Greek · G4061 · unreviewed

περιτομή

Circumcision (the rite, the condition or the people, literally or figuratively)

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περιτομή G4061

Pronunciation peritomḗ

What does περιτομή (peritomḗ) mean in the Bible?

περιτομή (peritomḗ) is a Greek word meaning "circumcision (the rite, the condition or the people, literally or figuratively)". περι-τομή, -ῆς, ἡ (περιτέμνω), [in LXX: Gen. Its value is conditional upon obedience and ultimately fulfilled in inward transformation. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Faith, Messiah.

Full entry for περιτομή (G4061) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

circumcision (the rite, the condition or the people, literally or figuratively)

Extended definition

Metonymy shifts from the physical rite to the Jewish people themselves; spiritualized in Paul as heart transformation.

(περιτέμνω), [in LXX: Gen.17:13, Exo.4:25-26 (מוּל ni., מוּלָה), Jer.11:16 * ;] circumcision;

aof the rite itself : Jhn.7:22-23 Act.7:8, Rom.4:11, Gal.5:11, Php.3:5;

bof the state of circumcision: Rom.2:25-28 3:1, 1Co.7:19, Gal.5:6 6:15, Col.3:11; ἐν π. ὤν, Rom.4:10; __(with) by meton., π. = οἱ περιτμηθέντες, the circumcised: Rom.3:30 4:9, 12 15:8, Gal.2:7-9, Eph.2:11; οἱ ἐκ τῆς π., of Jews, Rom.4:12; of Jewish Christians, Act.11:2, Gal.2:12, Tit.1:10; οἱ ἐκ π. πιστοί, Act.10:45; οἱ ὄντες ἐκ π., Col.4:11 Metaphorical, Rom.2:29, Col.2:11, Php.3:3.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Its value is conditional upon obedience and ultimately fulfilled in inward transformation. Philippians 3:1–3

It demonstrates that ritual marking follows faith rather than produces righteousness. Romans 2:17-29

Reframed as spiritual identity in Christ. Romans 4:1-12

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Rom 2:25 · Rom 2:28 · Rom 2:29 · 1 Cor 7:19 · Gal 5:6 · Gal 6:15 · Phil 3:3 · Col 3:11 9×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Acts 7:8 · Acts 10:45 · Acts 11:2 · Rom 2:27 · Rom 3:1 · Rom 4:11 · Rom 4:12 · Rom 15:8 · Gal 2:7 · Gal 2:8 · Gal 2:12 · Eph 2:11 · Col 4:11 · Titus 1:10 15×

Dative · Singular · Feminine Rom 4:10 · Phil 3:5 · Col 2:11 5×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine John 7:22 · John 7:23 · Rom 2:26 · Rom 3:30 · Rom 4:9 · Gal 2:9 · Gal 5:11 7×

Canonical Themes

Covenant Faith Messiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

Philippians 3:1–3 περιτομή peritomḗ Nominative · Singular · Feminine

circumcision

Romans 2:17-29 περιτομή peritomḗ Nominative · Singular · Feminine

Circumcision, covenant sign of Israel.

Romans 4:1-12 περιτομή peritomḗ Genitive · Singular · Feminine

Circumcision, covenant sign.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Colossians 2 — Fullness in Christ and Freedom from Christ-Plus Religion Galatians 5 — Stand Firm in Freedom: Faith Working Through Love and Life by the Spirit John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus Philippians 3 — Counting All Things Loss and Pressing On Toward Christ Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 2 — God’s Righteous Judgment and the Exposure of Religious Presumption Romans 4 — Abraham Justified by Faith and the Promise Secured by Grace

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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