מוּל
to cut short, i.e. curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e. to circumcise); by implication, to blunt; figuratively
Definition
The Hebrew verb מוּל (mûwl) primarily means 'to circumcise,' referring to the ritual cutting of the male foreskin as a sign of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:10-14). In a few instances, it extends metaphorically to mean 'to cut down' or 'destroy,' as in the destruction of idols or enemies (e.g., Leviticus 26:30, Jeremiah 9:25). This figurative usage connects the physical act of cutting with the spiritual concept of removal or judgment.
Biblical Usage
This verb appears 32 times, predominantly in Genesis (17 times) and Leviticus (6 times), focusing on the covenantal rite of circumcision (Genesis 17:10-14, 23-27). It is also used in legal contexts regarding the requirement for circumcision (Leviticus 12:3) and in prophetic passages where it metaphorically describes the 'cutting off' of spiritual unfaithfulness or nations (Jeremiah 9:25-26). The usage is almost exclusively in religious or covenantal settings.
Etymology
As a primitive root, מוּל is not derived from another Hebrew word. It is related to the noun מוּלָה (mûwlâ, H4139), meaning 'circumcision.' Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic (māla, 'to cut'), indicating a core meaning of cutting or removing a part.
Semantic Range
This word is central to the theology of covenant in the Old Testament. Circumcision, as commanded in Genesis 17, was the physical sign of God's eternal covenant with Abraham, marking his descendants as God's chosen people (Genesis 17:7, 10-11). It symbolized purification, consecration, and inclusion in the covenant community. The New Testament reinterprets this concept spiritually, discussing 'circumcision of the heart' (Romans 2:29, Colossians 2:11), showing how the physical rite pointed to an inward reality of faith and obedience.
In the ancient Near East, circumcision was practiced by various peoples, often as a rite of passage into adulthood or marriage. However, for Israel, it held unique theological significance as a God-ordained sign of the Abrahamic covenant, performed on infant boys at eight days old (Genesis 17:12). This set Israel apart, making circumcision a key identity marker. The metaphorical use to 'cut down' idols reflects the cultural practice of destroying pagan religious objects.
כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut off or make a covenant, broader in application. מָחַץ (mâchats, H4272) — to crush or smash, more violent destruction. נָכַר (nâkar, H5234) — to regard or recognize, conceptually different but sometimes linked in covenantal contexts.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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