Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Circumcision in its literal sense was/is the removal (through cutting) of the foreskin from the male penis. It was a ritual instituted by God in Genesis 17:10-14 as the representation of an everlasting covenant between God, Abraham, and the male members of Abraham's household (including his descendants, those born in the household, or those bought with money from a foreigner), to identify them as part of God's chosen people. (In the case of newborn male infants, circumcision was performed at eight days old.)

Paul's figurative reference to this ritual in the passage cited in the question applied the consecration represented by it to the "heart" (that is, the conscious inner emotional being) of Christian individuals (of both sexes) through faith in Christ and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, with the intent of making those individuals as devoted to God as was formerly represented by the original physical act. They were thus not to be "stiff-necked" (that is, disobedient or resistant to God), but submissive to Him and His will.

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Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Meaning of "Circumcise Your Hearts" (Deut. 10:16)
In Deuteronomy 10:16, Moses commands Israel to “circumcise” their hearts, meaning they must remove stubbornness and be fully devoted to God. Physical circumcision was a sign of the covenant (Gen. 17:9–14), but without a true inward transformation, it was meaningless. Moses urges them to undergo a spiritual change—yielding to God’s will with sincerity and love.

Relation to Deuteronomy 10:14-15
Verses 14-15 emphasize God’s sovereignty and love. He owns all creation yet chose Israel out of love, not merit. This divine selection calls for a response—total devotion to Him. Just as Israel was physically marked as God’s people, their hearts needed to reflect true covenant faithfulness.

The Balance of Fear and Love for God
A proper fear and love for God grow from knowing His attributes. As Creator (Col. 1:16), He displayed His power through plagues in Egypt, the Red Sea crossing, and provision in the wilderness. Recognizing His control over creation should lead to trust rather than worry.

Spiritual vs. Physical Circumcision
Israel wrongly emphasized the outward ritual of circumcision while neglecting the inner change it symbolized. The prophets (Jer. 4:4; Ezek. 44:7, 9) and Paul (Rom. 4:9-12; Acts 7:51) reaffirmed that true belonging to God depends on faith and heart transformation, not rituals.

Similarly, today, some trust in external religious acts (baptism, church membership, sacraments) for salvation, but Scripture teaches that true assurance comes from the Holy Spirit's work in the heart (Phil. 3:1-10; Col. 2:9-12). While circumcision removed a small part of flesh, the Spirit removes the entire sinful nature, making believers new in Christ (Col. 2:11; Eph. 1:13; Rom. 8:9, 16).

Conclusion
God’s covenant was never about mere external rituals but about inward transformation. Moses’ call to "circumcise your hearts" is still relevant today—true faith is marked by a heart changed by God, not just outward religious practices.

Sources
NET Bible – Deuteronomy 10:14-16 and cross-references (https://netbible.org)
Bible.org – NET Bible Study Notes on Deuteronomy 10 (https://bible.org)
Commentary by Dr. Thomas L. Constable – Expository Notes on Deuteronomy (https://planobiblechapel.org/constable-notes) from chatgpt

Dr. Tom Constable was my instructor at Dallas Theological Seminary.

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