Leviticus 12:3

And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

And in the eighth {H8066} day {H3117} the flesh {H1320} of his foreskin {H6190} shall be circumcised {H4135}.

On the eighth day, the baby's foreskin is to be circumcised.

And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

Commentary

Leviticus 12:3 is a concise but profoundly significant verse within the Mosaic Law, detailing a specific commandment regarding the male child born into the Israelite community. It states, "And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." This injunction is part of a larger chapter dealing with the purification rituals for a woman after childbirth, yet it highlights a foundational practice for the Israelite nation.

Context

This verse is situated within the book of Leviticus, which primarily outlines the laws, rituals, and regulations God gave to the Israelites to establish a holy and pure nation. Chapter 12 specifically addresses the laws of purification for a woman after giving birth. While the preceding verses (Leviticus 12:1-2) concern the mother's period of uncleanness, verse 3 introduces the mandatory rite of circumcision for the male child. This practice did not originate with Moses but was a much older command, originating from God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17, where it was established as a perpetual sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants.

Key Themes

  • Covenant Sign: Circumcision served as the physical, indelible mark of God's covenant with Abraham and his lineage. It was a visible sign that the individual belonged to God's chosen people, distinct from all other nations.
  • Obedience to Divine Command: The strict adherence to the "eighth day" demonstrates the importance of precise obedience to God's specific instructions. This was not merely a cultural practice but a divine ordinance.
  • Identity and Belonging: For an Israelite male, circumcision was central to his identity. It signified his inclusion in the community of faith and his inheritance of the covenant promises.
  • God's Wisdom: The instruction for the "eighth day" is noteworthy. Modern medical science has confirmed that the eighth day is optimal for clotting factors (Vitamin K and prothrombin levels) to be at their highest, minimizing the risk of hemorrhage, showcasing God's perfect wisdom long before scientific discovery.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised" directly translates the Hebrew, emphasizing the physical nature of the rite. The command for the "eighth day" (yom ha-shemini in Hebrew) is precise and critical, indicating a new beginning and completeness, as the seventh day typically concludes a cycle (like the Sabbath). This precise timing underscores the divine origin and importance of the command.

Related Scriptures

The command for circumcision is first given in Genesis 17:12. It was so fundamental that even under the New Covenant, Jesus Himself, as a Jew, was circumcised on the eighth day, fulfilling the law. However, the New Testament shifts the focus from physical circumcision to a spiritual reality. Paul later expounds on the concept of a circumcision of the heart, which is by the Spirit, not by the letter of the law, emphasizing internal transformation over external ritual for salvation in Christ (Colossians 2:11-12).

Practical Application

While physical circumcision is not a requirement for believers in the New Covenant (Acts 15), Leviticus 12:3 still offers valuable lessons. It reminds us of God's meticulous attention to detail and His expectation of obedience to His commands. For Christians, the emphasis is on spiritual circumcision—a heart made right with God through faith in Christ, signifying a cutting away of sin and the old nature. This verse encourages us to consider what marks us as God's people today: not a physical sign, but a transformed heart and life lived in obedience to His Word, reflecting His holiness in our daily walk.

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Cross-References

  • Luke 2:21 (8 votes)

    ¶ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

  • Luke 1:59 (6 votes)

    And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

  • John 7:22 (5 votes)

    Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

  • John 7:23 (5 votes)

    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?

  • Deuteronomy 30:6 (2 votes)

    And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

  • Romans 4:11 (2 votes)

    And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

  • Romans 4:12 (2 votes)

    And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which [he had] being [yet] uncircumcised.