מוּלָה
circumcision
Definition
The Hebrew noun מוּלָה (mûwlâh) refers specifically to the act or state of circumcision. It denotes the physical ritual of cutting away the foreskin, which was the covenantal sign God established with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:10-14). In its sole biblical occurrence in Exodus 4:26, it is used concretely to describe the act Zipporah performed on her son. The word encapsulates the idea of the rite itself, distinct from the more common term for the circumcised state or the abstract concept of the covenant sign.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Exodus 4:26. In this critical narrative moment, Zipporah touches Moses' feet with her son's foreskin after performing the circumcision, declaring, 'Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.' The usage is highly specific and dramatic, referring to the immediate, physical act of circumcision that averts God's judgment against Moses for neglecting the covenantal rite.
Etymology
The noun מוּלָה (mûwlâh) is a direct feminine derivation from the root verb מוּל (mûl, H4135), which means 'to circumcise' or 'to cut off.' It is related to other nouns from the same root, such as מוּל (mûl, H4138), which can also mean 'circumcision' or 'front.' The formation indicates the action or result of the verbal root, solidifying its connection to the concrete ritual act.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word points directly to the foundational Abrahamic covenant. Circumcision was the physical, enduring sign of God's promise (Genesis 17). The episode in Exodus 4:26 underscores the non-negotiable seriousness of this covenant obligation, even for the family of the deliverer, Moses. Understanding this Hebrew term highlights how the physical act was inseparable from one's identity within God's chosen people, a theme later reinterpreted in the New Testament as a matter of the heart (Romans 2:28-29).
In ancient Israelite culture, circumcision (מוּלָה) was the mandatory rite of passage for all male infants on the eighth day, marking them as members of the covenant community. It was a deeply ethnic and religious identifier, setting Israel apart from neighboring peoples. The act in Exodus 4:26, performed with a flint knife, reflects the ancient tools and practices of the ritual. Its presentation as an urgent, lifesaving act in the narrative emphasizes its critical cultural and spiritual significance.
מוּל (mûl, H4138) — A more common noun for 'circumcision' or 'front,' often used for the state or the abstract concept. בְּרִית (bĕrîyth, H1285) — 'Covenant'; circumcision was the sign of this covenant. עָרְלָה ('orlâh, H6190) — 'Foreskin' or 'uncircumcised'; the state opposite of being circumcised.
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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