Strong's Lexicon orlah: Foreskin, uncircumcision Original Word: עָרְלָה Word Origin: Derived from the root עָרַל (aral), meaning "to be uncircumcised" or "to be covered." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G203 (ἀκροβυστία, akrobystia): Refers to uncircumcision, used in the New Testament to describe Gentiles or those not part of the Jewish covenant community (e.g., Romans 2:25-27). Usage: The term "orlah" primarily refers to the foreskin, the part of the male anatomy that is removed during the ritual of circumcision. In a broader sense, it symbolizes a state of being uncircumcised, which in the Hebrew Bible often carries connotations of being outside the covenant community of Israel. The term is also used metaphorically to describe a state of spiritual insensitivity or impurity. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, circumcision was a physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants (Genesis 17:10-14). It was a critical rite of passage for Jewish males, symbolizing their inclusion in the covenant community. The practice distinguished the Israelites from surrounding nations and was a mark of their unique relationship with God. The concept of "orlah" extended beyond the physical to represent spiritual and moral states, often used to describe the hearts of those who were resistant to God's will (e.g., Jeremiah 9:25-26). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition foreskin NASB Translation forbidden (1), foreskin (7), foreskins (4), Gibeath-haaraloth* (1), uncircumcised (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs עָרְלָה16 noun feminine foreskin; — ׳ע Genesis 34:14; Jeremiah 9:24; construct עָרְלַת Exodus 4:25; Deuteronomy 10:16, etc.; plural הָעֲרָלוֺת (not ׳ֳ) Joshua 5:3 (Köii. 1, 158); construct עָרְלוֺת Jeremiah 4:4 2t.; עָרְלֹתֵיהֶם 1 Samuel 18:27; — foreskin 1 Samuel 18:25,27; 2 Samuel 3:14, compare נִּבְעַת הָעֲרָלוֺם Joshua 5:3 hill of the foreskins, near Gilgal; of circumcision, ׳כרת ע Exodus 4:25 (J), ׳בְּשַׂר ע Genesis 17:11 5t. P (see II. מוּל), אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר ׳לוֺ ע Genesis 34:14 (P), i.e. one uncircumcised; compare Jeremiah 9:24; figurative of fruit trees, עָרְלָתוֺ Leviticus 19:23 (P; see [ עָרַל]; figurative of heart, לבב ׳ע Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance foreskin, uncircumcised Feminine of arel; the prepuce -- foreskin, + uncircumcised. see HEBREW arel Forms and Transliterations בְּעָרְלָֽה׃ בערלה׃ הָעֲרָלֽוֹת׃ הערלות׃ עָרְל֣וֹת עָרְל֥וֹת עָרְלַ֣ת עָרְלַתְכֶ֑ם עָרְלָ֑ה עָרְלָת֔וֹ עָרְלָת֖וֹ עָרְלָתָ֗ם עָרְלָתֽוֹ׃ עָרְלֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם ערלה ערלות ערלת ערלתו ערלתו׃ ערלתיהם ערלתכם ערלתם ‘ā·rə·lā·ṯām ‘ā·rə·lā·ṯōw ‘ā·rə·lāh ‘ā·rə·laṯ ‘ā·rə·laṯ·ḵem ‘ā·rə·lō·ṯê·hem ‘ā·rə·lō·wṯ ‘ārəlāh ‘ārəlaṯ ‘ārəlāṯām ‘ārəlaṯḵem ‘ārəlāṯōw ‘ārəlōṯêhem ‘ārəlōwṯ areLah areLat arelaTam arelatChem arelaTo areLot areLoteiHem bə‘ārəlāh bə·‘ā·rə·lāh beareLah hā‘ărālōwṯ hā·‘ă·rā·lō·wṯ haaraLotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 17:11 HEB: אֵ֖ת בְּשַׂ֣ר עָרְלַתְכֶ֑ם וְהָיָה֙ לְא֣וֹת NAS: in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign KJV: the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token INT: shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin become shall be the sign Genesis 17:14 Genesis 17:23 Genesis 17:24 Genesis 17:25 Genesis 34:14 Exodus 4:25 Leviticus 12:3 Leviticus 19:23 Deuteronomy 10:16 Joshua 5:3 1 Samuel 18:25 1 Samuel 18:27 2 Samuel 3:14 Jeremiah 4:4 Jeremiah 9:25 16 Occurrences |