经文研读
Genesis 17:10-14 — The Covenant Sign of Circumcision
God commands every male in Abraham's household to be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin as the physical sign of the everlasting covenant.
经文
- 10.你 們 所 有 的 男 子 都 要 受 割 禮 ； 這 就 是 我 與 你 並 你 的 後 裔 所 立 的 約 ， 是 你 們 所 當 遵 守 的 。This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised.
- 11.你 們 都 要 受 割 禮 ( 原 文 作 割 陽 皮 ；14 ，23 ，24 ，25 節 同 ) ； 這 是 我 與 你 們 立 約 的 證 據 。And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt me and you.
- 12.你 們 世 世 代 代 的 男 子 ， 無 論 是 家 裡 生 的 ， 是 在 你 後 裔 之 外 用 銀 子 從 外 人 買 的 ， 生 下 來 第 八 日 ， 都 要 受 割 禮 。And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner that is not of thy seed.
- 13.你 家 裡 生 的 和 你 用 銀 子 買 的 ， 都 必 須 受 割 禮 。 這 樣 ， 我 的 約 就 立 在 你 們 肉 體 上 作 永 遠 的 約 。He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
- 14.但 不 受 割 禮 的 男 子 必 從 民 中 剪 除 ， 因 他 背 了 我 的 約 。And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
这段经文的意思
Genesis 17:10-14 is the concrete enactment of the covenant announced in the preceding verses. After promising to be God to Abraham and his offspring and to give them the land of Canaan (vv. 7-8), God now specifies the obligation Abraham's side must keep: every male among them must be circumcised. The Hebrew word translated "covenant" (בְּרִית) marks a binding relationship, and the passage makes clear that the sign must be carried out on the body itself — "the flesh of your foreskin" (v. 11).
Verses 12-13 extend the requirement in two directions. First, it applies across generations: a child must be circumcised at eight days old, meaning the obligation is not a one-time adult decision but is built into the life of the family from infancy onward. Second, it applies to everyone within the household, whether born in the house or purchased from a foreigner — household membership, not bloodline alone, brings a person under the sign. Verse 13 calls this "an everlasting covenant," tying the physical act to the permanent promise made in verses 7-8.
Verse 14 states the consequence of refusing the sign: the uncircumcised male "shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." In context, being "cut off" is the covenant penalty for non-compliance. The passage as a whole, therefore, presents circumcision as simultaneously a sign of belonging, a generational obligation, and a boundary marker that distinguishes those who share in God's covenant relationship with Abraham.
背景
The passage sits in the middle of chapter 17, which opens with God's appearance to the ninety-nine-year-old Abram, his renaming to Abraham, and the sweeping promises of descendants, land, and divine presence (vv. 1-8). Verses 9-14 then move from promise to obligation: God tells Abraham to keep the covenant, and verses 10-14 specify how. The chapter closes in verses 23-27 with Abraham's immediate obedience — he circumcises himself, Ishmael, and every male in his household on the same day, framing 10-14 as a command that is meant to be put into practice without delay.
Within the chapter, the sign is given in tandem with two other covenant elements: the land promise of verses 7-8 and the announcement of Isaac in verses 15-21. The placement suggests that circumcision belongs to the same covenantal structure as land, descendants, and the specific lineage through Sarah — all parts of God's single binding commitment to Abraham.
常见问题
Why is circumcision described as "an everlasting covenant" in Genesis 17:13?
In its context, the phrase ties the physical act to the promises of verses 7-8, which are themselves called an "everlasting covenant." The sign is described as everlasting because it is to be repeated in every generation and is the bodily mark of a permanent relationship between God and Abraham's offspring.
Who is required to be circumcised according to verses 10-14?
The passage requires circumcision of every male among Abraham's people — those born in the household and those purchased from foreigners — beginning at eight days old, throughout their generations. Household membership, not ethnicity alone, brings a person under the requirement.
What does "cut off from his people" mean in verse 14?
In context, it is the covenant penalty stated by God for refusing the covenant sign. The passage itself does not specify the exact manner of being "cut off," so the reference page does not speculate beyond what the text gives — it frames the consequence as God's stated response to one who "hath broken my covenant."