Leviticus 12:3
Leviticus 12:3 in Multiple Translations
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.
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
And on the eighth day let him be given circumcision.
The boy's foreskin must be circumcised on the eighth day.
(And in the eight day, the foreskin of the childes flesh shalbe circumcised)
and in the eighth day is the flesh of his foreskin circumcised;
In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
And on the eighth day the infant shall be circumcised:
The baby son must be circumcised on the eighth day after he is born.
Berean Amplified Bible — Leviticus 12:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Leviticus 12:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וּ/בַ/יּ֖וֹם
הַ/שְּׁמִינִ֑י
יִמּ֖וֹל
בְּשַׂ֥ר
עָרְלָתֽ/וֹ
וּ/בַ/יּ֖וֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Conj | Prep | N-ms
הַ/שְּׁמִינִ֑י
shᵉmîynîy
H8066
eighth
Art | Adj
יִמּ֖וֹל
mûwl
H4135
to circumcise
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
בְּשַׂ֥ר
bâsâr
H1320
flesh
N-ms
עָרְלָתֽ/וֹ
ʻorlâh
H6190
foreskin
N-fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Leviticus 12:3
וּ/בַ/יּ֖וֹם
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Conj | Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
הַ/שְּׁמִינִ֑י
shᵉmîynîy
H8066
"eighth"
Art | Adj
The Hebrew word for eighth, used to describe order or sequence, like the eighth day of a festival. It appears in 1 Kings 12:32 and Ezekiel 46:1. This number signifies completion or fulfillment.
Definition: eighth (ordinal number)
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: eight. See also: Exodus 22:29; Numbers 29:35; Zechariah 1:1.
יִמּ֖וֹל
mûwl
H4135
"to circumcise"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
Circumcision is the literal meaning of this word, but it can also imply destruction or cutting off. In Genesis 17:10, God commands Abraham to circumcise all males as a sign of covenant. It represents a physical and spiritual separation.
Definition: 1) to circumcise, let oneself be circumcised, cut, be cut off 1a) (Qal) to circumcise 1b) (Niphal) to be circumcised, circumcise oneself 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to be circumcised 1c1) of destruction (fig.) 1d) (Hithpolel) to be cut off 1e) (Polel) cut down
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: circumcise(-ing), selves), cut down (in pieces), destroy, [idiom] must needs. See also: Genesis 17:10; Leviticus 12:3; Psalms 58:8.
בְּשַׂ֥ר
bâsâr
H1320
"flesh"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for flesh refers to the body or a person, and can also describe living things or animals. In the Bible, it is used to describe humans and animals, as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: 1) flesh 1a) of the body 1a1) of humans 1a2) of animals 1b) the body itself 1c) male organ of generation (euphemism) 1d) kindred, blood-relations 1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God) 1f) all living things 1g) animals 1h) mankind Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)
Usage: Occurs in 241 OT verses. KJV: body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. See also: Genesis 2:21; Numbers 11:21; Psalms 16:9.
עָרְלָתֽ/וֹ
ʻorlâh
H6190
"foreskin"
N-fs | Suff
The Hebrew word for foreskin, referring to being uncircumcised. It appears in various Bible translations as foreskin or uncircumcised, emphasizing the physical and spiritual significance of circumcision in the Bible.
Definition: foreskin, uncircumcised
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: foreskin, [phrase] uncircumcised. See also: Genesis 17:11; Leviticus 19:23; Jeremiah 4:4.
Study Notes — Leviticus 12:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Leviticus 12:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Leviticus 12:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 12:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
- Barnes' Notes on Leviticus 12:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
- Sermons on Leviticus 12:3
Context — Purification after Childbirth
1Then the LORD said to Moses,
2“Say to the Israelites, ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be unclean for seven days, as she is during the days of her menstruation.
3And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.
4The woman shall continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days. She must not touch anything sacred or go into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete. 5If, however, she gives birth to a daughter, the woman will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstruation. Then she must continue in purification from her bleeding for sixty-six days.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 2:21 | When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived. |
| 2 | Luke 1:59 | On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. |
| 3 | John 7:22–23 | But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.) If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath? |
| 4 | Genesis 17:11–12 | You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. |
| 5 | Galatians 5:3 | Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. |
| 6 | Romans 4:11–12 | And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. |
| 7 | Colossians 2:11 | In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. |
| 8 | Philippians 3:5 | circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; |
| 9 | Deuteronomy 30:6 | The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. |
| 10 | Romans 3:19 | Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. |
Leviticus 12:3 Summary
This verse is talking about a special ceremony called circumcision that was performed on baby boys when they were eight days old, as a sign of God's covenant with his people, just like we see in Genesis 17:10-14. It was a way of showing that the child belonged to God and was dedicated to serving him. Just like how a baby is circumcised on the outside, we as believers are called to be circumcised on the inside, in our hearts, as seen in Romans 2:29 and Deuteronomy 10:16. This means we are to be set apart and dedicated to God, living our lives in a way that honors him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was circumcision performed on the eighth day in Leviticus 12:3?
The eighth day was likely chosen because it symbolized a new beginning, and it also allowed for the infant's health to be established before the procedure, as seen in Genesis 17:12 and Genesis 21:4, where God instructed Abraham to circumcise his son Isaac on the eighth day.
Is the practice of circumcision still required for believers today?
The New Testament teaches that physical circumcision is no longer a requirement for believers, as seen in Romans 2:25-29 and Galatians 5:2-6, but rather it is a matter of the heart, as stated in Romans 2:29 and Deuteronomy 10:16.
What is the significance of the foreskin being circumcised in this verse?
The removal of the foreskin symbolized the removal of sin and the dedication of the child to God, as seen in Colossians 2:11-12, where it is compared to the spiritual circumcision of the heart.
How does this verse relate to the covenant God made with Abraham?
This verse is a direct fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, as stated in Genesis 17:10-14, where circumcision was established as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's desire for his people to be set apart and dedicated to him?
- How does the practice of circumcision in this verse relate to the idea of spiritual circumcision in the New Testament?
- What can we learn about the importance of obeying God's commands, even when they may seem difficult or unclear, from this verse?
- How can we apply the principle of dedication and consecration seen in this verse to our own lives and relationships with God?
Gill's Exposition on Leviticus 12:3
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 12:3
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Mankind are not only liable to defilement from without, but have internal causes of pollution lying deep in their nature.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
Which law is here repeated, because the woman’ s uncleanness lasting for seven days, was one, though not the only, reason why the child’ s circumcision was put off till the eighth day.
Trapp's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
Leviticus 12:3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.Ver. 3. And in the eighth day.]
Ellicott's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
(3) And in the eighth day.—When the seven days had passed by during which the mother remained un clean, the boy is to be circumcised, since on the eighth day the first period of her extreme state of impurity ceases, and she no more imparts defilement to whomsoever or to whatsoever she touches. For the rite of circumcision, see Genesis 17:10; Genesis 17:13.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
Verse 3. And in the eighth day] Before this time the child could scarcely be considered as having strength sufficient to bear the operation; after this time it was not necessary to delay it, as the child was not considered to be in covenant with God, and consequently not under the especial protection of the Divine providence and grace, till this rite had been performed. On circumcision See Clarke on Genesis 17:10. Circumcision was to every man a constant, evident sign of the covenant into which he had entered with God, and of the moral obligations under which he was thereby laid. It was also a means of purity, and was especially necessary among a people naturally incontinent, and in a climate not peculiarly favourable to chastity. This is a light in which this subject should ever be viewed, and in which we see the reasonableness, propriety, expediency, and moral tendency of the ceremony.
Barnes' Notes on Leviticus 12:3
On circumcision, see Genesis 17:5 note.
Whedon's Commentary on Leviticus 12:3
3. Foreskin… circumcised — The sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:11) in the excision of a portion of the genitals, expresses with painful emphasis the fact that impurity presides over the very
Sermons on Leviticus 12:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Genesis) Genesis 17:9-14 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the importance of circumcision as a symbol of the Covenant between God and Abraham. He emphasizes that circumcision was not a requirement fo |
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Who Is He in Yonder Stall? by Don Courville | In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about a man who broke the rules of a prison and went down to pray for the inmates individually. He wept and prayed for each person he en |
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(Following the Footsteps of Christ) the Wise Men at Bethlehem by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the problem of understanding the gospel. He refers to the second vision in Gospel chapter 2 and the presentation in verse 22. He also mention |
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(Following the Footsteps of Christ) the Ministry Begins by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being sent by God to preach the gospel. He highlights the role of John the Baptist as a witness to Christ, sent specifical |
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His Name Is Called Jesus by Erlo Stegen | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of staying faithful to God and following His word. He uses the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace |
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All Our Children Belong to the Lord by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the act of dedicating children to the Lord, drawing parallels between Old Testament practices like the dedication of the firstborn and the Passover feast to |
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Two Witnesses by John McGregor | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the story of Simeon and Anna in the Bible and their encounter with baby Jesus. The speaker emphasizes the importance of taking Christ into o |