshua at Gilgal
- Joshua 5:2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.”
- Joshua 5:7 And He raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. Until this time they were still uncircumcised, since they had not been circumcised along the way.
Performed on all Males on the Eighth Day
- Genesis 17:12–13 Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner — even those who are not your offspring. …
- Leviticus 12:3 And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.
- Philippians 3:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
Performed on Timothy As a Matter or Expediency Because of The
- Acts 16:3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Promises to Abraham Previous To
- Romans 4:9 Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.
- Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Punishment for Neglecting
- Genesis 17:14 But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
- Exodus 4:24 Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.
- Exodus 4:26 So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)
Purity of Heart
- Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.
- Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
Purity of Speech
- Exodus 6:12 But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?”
Readiness to Hear and Obey
- Jeremiah 6:10 To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
Rite of, Observed on the Sabbath
- John 7:23 If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?
Saints the True Spiritual
- Philippians 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh —
- Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
Shechemites
- Genesis 34:24 All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male of the city was circumcised.
Sometimes Performed on Slain Enemies
- 1 Samuel 18:25–27 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines. …
- 2 Samuel 3:14 Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
The Jews: Denominated By
- Acts 10:45 All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
- Galatians 2:9 And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John — those reputed to be pillars — gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
The Jews: Despised As Unclean Those not of The
- 1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
- 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
- Matthew 15:26–27 But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” …
- Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands) —
- Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace
The Jews: Held It Unlawful to Intermarry with Those not of The
- Genesis 34:14 “We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us.
- Judges 14:3 But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she …
The Jews: Held No Intercourse with Those not of The
- Acts 10:28 He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
- Acts 11:3 and said, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
- Galatians 2:12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
Timothy
- Acts 16:3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Trusting To, a Denial of Christ
- Galatians 3:3–4 Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? …
- Galatians 5:3–4 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. …
Related topics
Circumcision was PerformedCircumcision was Performed by the Heads of FamiliesCircumcision was Performed with Knives of FlintCircumcision without Faith, VainCircumcision without Obedience, VainCircumcision was Performed by Persons in Authority
Topics: Nave’s Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey’s New Topical Textbook (1897), public domain, via the Berean Bible topical index.