Arcana Coelestia # 2056
2056. And the uncircumcised male. That this signifies one who is not in the truth of faith, is evident from the signification of a “male,” as being the truth of faith (see above, n. 2046); the “uncircumcised male” therefore here signifies one who is not in the truth of faith, and who is thereby in what is false. That is said to be “uncircumcised” which obstructs and defiles, as before said. When said of the “male,” it is that which obstructs and defiles truth; and in like manner when it is said of any other subject, it signifies the darkening and contamination of that subject. Thus an “uncircumcised ear” is mentioned in Jeremiah:
Upon whom shall I speak and testify, and they will hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken; behold the Word of Jehovah is become unto them a reproach; they do not desire it (Jeremiah 6:10).
Their “ear being uncircumcised” means that there was no hearkening, and that the Word was a reproach unto them.
[2] Moreover the verse before us treats of those who are within the church, and who are not only in falsity, but also in the impurity of the loves of self and of the world; for these things are said in continuation of what was said before. It is therefore said “the uncircumcised male, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin,” and thus the meaning is falsity conjoined with impurity of life. How great a danger of eternal damnation these are incurring may be seen from what was said above (n. 2051). These words especially signify those within the church who profane the goods and truths of faith, of whom it is said, “that soul shall be cut off from his people;” for these can commit profanation, but not those who are outside the church (as has been shown in Part First, n. 593, 1008, 1010, 1059).
Genesis 17
1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless.
2
I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
3
Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,
4
"As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.
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Neither will your name any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
6
I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
7
I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you.
8
I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God."
9
God said to Abraham, "As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations.
10
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11
You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you.
12
He who is eight days old will be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed.
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He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14
The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant."
15
God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah.
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I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her."
17
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, "Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?"
18
Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!"
19
God said, "No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.
20
As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
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But my covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year."
22
When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
23
Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money; every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him.
24
Abraham was ninety-nine years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25
Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26
In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised.
27
All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
