Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses Abraham and his descendants, commanding physical circumcision as the perpetual mark of His agreement. This instruction follows the initial declaration of the covenant and precedes the specific regulations regarding timing and inclusion.
The words — The Hebrew וּ/נְמַלְתֶּ֕ם (u./ne.mal.Tem) means "and you will be circumcised," while לְ/א֣וֹת (le./'ot) translates to "a sign of." These terms ground the command in a tangible act that functions as a designated marker.
The thread — The text establishes circumcision as the covenant sign, a motif that appears in Romans 4:11 as a seal of righteousness and Acts 7:8 where God grants Abraham the covenant of circumcision. The terminology later shifts to spiritual application in Deuteronomy 10:16.
Why it lands — The verse demands obedience to a physical rite as the visible boundary for the covenant community. It requires readers to acknowledge that divine agreements are marked by specific, actionable commitments rather than abstract promises alone.
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 Hebrew words
King James Version
And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
Cross-references
- 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 might be credited to them.
- Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 uncircumcised man may eat of it.
- Joshua 5:3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
- 1 Samuel 18:25 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.”