H4135a H4135a
To circumcise; by extension, to cut off or destroy, and (rarely) to wither or fade.
At its heart a covenant verb: the physical act of circumcision that marked Abraham's descendants as God's own people. Genesis 17 uses it repeatedly in both active and passive forms as the sign of the eternal covenant. Yet the same root carries a powerful metaphorical charge — 'circumcise the foreskin of your heart' (Deut 10:16) — where the cutting becomes spiritual renewal. Spanish consistently renders it 'circuncidar,' while German uses 'beschneiden' (to cut around). In three consecutive verses of Psalm 118:10-12, a militant sense emerges: 'I cut them off!' And in one isolated use (Ps 90:6), the root appears to mean 'wither,' perhaps linking the idea of cutting to the fading of grass.
Senses
1. be circumcised (Nifal/passive) — The Nifal or passive sense: being circumcised, undergoing circumcision, or being in the state of having been circumcised. Genesis 17:10-14 establishes the covenantal requirement that every male 'be circumcised.' French uses reflexive constructions ('être circoncis'), mirroring the Nifal's middle-passive voice. This sense covers both the physical rite and the resulting state that marks covenant membership. 20×
AR["اخْتُتِنَ", "اخْتُتِنُوا", "اِخْتَتِنُوا", "بِ-أَنْ-تَخْتَتِنُوا", "بِ-أَنْ-يَخْتَتِنَ", "خِتَانًا", "عِنْدَ-اخْتِتَانِهِ", "فَلْيُخْتَنْ", "لِ-لِاخْتِتانِ", "لِ-يُختَنوا", "مَختونينَ", "مَخْتُونٍ", "مَخْتُونُونَ", "وَ-اخْتَتَنُوا", "يُخْتَنُ"]·ben["-সুন্নত-করাতে-তার", "আর-সুন্নত-করাল", "ছেদন-করা-হবে", "সুন্নত", "সুন্নত-কর", "সুন্নত-করা", "সুন্নত-করা-হবে", "সুন্নত-করা-হবেই", "সুন্নত-করা-হল", "সুন্নত-করাতে", "সুন্নত-করাতে-হবে", "সুন্নত-হতে"]·DE["[המלו]", "[מול]", "als-er-beschnitten-wurde", "beschnitt", "beschnitten-sind", "beschnitten-werden", "beschnitten-werden-", "beschnitten-wird", "euch-beschneiden-zu-lassen", "euch-zu-beschneiden", "lass-sein-beschnitt", "soll-beschnitten-werden", "soll-sein-beschnitt", "und-beschnitten-sich", "wenn-beschnitten-wird", "wurde-beschnitten", "wurden-beschnitten", "zu-sein-beschnitt"]·EN["and-they-were-circumcised", "circumcise-yourselves", "circumcised", "is-circumcised", "let-be-circumcised", "shall-be-circumcised", "surely-circumcised", "the-circumcised", "to-be-circumcised", "was-circumcised", "were-circumcised", "when-is-circumcised", "when-was-circumcised-he", "will-be-circumcised"]·FR["--être-circoncit", "[המלו]", "[מול]", "certes-circoncit", "circoncit", "devra-être-circoncit", "est-circoncit", "et-ils-étaient-circoncit", "quand-est-circoncit", "quand-était-circoncit-il", "que-être-circoncit", "à-être-circoncit", "étaient-circoncit", "était-circoncit"]·heb["ב-המול", "ב-המלו-ו", "הימול", "הימולו", "המול", "המול ׀", "ו-ימלו", "ימול", "ל-הימול", "ל-המול", "ל-המל", "מול", "נימולים", "נמול", "נמלו", "נמלים"]·HI["और-खतना-किए-गए-उन्होंने", "खतन-हुअ", "खतन-हुए", "खतन-हो", "खतन-होग", "खतन-होन-", "खतन-होने-पर", "खतना की जाएगी", "खतना-करना", "खतना-कराने-के-लिए", "खतना-कराने-को", "खतना-कराने-में", "खतना-करो", "खतना-किए-हुए", "खतना-किए-हुए-हैं", "खतना-हुए"]·ID["Berkhitanlah", "dan-disunatlah", "dengan-disunat", "disunat", "disunat-mereka", "disunatlah", "harus-disunat", "ketika-disunat-dia", "pasti-", "untuk-disunat", "yang-disunat"]·IT["[המלו]", "[מול]", "a-essere-circoncise", "a-essere-circumcised", "certamente-circoncise", "circoncise", "circumcised", "dovra-essere-circoncise", "e-essi-furono-circoncise", "fu-circoncise", "furono-circoncise", "let-essere-circoncise", "quando-fu-circoncise-egli", "quando-è-circoncise", "will-essere-circoncise", "è-circoncise"]·jav["dipun-sunat", "dipunsunat", "dipunsupitaken", "lan-piyambakipun-sami-dipunsunat", "nalika-dipunsunat", "nalika-dipunsunat-piyambakipun", "sami-dipunsunat", "sunata-", "supados-dipunsunat", "tetak", "tetaka"]·KO["그가-할례받을-때에", "그리고-할례를-받았다", "반드시-", "할례-받은-자를", "할례를-받으려고", "할례를-받으면", "할례를-받은", "할례받게-하라", "할례받기를", "할례받다", "할례받라-", "할례받아라-", "할례받았다", "할례받은-자들이었다", "할례받을-것이다", "할례하라"]·PT["Circuncidai-vos", "Circuncidando", "Ser-circuncidado", "circuncidado", "circuncidados", "circuncidar-se-á", "de-ser-circuncidado", "e-circuncidaram-se", "em-circuncidar", "em-ser-circuncidado-ele", "foi-circuncidado", "for-circuncidado", "foram-circuncidados", "para-circuncidar", "será-circuncidada", "será-circuncidado"]·RU["Обрезывая", "будет-обрезан", "да-будет-обрезан", "и-обрезались", "когда-обрежется", "когда-обрезался-он", "обрежется", "обрежьтесь", "обрезались", "обрезался", "обрезанного", "обрезаны", "обрезаться", "обрезывать", "пусть-будет-обрезана"]·ES["Circuncidaos", "al-circuncidarse", "circuncidado", "circuncidados", "de-ser-circuncidados", "fue-circuncidado", "fueron-circuncidados", "para-circuncidar", "para-circuncidarse", "sea-circuncidado", "ser-circuncidado", "será-circuncidada", "será-circuncidado", "y-se-circuncidaron"]·SW["Kutahiriwa", "Lazima-atahiriwe", "alipotahiriwa", "alitahiriwa", "atatahiriwa", "awe-ametahiriwa", "kumbe", "kutahiriwa", "kuwa", "tahirini", "wakakufa", "walikuwa-wametahiriwa", "waliotahiriwa", "walitahiriwa"]·TR["kesinlikle-", "sünnet-edildi", "sünnet-edildiler", "sünnet-edilecek", "sünnet-edilirse", "sünnet-edilmek", "sünnet-edilmesinde", "sünnet-edilsin", "sünnet-edin", "sünnet-olmaya", "sünnetli", "ve-sünnet-oldular"]·urd["اور-ختنہ-کیا", "ختنہ-سے", "ختنہ-شدہ", "ختنہ-ضرور", "ختنہ-کرانے", "ختنہ-کرانے-سے", "ختنہ-کرو", "ختنہ-کیا-جائے", "ختنہ-کیا-جائےگا", "ختنہ-کیے-ہوئے-ہیں", "ختنہ-ہو-گا", "ختنہ-ہوئے", "ختنہ-ہوا", "ختنہ-ہونے-پر-اُس-کے"]
2. circumcise (Qal active) — The Qal active sense: performing the act of circumcision upon someone. Abraham circumcised his household (Gen 17:23), and subsequently his son Isaac on the eighth day (Gen 21:4). Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6 extend this into metaphor — circumcising the heart — where the physical cutting becomes a figure for removing spiritual obstinacy. Spanish 'circuncidar' and German 'beschneiden' both preserve the 'cutting around' etymology. 10×
AR["خَتَنَ", "وَ-تَخْتِنُهُ", "وَ-خَتَنَ", "وَتَخْتِنُونَ", "وَيَخْتِنُ", "يُختَنوا"]·ben["এবং-তোমরা-ত্বকছেদ-করবে", "এবং-সুন্নত-করবে", "এবং-সুন্নত-করবেন", "এবং-সুন্নত-করল", "এবং-সুন্নত-করলেন", "ও-সুন্নত-করলেন", "সুন্নত-করলেন", "সুন্নত-করা-হয়েছিল", "সুন্নত-করেছিলেন"]·DE["beschnitt", "sie-beschnitt", "und-beschnitt", "und-circumcises", "und-du-beschneiden", "und-du-soll-beschneiden", "und-er-beschnitt"]·EN["and-circumcised", "and-circumcises", "and-he-circumcised", "and-you-circumcise", "and-you-shall-circumcise", "circumcised", "they-circumcised"]·FR["circoncit", "et-circoncit", "et-circumcises", "et-il-circoncit", "et-tu-circoncire", "et-tu-devra-circoncire", "ils-circoncit"]·heb["ו-ימל", "ו-מל", "ו-מלתה", "ו-מלתם", "מל", "מלו"]·HI["और-खतन-किय", "और-खतना-करेगा", "और-खतना-करो", "और-खतना-किया", "खतना-किए-गए-थे", "खतना-किया"]·ID["Dan-menyunat", "Dan-sunatlah", "dan-menyunat", "dan-menyunatkanlah", "dan-sunatilah", "disunat", "menyunat", "mereka-sunat"]·IT["circumcised", "e-circoncise", "e-circumcises", "e-egli-circumcised", "e-tu-circoncidere", "e-tu-dovra-circoncidere", "essi-circumcised"]·jav["Lan-nyunati", "Lan-nyupiti", "Lan-supita", "dipunsupitaken", "lan-nyunat", "lan-nyupitaken", "lan-panjenengan-nyunat", "nyupitaken"]·KO["그리고-할례하라", "그리고-할례하시리라", "그리고-할례하였다", "그리고-할례해라", "그리고-할례했다", "할례받지", "할례하였다", "할례하지"]·PT["E-circuncidareis", "E-circuncidou", "circuncidaram", "circuncidou", "e-circuncidará", "e-circuncidarás", "e-circuncidou", "os-circuncidaram"]·RU["И-обрежет", "И-обрежьте", "И-обрезал", "были-обрезаны", "и-обрежешь", "и-обрезал", "обрезал", "обрезали"]·ES["Y-circuncidaréis", "Y-circuncidó", "circuncidó", "fueron-circuncidados", "los-circuncidaron", "y-circuncidará", "y-circuncidarás", "y-circuncidó"]·SW["Na-atatahiri", "Tahirini", "alitahiri", "aliwatahiri", "na-akabethali", "na-akawatahiri", "na-umtahiri", "tahiriwa"]·TR["Ve-sünnet-etti", "sünnet-edildiler", "sünnet-etti", "sünnet-ettiler", "ve-sünnet-edecek", "ve-sünnet-edeceksiniz", "ve-sünnet-edersen", "ve-sünnet-etti"]·urd["اور-ختنہ-کرو", "اور-ختنہ-کرےگا", "اور-ختنہ-کیا", "ختنہ-کیا", "ختنہ-کیا-تھا", "ختنہ-ہوئے"]
3. cut off, destroy (Hifil) — A Hifil causative sense meaning to cut off or destroy enemies, attested only in Psalm 118:10-12 where the psalmist declares three times: 'In the name of the LORD I cut them off!' The triple repetition with escalating imagery (nations, surrounding nations, swarming like bees) gives this usage rhetorical force far removed from the covenantal ceremony. 3×
AR["أَقطَعُهُم"]·ben["-তাদের", "আমি-কেটে-ফেলেছিলাম", "কারণ"]·DE["ich-abgeschnitten-ihnen-weg"]·EN["I-cut-them-off"]·FR["circoncire"]·heb["אמילם"]·HI["काट-डालूँगा-उनको"]·ID["aku-memotong-mereka"]·IT["circoncise"]·jav["kula-ngremuk-tiyang-tiyang-punika"]·KO["끊으리라-그들-을"]·PT["as-destruirei"]·RU["отсеку-их"]·ES["las-destruiré"]·SW["nitawakatilia-mbali"]·TR["keseceğim-onları"]·urd["اُنہیں-کاٹ-دیا"]
4. wither, fade (Piel) — A rare sense meaning to wither or fade, found only in Psalm 90:6 where grass flourishes in the morning and by evening 'withers and dries up.' Some lexicographers assign this to a separate root (malal III), but the textual tradition preserves it under mul. The connection may lie in the shared idea of cutting — as vegetation is cut down, it withers. 1×
AR["يَذْبُلُ"]·ben["তা-ম্লান-হয়"]·DE["es-welkt"]·EN["it-withers"]·FR["circoncire"]·heb["ימולל"]·HI["मुरझाता-है"]·ID["layu"]·IT["circoncise"]·jav["layu"]·KO["시들고"]·PT["murcha"]·RU["увядает"]·ES["se-marchita"]·SW["yananyauka"]·TR["soluyor"]·urd["مرجھاتا-ہے"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. [מוּל] vb. circumcise (NH id.; 𝔗 מוּל cut off but only seemingly in the dub. passages (v. III. [מָלַל] and Comm.) Jb 14:2; 18:16; 24:24 [ms. Levy], ψ 37:2; 90:6. (grass, etc.: only for iii. מָלַל, q.v.); cf. NH מָהַל, Aramaic מְהַל, according to Thes NöZMG xl. 1886, 741 Baib. xli. 1887, 626 v. also מהל supr.);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. מָל Jos 5:4 + 2 times; 2 ms. מַלְתָּה Ex 12:44; 3 mpl. מָ֫לוּ Jos…