περιτέμνω
I circumcise
Definition
The verb περιτέμνω means 'to circumcise,' literally 'to cut around.' In the New Testament, it refers to the physical act of male circumcision as commanded in the Old Testament (e.g., Luke 1:59, 2:21). It also carries a strong metaphorical sense, used by Paul to describe the spiritual 'circumcision of the heart' performed by Christ, which is an inward transformation rather than an external ritual (see Colossians 2:11). The term is central to the debate in Acts 15 over whether Gentile converts must be physically circumcised to be saved.
Biblical Usage
Used 16 times, primarily in Luke-Acts and the Pauline epistles. In the Gospels (Luke, John), it describes the literal Jewish ritual (Luke 2:21, John 7:22). In Acts, it is the crux of the Jerusalem Council debate regarding Gentile inclusion (Acts 15:1, 5, 24). Paul uses it both literally (Acts 16:3) and figuratively to contrast old covenant law with new covenant grace (Romans 2:29, Colossians 2:11).
Etymology
A compound verb from περί (peri, 'around, about') and the root τέμνω (temnō, 'to cut'). It literally means 'to cut around,' a precise description of the physical procedure. The related noun is περιτομή (peritomē, G4061, 'circumcision').
Semantic Range
This word is theologically pivotal. It marks the transition from the old covenant sign (physical circumcision) to the new covenant reality of salvation by faith and the inward work of the Spirit. Understanding this Greek term illuminates the core conflict in early Christianity between law and grace, and reveals how Christ fulfills the law's requirement (Colossians 2:11-12).
Circumcision was the foundational identity marker of the Jewish male, the sign of God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17). In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, it was a socially distinguishing and often scorned practice. The debate over περιτέμνω in the NT reflects a clash between Jewish particularity and the universal scope of the gospel.
κατατέμνω (katatemnō, G2698) — a stronger term meaning 'to cut down' or 'mutilate,' used pejoratively in Galatians 5:12. περιτομή (peritomē, G4061) — the noun form, 'circumcision,' often used for the circumcised people as a group.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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