What was the purpose of circumcision in the Old Testament?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that circumcision teaches us that God requires physical dedication as a sign of an internal commitment to Him. God initiated the practice not because He needed a ritual, but because humanity needs a visible, tangible reminder of a solemn, life-altering commitment.
It teaches you that a relationship with God is not just about internal feeling; it must manifest in an outward, obedient life.
The deeper, prophetic truth of circumcision points to the need for a changed heart. Moses and the prophets later stressed that the physical ritual was worthless without a corresponding spiritual change—the "circumcision of the heart" (Deuteronomy 10:16). This ultimate change is what the New Covenant in Jesus Christ accomplishes for all believers.
The Simple Answer
Circumcision was the physical and permanent mark that served as the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:11-14).
Its purpose was threefold:
Identification: It physically marked Abraham's male descendants (and later, any male joining the nation of Israel) as belonging to God's chosen people. It was the entry point into the covenant community.
Separation: It physically set the Israelites apart from the pagan nations who did not follow God's commands.
Symbolism: It symbolized the necessity of cutting away the sinful nature and dedicating the life-giving faculty to God.
Every male born into Israel was required to undergo the ritual on the eighth day of life.
The Deeper Dive
The meaning of circumcision is best understood by looking at the specific covenant God made with Abraham.
1. The Genesis Mandate
In Genesis 17, God established the covenant with Abraham, promising him countless descendants and the land of Canaan. God said:
"This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised... It will be the sign of the covenant between me and you." — Genesis 17:10-11 (NIV)
For Israel, this was not just a health practice (though it did have hygienic benefits) but a command of obedience that demonstrated their allegiance to the one true God and their claim on His promises.
2. The Prophecy of the Heart
The Old Testament prophets consistently warned that the physical sign of the covenant was useless if the heart was rebellious.
"Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, remove the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem..." — Jeremiah 4:4 (ESV)
This shows that from the very beginning, God’s ultimate desire was for an internal transformation—a spiritual cutting away of sin and stubbornness—which is the true meaning of holiness.
3. Fulfillment in the New Covenant
In the New Testament, the physical sign of circumcision is replaced and fulfilled by the spiritual reality in Christ (Colossians 2:11-12).
Paul’s Teaching: The Apostle Paul vigorously argued that physical circumcision is now irrelevant for Christians. The true sign of the New Covenant is not fleshly ritual but the inward work of the Holy Spirit.
The New Sign: The outward sign of entry into the New Covenant community is water baptism (Question 74), which publicly proclaims the believer’s death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ (Question 79).
God's Assurance
God assures you that His covenant promises are based on His faithfulness, and the signs He uses point to the internal reality He desires for you.
"A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly... No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God." — Romans 2:28-29 (NIV)
You are assured that through faith in Christ, you have received the true, spiritual circumcision of the heart, making you complete in Him.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not seek external rituals as a substitute for internal transformation. The entire purpose of the physical sign of circumcision was to point to the need for a new heart. Rejoice that as a Christian, you have received the true circumcision—the Holy Spirit's work of cutting sin from your heart, which makes you a true child of God.
