By Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg
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In the Hebrew Bible, the sacred covenant between the people of Israel and the LORD God (יהוה, Yahweh) is sealed through a profound ritual: the removal of the foreskin from the male reproductive organ. In Judaism, this rite is known as בְּרִית מִילָה (Brit Milah, or “covenant of cutting/covenant cut”). In ancient times, people formalized bonds and treaties through rituals that often involved the cutting of animals or body parts. The modern English term “circumcision” often fails to convey the deep biblical significance of this act.
Many assume this act set Israel apart from other nations, but there are some issues that complicate this: The mark, hidden beneath clothing, was only for males, and it wasn’t even unique—Egyptian elites, for instance, had their own version of circumcision long before Israel. So, what made Israel’s practice special? Why did God choose this particular sign? Why only men? And, most intriguing, why the eighth day?
A Covenant for Generations
Israelite circumcision was distinct from its Egyptian counterpart in several important ways. For Israel, it was a sign of the covenant between Abraham, his God and his kids. When God spoke to Abraham about the nature and type of promises, He specified that:
“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.” (Gen 17:7)
Abraham’s faith came first—he trusted God and was declared righteous (Gen 15:6). Only then did God give him the sign of circumcision (Gen 17:10-14). But for his descendants, the order flipped. They received the mark of the covenant as infants, long before they could choose faith or obedience. Parents were tasked with raising them to fear the LORD, but the sign came first, binding them to God’s promise from the start. Without children, there’s no covenant. The future of Israel, God’s chosen people, hinged on the next generation. Circumcision wasn’t just a ritual; it was a legacy, a blood-sealed vow that God would be their God, forever.
Why Only Men?
Ancient peoples didn’t fully grasp conception, but they knew women bore children. Still, their beliefs often zeroed in on the male role in procreation, with the “seed” symbolizing lineage and legacy. The male organ, as the source of that seed, became the focal point for a ritual that screamed covenant—God’s promise to multiply Abraham’s descendants like stars in the sky. Other body parts, like the heart or ears, appear in Scripture as metaphors for spiritual cleansing (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4, Rom 2:24-29):
“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord And remove the foreskins of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire And burn with none to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds.” (Jer 4:4)
In ancient Israel, men were the household heads, divinely appointed to lead, provide, and protect. Women held vital roles—bearing and raising children, nurturing the family—but men carried the mantle of leadership. While some modern scholars see this as excluding women, the ritual likely reflected the patriarchal structure of ancient Israel, where men bore legal responsibility for covenantal obedience. Circumcision, as a sign of the covenant, marked the one tasked with guiding the household in God’s ways.
The Eighth Day in Scripture
God’s command was precise: circumcision must happen on the eighth day.
“And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, including a slave who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.” (Gen 17:12)
First, this wasn’t just for Abraham’s bloodline. Anyone brought into the family—slave or foreigner—received the mark and was grafted into God’s covenant.
Second, when we explore other sacred events in the Old Testament, we see that the eighth day (יוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי, yom hashmini) signifies new beginnings, transformation, and consecration. For example, other eighth-day rituals include priestly consecration (Lev 8:33–9:1), where Aaron begins service, and purification of those healed from skin diseases (Lev 14:10), restoring community inclusion. Shemini Atzeret (שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת, shmini atzeret), the “eighth day of assembly” after Sukkot’s seven days (Lev 23:36, Num 29:35), is a distinct holy day involving a sacred convocation and offerings. The eighth day is God’s signature on moments of renewal, a rhythm woven into the fabric of His story with humanity.
Even though some suggest that the eighth day was chosen by God for practical reasons, such as infant health, as vitamin K levels, crucial for blood clotting, stabilize around day eight, this perspective only deepens the wonder of God’s design. The alignment of physical readiness with spiritual significance reflects His intentional weaving of the natural and supernatural, where even the body’s rhythms echo the divine pattern of renewal.
Jesus and Circumcision
Jesus, born into a Jewish family, was circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:21), fulfilling the covenantal command given to Abraham (Gen 17:12). This act by his parents anchored him within Israel’s covenant with God, affirming his identity as part of God’s chosen people and his role in the Abrahamic promise (Gen 17:7).
As seen before, the eighth day carries deep significance in Scripture, symbolizing new beginnings, transformation, and consecration. This pattern finds its ultimate expression in Jesus’ resurrection on the “eighth day” (the first day after the Sabbath), signifying the ultimate new beginning, transformation, and consecration (Augustine, Sermon 260C).
As the head of the New Covenant, Jesus, the “last Adam” (1 Cor 15:45), extends God’s promise of salvation, provision, and protection to all humanity—whether Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or free (Gal 3:28-29). His resurrection on the eighth day seals the efficacy of his sacrifice on the cross, as his whole body, brutalized with countless marks of human violence, becomes a sign of God’s approval and assurance that he has made all things new.
The eighth day’s significance doesn’t stop there. Jesus’ resurrection, on the “eighth day” (the first day after the Sabbath), is the ultimate new beginning. It’s the sacred day when all creation was reborn (2 Cor 5:17), the covenant fulfilled in a way Abraham could only dream of. As the “last Adam” (1 Cor 15:45), Jesus became the head of a New Covenant, throwing open the doors of salvation to everyone—Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or free (Gal 3:28-29). His heavily scarred body, which had risen on that eighth day, still bore the marks of human brutality that had been transformed into a covenant on the Roman cross.
Conclusion
Circumcision on the eighth day, woven into the fabric of God’s covenant with humanity, emerges as a powerful emblem of divine promise, transformation, and renewal. From Abraham’s obedient faith to Jesus’ resurrection, the eighth day threads a narrative of hope through Scripture, marking sacred moments of consecration and new beginnings. This rhythm reflects God’s design, where physical and spiritual realities intertwine, inviting us into His eternal story. Jesus, circumcised on the eighth day and risen on the “eighth day” after the Sabbath, fulfills the covenant, extending salvation to all—regardless of gender, status, or heritage. The covenant, etched in flesh, resides in the heart, calling us to lead with love, protect with courage, and live generously. Embracing our place in this divine narrative, let us rise, transformed, to walk in faith, embody hope, and reflect the unbreakable promise of a God who makes all things new.
Circumcision of the fore skin is symbolic and covenant bound. Yet we need to look at the circumcision of the heart. For it is Spiritual circumcision. A covenant that marks the heart of a believer in Yeshua. It to is the covenant of new beginnings. As it is within Yeshua Messiac
of course.
Yes, indeed. Circumcision of the heart is very often overlooked. I never heard a sermon on that, but I have studied the topic on my own, and have been able to draw quite a few parallels between the two.
What is even more overlooked is how important it is in the Old Testament.
That’s exactly what Dr. Eli explained in this lecture! Nevertheless, as a male Jew believing in King Mashiach Yeshua a person carries two signs of the covenant: one on his flesh & one on his heart whereas female Jews and gentile believers carry only the sign of circumsition of the heart! G’D distinguishes, and ONLY HE KNOWS WHY! HE IS SMARTER THAN WE ARE, right?
I enjoyed this. Thanks.
In my understanding, i see the cutting of male reproductive organ represents the cutting of covenant. The covenant guarantees God’s blessings on future generations. Its a mark or sign to each man.
I think there was understanding that seed/ semen caused babies as Judah’s son wasted his deliberately to avoid Tamar having a child.
Yes, I think so too.
Well done… What about adding a paragraph regarding circumcision of the heart, from Romans 2:24-29?
Will do, Brian. Thanks.
That’s not the subject of this article!
Title of this lecture is “Rethinking EIGHTH-DAY Circumsition”.
Circumsition of the heart can take place on amy day!
🙂
You adressed interesting insights about circumcision in your article on Moses and zipporah when she circumcised her son because Moses neglected it.
My question is why he and entire generation did not perform circumcision while travelling through the wilderness. Joshua had to see to it that males were circumcised at Gilgal( which means rolled away). Even if Moses forgot, why did his elders not remind him of this?
I don’t know :-). For those wondering what Sharon is talking about here it is – https://drelisblog.com/did-god-try-to-kill-moses-or-his-son-gershom-and-why/
When Paul wrote to the Roman Jews in Chapter 2 he contrasts physical circumcision with the circumcision by the Spirit of the heart. I suspect these readers would link Ezekiel 36 to this discussion. God removes (cuts) our stone dead hearts and gives us a new heart; we are transformed into a new creation. So much to contemplate here!
Thanks, Patricia!
Dear Dr Eli, great piece of writing again thank you for this. However, have you looked at the other perspectives of circumcision? In Exodus 12 and Joshua 5 circumcision seem to be a right way to observe the Passover. And in Genesis 34 the story of Dinah being raped, the text also seem to be give a different perspective on circumcision. Exodus 4 the blood bridegroom story give a different perspective though Genesis 34 and Exodus 4 do not give a clear purpose of circumcision. The texts above brings different perspective on circumcision other than that of Genesis 17.
Circumcision in the Hebrew Bible carries varied significance beyond Genesis 17’s covenantal framework. In Exodus 12:43–48, it’s a prerequisite for Passover participation, emphasizing ritual purity and inclusion in Israel’s community for foreigners. Joshua 5:2–9 portrays it as a renewal of covenantal identity before entering Canaan, marking a new generation’s commitment. Genesis 34, with Dinah’s rape, presents circumcision as a deceptive tool for justice, where her brothers exploit it to weaken the Shechemites, lacking explicit covenantal purpose. Exodus 4:24–26, the enigmatic “bridegroom of blood” episode, suggests a protective or apotropaic function, possibly averting divine wrath, though its purpose remains ambiguous. These texts highlight circumcision’s multifaceted roles—ritual, social, and symbolic—distinct from Genesis 17’s focus on divine covenant. Each narrative underscores context-specific meanings, reflecting cultural, religious, and strategic dimensions of the practice in ancient Israelite society.
Amen Glory Hallelujah YESHUA! Hosanna in the Highest Amen! I praise and thank my God our Lord for you and this ministry to help me understand deeply the Lord Almighty who loved me and loved you in Jesus Christ Amen
Amen!
For me infant baptism and circumcision are similar. The babies are committed to God by parents who stand on their behalf spiritually and promise to raise them as God instructs. However at a later stage when child grows they must make their own decision to follow God. The parents lay foundation and the child must keep building.
It is indeed. In reformed churches the idea of infant baptism is based on infant circumcision.
When I wanted to convert to Judaism, I saw there was a movement in Israël calling to “virtual circumcision” instead of a real fleshy one, to avoid hurting genitals of men (babies) who do not want to. The great Rabbin of France (Mr Aim Korsia) made a whole conference on that in 2015. I don’t where is the matter now.
This conversion would not have been recognized in Israel. This is not by itself an argument, though :-). I agree.
Nice article. Thank you for allowing is to join you in this way.
Re:
“Some scholars suggest that the eighth day was chosen for practical reasons, such as infant health, as vitamin K levels, crucial for blood clotting, stabilize around day eight. However, given the lack of medical research in ancient history thus far, these suggestions seem unlikely or at least insufficient to stand alone.”
I find that confusing, as it sounds as if you mean that without proper medical research in antiquity, the Creator would have just been guessing or ignorant about how the body works. I’m quite sure you did not mean that! 🙂 Perhaps you could reword it to explain, for dunderheads like me, exactly what you wanted us to understand.
Thank you for pointing that out. fixed.
So, for any adult male finding new faith as a Messianic, Sabbath and Feast-keeping believer, are they also obligated to undergo circumcision as an adult? And if so, by whom? A Jewish Rabbi?
Dear Jean, the answer to this question is too complex, at least the way you asking it. Please, explore this section in depth as a lot there has to do with your question. https://drelisblog.com/category/apostle-paul/
Might the rite have something to do with the marriage of God to Israel?
George, I would love for you to elaborate.
Excellent study Dr Eli. Cordie
Thank you, Cordie! I am glad you found it helpful!
As a woman, I thought about the absence of female circumcision. God’s covenants require blood. Since Adam and Eve, husband and wife are meant to be one flesh. So may we consider that the man bears the covenant of the couple with God and the woman the covenant between them (through hymen blood) ? Abraham had one only wife (which God reminds him before Hagar flew away from Sarah) as long as Sarah was alive. As far as I know, Moses and Aaron were also monogamous. Each time circumcision was established.
Your reflection draws intriguing theological connections, but it extends beyond the explicit biblical text. Scripture establishes male circumcision as the specific, God-ordained blood-sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17). While the “one flesh” union is a profound mystery, it is not designated in the Bible as a separate, gendered covenant where the wife bears the sign through nuptial blood.
Furthermore, the premise of universal monogamy among key figures is not fully supported. Abraham had Hagar while Sarah lived, and Jacob married both Leah and Rachel. The covenant sign of circumcision was applied to all male household members, regardless of the patriarch’s marital status.
Your perspective offers a unique, symbolic interpretation of marital unity. However, it remains a personal theological inference rather than a doctrine derived from the biblical witness, which focuses solely on circumcision for the covenant community.
Circumcision among Jews, Arabs, and other ethnic or religious groups has its explanation.
For Abraham and his family, who lived mainly in deserts, personal hygiene was difficult due to the scarcity of water. Many basic rules for health were dictated then, and later by Moses, as divinely dictated laws, to make people obey.
Nowadays, this need no longer exists. People know how to prevent health risks by thoroughly heating their meals and disinfecting food and body parts.
In my opinión, mutilation of our body or even cosmetic corrections (except for medical reasons) go against God’s concept of life. Everything in Nature has its purpose, somewhere or somehow in time. If no longer needed, it disappears or falls off.
I understand and accept tradition and the wish to be different, but the mutilation of kids (boys and girls), without their consent, shouldn´t be part of our culture anymore.
This perspective thoughtfully prioritizes modern hygiene and bodily autonomy, arguing that ancient practices like circumcision are outdated. However, this view conflicts with the core religious significance of the ritual.
For Jews, circumcision (brit milah) is not primarily about health; it is a divine commandment (Genesis 17) establishing an eternal covenant with God. It is a fundamental, non-negotiable marker of Jewish identity that has been maintained for millennia, transcending its historical context.
The ethical concern regarding infant consent is a valid modern debate. From a religious standpoint, parents are obligated to bring their children into the covenant, a decision central to the child’s spiritual identity. The comparison to female genital mutilation is a false equivalence, as FGM is a destructive practice with no religious basis and severe health consequences, unlike male circumcision.
This highlights a fundamental tension between a divinely mandated religious obligation and a contemporary secular ethic of bodily integrity.
Profound thoughts. Your writing enlarges my faith and perspective! I’m so happy I found you and your writing!
Barbara, thank you so much. This encourages me to keep on teaching. Thank you!
Unless I missed it, you left out how biologically, the circumcised must wait until the 8th day for blood clotting to begin otherwise they’d bleed out; also, the number 8 means “new beginning”
Joe, hi! Its there 🙂
Thank you!!
You are most welcome!
Jesus was not resurrected on the eighth day. That is a mis-translation by the European gentiles. The earliest Greek manuscripts of all four Gospels state that the women arrived at the empty tomb “early on the first after the Sabbath.” The Sabbath ends at sunset, which means Jesus was already alive when the Sabbath ended and the women arrived after that. Jesus was resurrected on the seventh day Sabbath before sacred time changed to secular time, not on the first day of the week or the eighth day.
This claim contains a significant error. The Gospel accounts are unanimous that the women discovered the tomb empty on the first day of the week, after the Sabbath (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1, John 20:1). The phrase “first day of the week” is a direct translation from the original Greek (“mia ton sabbaton”).
The resurrection is not presented as occurring on the Sabbath (the seventh day), but on the day following it. The chronology is clear: Jesus was crucified and buried on Friday (day of preparation), rested in the tomb on the Saturday Sabbath, and was raised on Sunday, the first day of the week. This timing is foundational to the Christian tradition, signifying a new creation. There is no credible scholarly support for a “seventh day” resurrection from the earliest manuscripts.
The male organ, as the source of that seed, became the focal point for a ritual that screamed covenant!! Great, as other precious pearls in this essay. Well done!
Blessings and peace, Ana Margarita!
Dr Eli,
I do not know Hebrew, but am always keen to learn about Biblical and Hebrew symbolic acts. Your blogs point directly to symbolic acts.
I have been a Bible translator with Wycliffe Bible Translators my entire adult life, i.e. 70 years, now. Fortunately, my work has been in native American Indian languages without any Western theological concepts. So, the centrality of cultural symbolic acts have upmost in my work.
Thank you for clearly identifying circumcision as beginnings, transformation, and consecration.
Sincerely,
John Tuggy
What an honor to have you with us, John! Blessings!
This was so helpful. Thank you. I really enjoy your teaching and will contribute again before Christmas.
Cynthia, thank you for your support and encouragement! It makes a big difference!
Thankyou Dr. Eli.
I loved reading this blog even though it all seems a bit barbaric to me- I do understand we have a Covenant God and the shedding of blood is part of this. Praying for Israel .
Blessings Hazel
Blessings, Hazel!
My question is whether this practice is maintained in the Diaspora? Mi pregunta es si este acto se mantiene en la diaspora?
Yes, the practice of ritual circumcision (brit milah) is steadfastly maintained in Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora. It is considered a fundamental religious obligation, central to Jewish identity and the covenant with God. Regardless of location—be it North America, Europe, or elsewhere—observant Jewish families continue this tradition on the eighth day after a son’s birth. Its observance is a powerful marker of religious and cultural continuity, distinguishing it from a mere cultural custom that might fade outside a homeland. For the vast majority of Jewish communities in the Diaspora, it remains a non-negotiable and universally practiced rite.
Undoubtedly the best article I have ever read on circumcision! And great discussion in the comments. Thank you, Dr E
Many thanks, David! May the Lord bless you!
Dr. Eli,
A very good article. Thank you for this.
However, I have just one point to comment on:
Did Yeshua actually rise on the Sunday morning? The ladies went to the tomb on that day before dawn, but he had already risen.
There is no mention of a witness to the ressurection after the entombment.
With his death in the late afternoon, probably on the Wednesday, and the ressurection after three days and nights it seems to me that the most probable time of the ressurection was during the afternoon of the weekly shabbat.
I am aware that the timeline is confusing due to the prescence of multiple days declared as shabbatot during the ‘feast’ (pesach, unleavened bread) but to fit everything in this seems to be the best option to me.
Donald, good point. One thing to keep in mind is that his resurrection took place somewhere between Saturday night and early Sunday morning. So, from the Jewish counting of days, it would have been the same day. Motzei Shabat (the end of Shabat, so to speak) is already the first day of the week. Because, as you know, the Jewish day begins in the evening of the previous day.
Many years ago (about 40) I read a small book about the Jewish practice of circumcision. It also mentioned the fact that Vit K levels, which are necessary for blood clotting, would be at normal levels on the 8th day. Another “fact” that was covered is that there is/was a very low percentage of Jewish women with cervical cancer. The author presented this fact as being due to male circumcision and the ease of cleanliness. He compared the percentages of nonJewish women with cervical cancer whose sexual partners were uncircumcised with Jewish women who were relatively cancer free and it was a dramatic difference. Whether or not this is true, I have no idea. But, I found his conclusion fascinating.
There are indeed medical benefits to circumcision. Of that there is NO DOUBT! However, Biblical circumcision was mostly not about that.
What happens if you don’t circumsize at all.
Here a study about that 🙂 https://drelisblog.com/did-god-try-to-kill-moses-or-his-son-gershom-and-why/
From your writings concerning circumcision I got the impression that you are emplying that circucision is stilll required by God for Gentiles as well. This doesn’t sound like what Paul the Apostle’s wrote, ‘”circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing….'”
I Corinthians 7:19 and Romans 2:28-29. I think circumcision is good and the covenant is important to know, but it’s a part of the Law Paul objected to and is not a requirement to be saved. I don’t think God demands it anymore.
It is a mistaken impression.
Beautifull.
Thank you very much
Thank you, Monique!
Mind blowing!
Enjoy!