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Word Studies

peritome (G4061) - circumcision

Original: Greek: peritome Transliteration: peritome Part of Speech: feminine noun Definition: circumcision (the rite, the condition, or the people) BLB Count: 36 occurrences

Translations

  • "circumcision" (17x, 53.1%)
  • "the circumcision" (7x, 21.9%)
  • "of circumcision" (4x, 12.5%)
  • "of the circumcision" (1x)
  • "Circumcision" (1x)
  • "the Circumcision" (1x)
  • "with the circumcision" (1x)

Key Uses by Context

  1. The physical rite: Gen 17:13, Luke 2:21, John 7:22, Acts 7:8
  2. The condition of being circumcised: Rom 2:25-29; 4:9-12
  3. The Jewish people ("those of the circumcision"): Acts 10:45; 11:2; Gal 2:7-9,12; Col 4:11; Tit 1:10
  4. Spiritual/figurative: Rom 2:29 (of the heart); Phil 3:3 (we are the circumcision); Col 2:11 (made without hands)
  5. The rite as theological issue: Gal 5:6,11; 6:15; 1 Cor 7:19 (is nothing)

Paul's Triple Use

Paul uses peritome in three distinct senses: - As ethnic/social category ("they of the circumcision" = Jewish believers) - As the physical rite (circumcision "profits nothing" for justification) - As a spiritual reality (circumcision "of the heart, in the spirit")

peritemno (G4059) - to circumcise

Original: Greek: peritemno Transliteration: peritemno Part of Speech: verb Definition: to cut around, i.e. to circumcise BLB Count: 18 occurrences

Key Verses

  • Luke 1:59; 2:21 -- Jesus and John circumcised
  • Acts 15:1,5,24 -- demand for Gentile circumcision
  • Acts 16:3 -- Paul circumcises Timothy
  • Gal 2:3 -- Titus NOT compelled to be circumcised
  • Gal 5:2 -- "if ye be circumcised"
  • Gal 6:12 -- those who constrain you to be circumcised
  • Col 2:11 -- circumcised with circumcision made without hands

Notable: LXX Connection

G4059 appears in LXX for Deut 10:16 and Jer 4:4 -- the OT "circumcise your heart" commands. This means the SAME Greek word Paul uses is used by the OT in its figurative/spiritual sense.

akrobustia (G203) - uncircumcision/foreskin

Original: Greek: akrobustia Transliteration: akrobustia Part of Speech: feminine noun Definition: the prepuce; by implication an uncircumcised (i.e. gentile) state or person BLB Count: 20 occurrences

Distribution

Almost exclusively Pauline (Acts 11:3 is the only non-Pauline occurrence). Paul created the theological vocabulary around uncircumcision as a category.

Paul's Paired Formula

Paul consistently pairs peritome/akrobustia as a contrast set: - Rom 2:25-27 (circumcision becomes uncircumcision if law-breaking) - Rom 3:30 (God justifies both by/through faith) - Rom 4:9-12 (Abraham credited BEFORE circumcision) - 1 Cor 7:18-19 (both are nothing) - Gal 5:6 (neither avails anything) - Gal 6:15 (neither avails anything) - Col 3:11 (neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision)

Hebrew OT Terms

mul (H4135) - to circumcise

Definition: to cut short, curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e. to circumcise) Key figurative uses: Deut 10:16 (circumcise the foreskin of your heart); Deut 30:6 (LORD will circumcise your heart)

mulah (H4139) - circumcision

Definition: circumcision (the noun form) Key use: Exod 4:26 (bridegroom of blood in regard to circumcision)

arel (H6189) - uncircumcised

Definition: exposed, projecting loose; used technically of the uncircumcised Key figurative uses: Jer 9:26 (uncircumcised in heart); Ezek 44:7,9 (uncircumcised in heart and flesh)