Philippians 3 5

Philippians 3:5 kjv

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Philippians 3:5 nkjv

circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

Philippians 3:5 niv

circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;

Philippians 3:5 esv

circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

Philippians 3:5 nlt

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin ? a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.

Philippians 3 verses

Philippians 3 5 Meaning

Circumcised on the eighth day.

Philippians 3 5 Context

Philippians 3:5 falls within a broader section where Paul is contrasting true righteousness with a false righteousness based on external religious observance. He is addressing Judaizers who insisted that Gentile Christians must be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law to be truly saved. Paul recounts his own impeccable credentials under the Law to demonstrate its ultimate inadequacy for justification before God. He previously highlighted his birth as an Israelite (v. 5a) and his zealousness for God's covenant law as seen in his persecution of the church (v. 5b-6). This verse specifically focuses on his circumcision, a key marker of Jewish identity and religious commitment in the Old Covenant.

Philippians 3 5 Word Analysis

• I (ego): Refers to the Apostle Paul himself, emphasizing his personal experience and testimony.

• was circumcised: (peritome - περιτομή): The Greek word for circumcision, an ancient rite of removing the foreskin of males, signifying a covenant sign between God and Abraham's descendants (Gen 17:10-14). It marked inclusion in God's chosen people and obedience to His command.

• on the eighth day: (te hektai hektera hektereia - τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἡμέρᾳ): The specific day mandated by the Mosaic Law for circumcision (Lev 12:3). This detail underscores his strict adherence to every requirement of the Law from the earliest possible moment.

• of the stock of Israel: (ek tes phulēs Iēraēl - ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Ἰσραήλ): Paul emphasizes his lineage as being from the tribe of Benjamin within the nation of Israel. This signifies his heritage as a full Jew, not an outsider or a proselyte. The inclusion of a specific tribe, Benjamin, shows a precise level of identification with his heritage, further highlighting his claims under the Law.

• of the tribe of Benjamin: (tou Phylonios tou Beniamin - τοῦ φυλοῦ τοῦ Βενιαμίν): Paul is specifying his precise tribal origin. The tribe of Benjamin was a significant tribe, and Saul (Paul's Jewish name) was from Benjamin (Acts 13:21, Phil 3:5). This points to his national and ethnic purity according to Jewish tradition.

• a Hebrew of Hebrews: (Hebraios ex Hēbraiōn - Ἑβραῖος ἐξ Ἑβραίων): This phrase conveys not just a physical heritage but a linguistic and cultural one. "Hebrew" refers to speaking the Hebrew language and maintaining Hebrew customs and religious traditions. Being "a Hebrew of Hebrews" implies a deep immersion and pride in these specific aspects of his Jewish identity, as opposed to being a Hellenistic Jew (a Jew of Greek culture, like those in the Diaspora).

Philippians 3 5 Bonus Section

Paul's listing of these credentials is a strategic rhetorical device. He enumerates them not out of pride, but to contrast them with the surpassing value of knowing Christ. What he once considered "gain" and a mark of superior righteousness, he now regards as "loss" for Christ's sake (Phil 3:7). His perfect external adherence to the Law, including his circumcision, did not bring him true righteousness or intimacy with God. Instead, it was Christ's righteousness, received by faith, that superseded all his own legalistic achievements. This prepares the reader for his later emphasis on the "circumcision of Christ" in the heart (Col 2:11), a spiritual reality that far exceeds the physical sign.

Philippians 3 5 Commentary

Paul meticulously details his pedigree, commencing with his circumcision on the eighth day. This legal act, established in Genesis and reiterated in Leviticus, was a fundamental marker of covenant relationship with God and Jewish identity. He further asserts his full-blooded Jewish heritage, originating from the respected tribe of Benjamin. His claim of being "a Hebrew of Hebrews" signifies an uncompromised adherence to his ancestral language, culture, and traditions, distinguishing him from Hellenistic Jews. These are not trivial details; they represent Paul's former basis for boasting and his adherence to external religious requirements.