"circumcision, the act or custom of circumcision, Jn. 7:22, 23; Acts 7:8; the state of being circumcised, the being circumcised, Rom. 2:25, 26, 27; 4:10; meton. the circumcision, those who are circumcised, Rom. 3:30; 4:9 met. spiritual circumcision of the heart and affection, Rom...."
Definition and meaning
circumcision, the act or custom of circumcision, Jn. 7:22, 23; Acts 7:8; the state of being circumcised, the being circumcised, Rom. 2:25, 26, 27; 4:10; meton. the circumcision, those who are circumcised, Rom. 3:30; 4:9 met. spiritual circumcision of the heart and affection, Rom. 2:29; Col. 2:11; meton. persons spiritually circumcised, Phil. 3:3 See circumcision.
In the original Greek the word is written: περιτομή
Historical context
John wrote for an audience familiar with both Jewish Scripture and Greek philosophy. The logos — the Word — was a term Greek philosophers used for the rational principle underlying the universe. John takes that concept and says: that logos became a person and lived among us. Crucifixion was the Roman execution method designed to maximize public humiliation, reserved for slaves and rebels.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of peritome (G4061) across the King James Bible.
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.
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?
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
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Common questions
Strong's G4061 (peritome) is a Greek word that means: circumcision, the act or custom of circumcision, Jn. 7:22, 23; Acts 7:8; the state of being circumcised, the being circumcised, Rom. 2:25, 26, 27; 4:10; meton. the circumcision, those who are circumci... It appears 32 times in the King James Bible.
The word peritome (G4061) appears 32 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4061 is peritome, a Greek word defined as: circumcision, the act or custom of circumcision, Jn. 7:22, 23; Acts 7:8; the state of being circumcised, the being circumcised, Rom. 2:25, 26, 27; 4:1. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
peritome is a Greek word found in the New Testament.