περιτομή (G4061) — Greek Lexicon

περιτομή

peritomḗ

G4061 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Circumcision—the act or rite of cutting around, specifically the surgical removal of the foreskin; by extension, the state of being circumcised; also used metonymically for those who are circumcised or adhere to the practice. In extended use: refers to a distinct group or identity marker, especially in contrast to those not circumcised (the ἀκροβυστία, 'uncircumcised').

Semantic Range

circumcision (ritual act), state of being circumcised, group identified by circumcision, covenantal or communal marker, distinction from the uncircumcised

Root / Etymology

From the verbal root περιτεμν- (περιτέμνω), meaning 'to cut around', composed of the prefix περί ('around') and the verb τέμνω ('to cut'). The noun suffix -ή forms an abstract noun indicating the result or state of 'cutting around'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, περιτομή refers to the physical act of circumcision, but it is rare outside of contexts relating to Near Eastern peoples. In the Septuagint (LXX), the term appears frequently as a translation of Hebrew מוּל (mul) and is connected to the Israelite initiation rite outlined in Genesis and the Torah. By the Second Temple period, the term no longer refers merely to the surgical act but increasingly serves as an identity marker distinguishing Judeans (and proselytes) from other peoples, often functioning as a metonym for the whole community of those so marked. In the New Testament, especially Paul’s writings, περιτομή commonly contrasts with ἀκροβυστία (foreskin, uncircumcision) not only at a physical level but as social categories, occasionally acquiring symbolic significance regarding group inclusion, covenant participation, and boundary formation. Standard English translations render it 'circumcision', but this can obscure its social and identity functions in ancient texts. The term can refer to (a) the physical act or state, (b) the group identified by the practice, or (c) the abstract concept of identity or religious observance. The translation 'the circumcision' (as a people or party) reflects later interpretive layers, while in contemporary classical Greek, the word could have seemed foreign or unusual outside these specialized contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "circumcision" 36 occurrences

Peritomē primarily denotes the ritual act/state of circumcision and by extension those identified by it. 'Circumcision' is the natural, common English noun that covers the act, the condition, and the group/marker senses in typical New Testament usage (and matches the majority of extant translations and the listed occurrences). Choosing this single headword ensures consistent, natural rendering across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from περιτέμνω; circumcision (the rite, the condition or the people, literally or figuratively):--X circumcised, circumcision.

Root Family

περιτομ- (peritomḗ) — to cut around, to remove by cutting

Root περιτομ- to cut around, to remove by cutting

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4061-03`	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision	15
`G4061-01`	περιτομὴ	peritome	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision	14
`G4061-02`	περιτομήν	peritomen	`N ACC F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision	7

Occurrences in Scripture

36 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4061-02`	John 7:22	περιτομήν	peritomen	`N ACC F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-02`	John 7:23	περιτομὴν	peritomen	`N ACC F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-03`	Acts 7:8	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	of circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-03`	Acts 10:45	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-03`	Acts 11:2	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-01`	Romans 2:25	περιτομὴ	peritome	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-01`	Romans 2:25	περιτομή	peritome-2	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-02`	Romans 2:26	περιτομὴν	peritomen	`N ACC F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-03`	Romans 2:27	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-01`	Romans 2:28	περιτομή	peritome	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-01`	Romans 2:29	περιτομὴ	peritome	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-03`	Romans 3:1	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-02`	Romans 3:30	περιτομὴν	peritomen	`N ACC F SG`	the circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-02`	Romans 4:9	περιτομὴν	peritomen	`N ACC F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-01`	Romans 4:10	περιτομῇ	peritome	`N DAT F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-01`	Romans 4:10	περιτομῇ	peritome-2	`N DAT F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-03`	Romans 4:11	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	of circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-03`	Romans 4:12	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	of circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-03`	Romans 4:12	περιτομῆς	peritomes-2	`N GEN F SG`	the circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-03`	Romans 15:8	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	of the circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-01`	1 Corinthians 7:19	περιτομὴ	peritome	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-03`	Galatians 2:7	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-03`	Galatians 2:8	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-02`	Galatians 2:9	περιτομήν	peritomen	`N ACC F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-03`	Galatians 2:12	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	the circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-01`	Galatians 5:6	περιτομή	peritome	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-02`	Galatians 5:11	περιτομὴν	peritomen	`N ACC F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-01`	Galatians 6:15	περιτομή	peritome	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-03`	Ephesians 2:11	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-01`	Philippians 3:3	περιτομή	peritome	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-01`	Philippians 3:5	περιτομῇ	peritome	`N DAT F SG`	circumcised	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-01`	Colossians 2:11	περιτομῇ	peritome	`N DAT F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-01`	Colossians 2:11	περιτομῇ	peritome-2	`N DAT F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-01`	Colossians 3:11	περιτομὴ	peritome	`N NOM F SG`	circumcision	circumcision	circumcision
`G4061-03`	Colossians 4:11	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	the circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision
`G4061-03`	Titus 1:10	περιτομῆς	peritomes	`N GEN F SG`	circumcision	of circumcision	of circumcision

← G4060 Greek Lexicon G4062 →