And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

GENESIS 17:11KJV
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Genesis 17:11 (KJV)

What does Genesis 17:11 mean?

Genesis 17:11 says that circumcision will be a physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants. God instructs Abraham to circumcise the flesh of the foreskin as a way to mark this special agreement.

In this verse, God is speaking directly to Abraham, explaining how the covenant will be marked in a visible, bodily way. The act of circumcision is not just a ritual but a “token” or sign that sets Abraham’s family apart as people in a unique relationship with God. This command comes as part of a larger conversation where God promises to bless Abraham and his descendants.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 17:11

  • The word for “circumcise” is נָמַל (namal), which means to cut off or remove. This action is central to the sign God gives Abraham, making the covenant visible in the body.
  • “Flesh” is בָּשָׂר (basar), meaning the physical body. The focus on the flesh underlines that this is a concrete, physical sign, not just a spiritual or symbolic one.
  • “Foreskin” is עָרְלָה (orlah), which specifically refers to the part of the male anatomy to be removed. Naming it directly shows the exactness of the command.
  • “Token” is אוֹת (ot), meaning a sign or mark. This word often points to something visible that represents a deeper promise or agreement.
  • “Covenant” is בְּרִית (berit), which means a binding agreement or promise, often used for God’s formal relationships with people in the Hebrew Bible.

Why Genesis 17:11 matters

  • Genesis 17:11 clarifies that the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants is meant to be marked in a way that is both personal and communal, not just a private belief.
  • The verse shows that the sign of the covenant is chosen by God, not invented by people, emphasizing God’s initiative in the relationship.
  • This verse connects to the larger story of Abraham, showing how God’s promises are tied to specific actions and rituals that shape the identity of a whole community.

Where else these words appear

“circumcise” Hebrew H5243 · used in 5 verses

  • Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
  • Job 18:16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
  • Job 24:24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

“foreskin” Hebrew H6190 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
  • Exodus 4:25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.
  • 1 Samuel 18:25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

“token” Hebrew H226 · used in 77 verses

  • Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
  • Deuteronomy 4:34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
  • Psalms 65:8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.