what does the bible say about circumcision

The Bible teaches that circumcision is a significant covenant sign between God and Abraham and his descendants. In Genesis 17:10-14, God commands Abraham that every male among his descendants must be circumcised as a physical mark of the everlasting covenant between them. This act serves as a sign of faithfulness and obedience to God. The command specifies circumcision to be performed on the eighth day after birth and applies to male offspring and even servants born in the household or purchased from foreigners. Those who do not undergo circumcision are said to have broken the covenant and face being cut off from their people. Beyond its physical aspect, circumcision also has a spiritual symbolism. It represents not only the cutting away of flesh but also metaphorically the cutting away of sin and the purification of the heart. In Deuteronomy and Jeremiah, the Bible uses circumcision of the heart as a call to internalize one's commitment to God and to have a repentant, obedient heart rather than mere external compliance. In the New Testament, circumcision is referenced as a sign of righteousness by faith, as seen in Romans, but it is also clarified that believers in Christ are justified by faith and not by physical circumcision alone. This shows a transition from the Old Covenant physical sign to the New Covenant spiritual meaning. In summary, circumcision in the Bible is a covenant sign with both physical and spiritual import—initially establishing God's covenant with Abraham's descendants and later representing an inward spiritual renewal and faith in God.