Leviticus 12:3

Authorized King James Version

And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּבַיּ֖וֹם
day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#2
הַשְּׁמִינִ֑י
And in the eighth
eight
#3
יִמּ֖וֹל
shall be circumcised
to cut short, i.e., curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e., to circumcise); by implication, to blunt; figuratively, to destroy
#4
בְּשַׂ֥ר
the flesh
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
#5
עָרְלָתֽוֹ׃
of his foreskin
the prepuce

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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