Why Circumcision?

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Can’t remember where I heard it, maybe in one of my theology classes from a professor - it was something like this: Many of the early sins were often sexually related. Adam and Eve had shame over “nakedness,” Noah was violated sexually, etc… The covenantal rite seeks to remind God’s people to give up such offenses to God and turn to Him.

Arguably, however, circumcision makes a male more “naked.” Even today there are cultures - I believe Mexico is one - where exposure of the glans is consider offensive in a way that mere male nudity does not.

 

[Nita]

Of all they ways that God could have chosen to have his people marked…Why Circumcision???

Thoughts???

Peace
James

I’ve often wondered if there’s a connection to “life” in some way.
In the Garden, Adam cut himself off from the Source of Life when He sinned. The male genitals are the source of new physical life

 

[Jeanne1184]

In doing a word study on “bridegroom”, I came across the verse below that also dealt with circumcision. ‘Bridegroom’ (chathan in Heb.) is “one who enters covenant”. Covenant with whom? The God of the Jews - and who might that be really?

Exodus 4:
24 And it cometh to pass in the way, in a lodging place, that Jehovah meeteth him, and seeketh to put him to death;

25 and Zipporah taketh a flint, and cutteth off the foreskin of her son, and causeth [it] to touch his feet, and saith, `Surely a bridegroom of blood [art] thou to me;’

26 and He desisteth from him: then she said, `A bridegroom of blood,’ in reference to the circumcision.

**John 7:23 **- If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

(Is this implying that circumcision makes man ‘a whit less whole’?)

But the truly surprising find is the link below. If a prepuce is considered Holy, why wouldn’t Cahtolicism advocate strongly for non-circumcision? I still haven’t found out why a prepuce would be holy, but the Hebrew word - orlah - is a female noun. The mystery deepens…

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Prepuce

 

[vincent10395]

Of all they ways that God could have chosen to have his people marked…Why Circumcision???

Thoughts???

Peace
James

God was testing Abraham’s trust. Abraham was at least 80-100 years old when God told him to circumcise himself and all the males present (I wouldn’t want to be there :nope:> Once again God was testing his love.