ἀκρο-βυστία G0203
Uncircumcision; the state of having a foreskin, and by metonymy, the uncircumcised as a collective group.
A distinctly Pauline term appearing almost exclusively in Romans and Galatians, akrobystia denotes the physical state of being uncircumcised and, by extension, Gentile identity itself. Paul's radical argument in Romans 2:25-27 is that law-keeping uncircumcision will be reckoned as circumcision, effectively dissolving the boundary marker. The term carries both a literal anatomical meaning and a powerful theological-ethnic connotation. Spanish distinguishes between 'incircuncision' (the abstract state) and 'prepucio' (the physical foreskin), while French and German consistently use 'prepuce/Vorhaut,' hinting that the concrete anatomical sense underlies even the abstract usage.
Senses
1. uncircumcision — The state or condition of being uncircumcised, and by collective metonymy, the uncircumcised peoples (i.e., Gentiles). Dominates Pauline theological argumentation: in Romans 2:25-27, akrobystia is set in direct antithesis to peritome as Paul dismantles the circumcision/uncircumcision divide. In Galatians 5:6 and 6:15, neither circumcision nor akrobystia counts for anything. Spanish 'incircuncision' and the theological registers across languages confirm this as the abstract, identity-marking sense. 19×
AR["الغُرلَةَ", "الغُرلَةُ", "الغُرلَةِ", "الغُرْلَةُ", "غُرلَةً", "غُرلَةٌ", "غُرلَةِ", "غُرلَتُهُ", "غُرْلَةٍ", "قلفَةً"]·ben["অছেদনা", "অছেদনায়", "অত্বকছেদ", "অত্বকছেদহীনতা", "অত্বকছেদহীনতা,", "অত্বকছেদহীনতায়", "অত্বকছেদহীনতায়,", "অত্বকছেদহীনতায়?", "অত্বকছেদহীনতায়।", "অত্বকছেদহীনতার?", "অসুন্নত;", "অসুন্নতি", "অসুন্নতিতে", "অসুন্নতের,"]·DE["Vorhaut"]·EN["uncircumcision"]·FR["Vorhaut", "prépuce"]·heb["הָ-עָרְלָה", "עָרְלָה", "עָרְלָה;"]·HI["अखतना", "अखतनेपन", "खतनरहित;", "खतनरहितोन,", "खतनारहित", "खतनारहित-को", "खतनारहित-होना"]·ID["ketidak-bersunat", "ketidak-bersunat,", "ketidak-bersunat.", "ketidak-bersunat?", "ketidakbersunat", "tidak bersunat", "tidak-bersunat", "tidak-sunat", "yang-tidak-bersunat", "yang-tidak-bersunat,", "yang-tidak-bersunat?"]·IT["prepuzio"]·jav["mboten-sunat;", "mboten-tetak", "mboten-tetak,", "mboten-tetak.", "mboten-tetak?", "ora-tetak", "tanpa-sunat", "tiyang-ingkang-mboten-sunat,"]·KO["무할례", "무할례-안에", "무할례;", "무할례는", "무할례의,"]·PT["incircuncisão"]·RU["необрезание", "необрезанием", "необрезании", "необрезания"]·ES["incircuncisión"]·SW["kutokutahiriwa", "kutotahiriwa", "wasiotahiriwa"]·TR["o-", "suennetsizligi", "suennetsizlik", "suennetsizlik,", "sunnet-edilmemisler", "sunnetsizlik", "sunnetssizliginde", "sünnetsizlere", "sünnetsizleri", "sünnetsizlik", "sünnetsizlikte", "sünnetsizlikteki", "sünnetsizliğin"]·urd["بے-ختنہ", "غیر-ختنوں", "غیر-ختنگی", "نا-ختنہ", "نا-ختنہ-میں", "نا-ختنہ-والوں-کو", "نامختونی"]
2. uncircumcision — The physical foreskin itself, with emphasis on the concrete, bodily reality rather than the abstract state or ethnic category. In Acts 11:3, Peter is challenged specifically for eating with men 'having foreskin' (akrobystian echontas), where the focus is on the physical mark distinguishing the uncircumcised. Spanish shifts to 'prepucio' (foreskin) rather than the abstract 'incircuncision,' and French and German likewise use 'prepuce/Vorhaut,' underscoring the concrete anatomical reference. 1×
AR["غُرْلَةً"]·ben["অগ্রত্বচর্মযুক্ত"]·DE["ἀκροβυστίαν"]·EN["uncircumcision"]·FR["prépuce"]·heb["עָרְלָה"]·HI["खतनारहित"]·ID["tidak-bersunat"]·IT["prepuzio"]·jav["boten-tetak"]·KO["포피를"]·RU["необрезание"]·ES["prepucio"]·SW["kutotahiriwa"]·TR["sünnetsizliği"]·urd["نامختون"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀκρο-βυστία, ἡ, foreskin, LXX+1st c.AD+ __II state of having the foreskin, uncircumcision, NT __II.2 collective, the uncircumcised, Refsbuśtu 'pudenda', Heb. bōsheth 'shame': wrongly derived from ἄκρος, βύω by Refs