And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
Every baby boy among you must be circumcised when he is eight days old. This applies to all boys throughout your generations - whether they are born into your household or bought as servants from foreigners who are not your descendants.
God is establishing circumcision as a permanent sign of His covenant with Abraham's people, to be performed on all males in their community when they are eight days old.
📚 Historical Context
In Genesis 17, God makes an everlasting covenant with Abraham, promising to make him the father of many nations and to give him numerous descendants. As a sign of this covenant, God commands that every male child, including those born in the household or purchased as servants, be circumcised on the eighth day to symbolize their belonging to God's people. This ritual was a cultural practice in the ancient Near East, marking identity and loyalty in agreements between parties.
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