Uncircumcised, (עָרֵל i.e. having a foreskin, ἀκροβυστίαν ἔχων; and so ἀκροβυστία, the prepuce, alone, for “uncircumcision”), a word literally denoting a heathen among the Jews. So also it is sometimes used figuratively “of uncircumcised lips,” i.e. dull of speech; stammering, one whose lips still have, as it were, the foreskin, and are therefore too thick and large to bring out words easily and fluently (Exodus 6:12,30). So, likewise “their ear is uncircumcised,” shut up by a foreskin (Jeremiah 6:10); also “their uncircumcised heart,” to which the precepts of religion and piety cannot penetrate (Leviticus 26:41; Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4; Ezekiel 44:9; Isaiah 6:10; Acts 7:51; James 1:21; Colossians 2:13). So, also, “the foreskin of a tree” i.e. uncircumcised fruit, the fruit of the first three years, which by the law was to be regarded as unclean (Leviticus 19:23). SEE CIRCUMCISION.
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Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia
Keywords: Uncircumcised, foreskin, circumcision, uncircumcized
Bible reference(s): Acts 7:51, Colossians 2:13, Deuteronomy 10:16, Exodus 6:12, Ezekiel 44:9, Isaiah 6:10, James 1:21, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 6:10, Leviticus 19:23, Leviticus 26:41
Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.