Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church regarding believers who were circumcised or uncircumcised at the moment of their calling, instructing them to maintain their current physical and social status.
The words — οὐδὲν (ouden) translates literally to "nothing," and περιτομή (peritomē) means "circumcision," forming the verse's core declaration that physical markers hold no spiritual weight.
The thread — This theme recurs in Galatians 5:6, where faith working through love supersedes ritual status, and Galatians 6:15, which replaces physical markers with the reality of a new creation, while 1 John 2:3 ties knowledge of God directly to command-keeping.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to treat external religious or physical distinctions as irrelevant and to prioritize obedience to God’s commands above all else.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Cross-references
- Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
- Galatians 6:15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
- 1 John 2:3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
- Romans 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
- 1 John 3:22 and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
- 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.
- Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
- Jeremiah 7:22 For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not merely command them about burnt offerings and sacrifices,
- Matthew 5:19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
- John 15:14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.