ΠΕΡΙΤΟΜΗ
Circumcision, an ancient practice with deep historical and religious roots, stands as one of the most emblematic symbols of Jewish identity. From God's command to Abraham to the theological debates of the Apostle Paul, the concept of circumcision evolved from a physical act into a metaphorical 'circumcision of the heart'. Its lexarithmos (613) suggests a connection to the idea of a separating act and the establishment of boundaries.
REPORT ERRORDefinition
According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, περιτομή (from περί + τέμνω) literally means 'a cutting around' and refers to the practice of removing the foreskin. This practice, though present in various ancient cultures (Egyptians, Syrians), acquired unique and central significance in Judaism as the visible sign of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:10-14).
In the Old Testament, circumcision was not merely a hygienic or customary act, but a sacred ritual that defined inclusion in the community of Israel and the relationship with Yahweh. Its omission meant exclusion from the covenant. Its importance was so great that the term 'circumcision' was often used as a metonymy for Jews or Judaism as a whole, in contrast to the 'uncircumcised' Gentiles.
The New Testament, and particularly the Apostle Paul, radically redefined the concept of circumcision. Paul argued that physical circumcision no longer held salvific value for Christians. Instead, he introduced the concept of 'circumcision of the heart' (Romans 2:29), an internal, spiritual transformation achieved through the Holy Spirit and faith in Christ, rather than through adherence to the Law. This theological shift was crucial for the spread of Christianity to the Gentiles and its distinction from Judaism.
Etymology
From the same root tem-/tom- derive many words related to the act of cutting, separating, or dividing. Examples include the verb 'τέμνω' (to cut), the noun 'τομή' (a cut, section), 'τόμος' (a section, volume), 'ἀνατομή' (dissection, anatomy), 'ἐκτομή' (excision), and 'ἐπιτομή' (abridgment, epitome). These words highlight the productivity of the root in the Greek language to describe various forms of separation and division.
Main Meanings
- The act of removing the foreskin — The literal, physical act of cutting the skin covering the glans penis.
- Religious ritual and sign of covenant — In Judaism, circumcision as a sacred command and visible symbol of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17).
- Ethnic and religious identity — Circumcision as a distinguishing mark of the Jews, setting them apart from the 'uncircumcised' Gentiles.
- Metonymy for Judaism — Use of the term 'circumcision' to refer to the Jews or the Jewish religion as a whole (e.g., Romans 15:8).
- Spiritual or 'circumcision of the heart' — The metaphorical meaning of inner purification, devotion to God, and obedience to the Spirit, as taught by Paul (Romans 2:29).
- The new covenant in Christ — In the New Testament, spiritual circumcision as the true circumcision associated with Christian faith rather than adherence to the Mosaic Law (Colossians 2:11).
Word Family
tem-/tom- (root of the verb τέμνω, meaning 'to cut')
The root tem-/tom- is one of the fundamental roots of the Ancient Greek language, expressing the concept of cutting, separating, or dividing. From this root derives a rich family of words describing various forms of cutting, division, or severance, both literally and metaphorically. The vowel alternation (e-grade in τέμνω, o-grade in τομή/τόμος) is characteristic of Greek morphology and allows for the creation of different grammatical forms and meanings from the same basic concept. Each member of the family develops a specific aspect of the original meaning of cutting.
Philosophical Journey
The concept of circumcision has traversed a long and complex historical and theological journey:
In Ancient Texts
Three significant passages highlighting the evolution of the concept of circumcision:
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΠΕΡΙΤΟΜΗ is 613, from the sum of its letter values:
613 is a prime number — indivisible, a quality the Pythagoreans considered the mark of pure essence.
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΠΕΡΙΤΟΜΗ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 613 | Prime number |
| Decade Numerology | 1 | 6+1+3=10 — Decad, the number of completeness and perfection, often associated with commandments and covenant. |
| Letter Count | 8 | 8 letters — Octad, the number of regeneration and new beginnings, as circumcision was performed on the eighth day. |
| Cumulative | 3/10/600 | Units 3 · Tens 10 · Hundreds 600 |
| Odd/Even | Odd | Masculine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | P-E-R-I-T-O-M-E | Purity, Eternal, Righteous, Inner, Transformation, Obedience, Moral, Edict (interpretive) |
| Grammatical Groups | 3V · 5C · 0A | 3 vowels (E, I, O), 5 consonants (P, R, T, M, H), 0 aspirates. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Mars ♂ / Taurus ♉ | 613 mod 7 = 4 · 613 mod 12 = 1 |
Isopsephic Words (613)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (613) but different roots:
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 55 words with lexarithmos 613. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, with a revised supplement. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1996.
- Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W. — A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG). University of Chicago Press, 2000.
- Louw, J. P., Nida, E. A. — Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains. United Bible Societies, 1988.
- Kittel, G., Friedrich, G. — Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT). Eerdmans, 1964-1976.
- Brown, F., Driver, S. R., Briggs, C. A. — A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (BDB). Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1906.
- Septuaginta — Rahlfs-Hanhart Edition. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2006.
- Nestle-Aland — Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012.