Genesis 17:11

Ye shall circumcise. From ancient times various suggestions have been made in explanation of this rite. The Alexandrian philosopher Philo, a Jew, believed it was ordained by God merely to promote physical cleanliness; others saw in it a protest against certain idolatrous rites practiced by the Egyptians and other heathen nations. Calvin believed it to mean a symbolic putting away of the fifth of the flesh, and so of sin in general. The following points, however, may be noted with reference to the importance of circumcision. It was destined: (1) to distinguish the seed of Abraham from the Gentiles (Eph. 2:11), (2) to perpetuate the memory of the Jehovah’s covenant (Gen. 17:11), (3) to foster the cultivation of moral purity (Deut. 10:16), (4) to represent righteousness by faith (Rom. 4:11), (5) to symbolize circumcision of the heart (Rom. 2:29), and (6) to foreshadow the Christian rite of baptism (Col. 2:11, 12).

The Hebrews were not alone in ancient times in their practice of circumcision. For example, there are records of the custom among the early Egyptians and various Semitic peoples.

It has been practiced in differing forms and administered to persons of varying ages or classes, and has survived into modern times among some African tribes, the Arabs, and other Moslem peoples, and scattered groups such as the Pacific islanders.

A token of the covenant. God has appointed signs and memorials of various significant events. The Sabbath was instituted as a memorial of creation; circumcision, of the Abrahamic covenant; baptism, of Christ’s death and resurrection; and the Lord’s Supper, of Christ’s vicarious sacrifice. Outward signs may teach spiritual truths, thus becoming God’s appointed channels of spiritual blessing. Thus they may serve as perpetual reminders of God’s grace and of our own duty and responsibility.