Grafted Biblical Concept · Concept

Uncircumcision

ἀκροβυστία · akrobystia · G203

Uncircumcision refers literally to the uncircumcised condition and is frequently used in Jewish and Pauline contexts as shorthand for Gentile identity.

17 Scripture references3 lexical sources1 supporting resources

Primary Study

Grafted Bible Dictionary

Definition

Uncircumcision refers literally to the uncircumcised condition and is frequently used in Jewish and Pauline contexts as shorthand for Gentile identity.

Pauline Usage

Yeshua whose mission focuses especially on proclaiming the gospel among Gentiles.">Paul contrasts:
• circumcision
• uncircumcision
in discussions of Jews and nations or peoples outside Israel.">Gentiles.
Important passages include:
• Romans 2:25–29
• Romans 3:30
• Romans 4:9–12
• Galatians 2:7–9
• Ephesians 2:11

Abraham

Romans 4 emphasizes that covenant • blessing • blessing for the nations">Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised.
Yeshua whose mission focuses especially on proclaiming the gospel among Gentiles.">Paul uses this chronology to establish Abraham as father of both:
• believing circumcised
• believing uncircumcised

Ephesians

Ephesians 2 reminds Gentile believers that they were formerly called "the uncircumcision."
They were once far off but have been brought near through Messiah.
Editorial source: Grafted Bible Dictionary · Entry 28

Hebrew and Greek Word Study

Greek Word Study

ἀκροβυστία

akrobystía · G0203

Unified Lexical Definition

ἀκροβυστία, -ας, ή (perh. an Alexandrian form of cl. ἀκροποσθία; cf. MM, VGT, see word) [in LXX for עׇרְלָה ;] the prepuce, foreskin (LXX), hence abstr., uncircumcision: Act.11:3, Rom.2:25-27 3:30 4:10-12, 1Co.7:18-19, Gal.5:6 6:15, Col.2:13 3:11 By meton., the uncircumcised: Rom.4:9, Gal.2:7, Eph.2:11.† (AS) the prepuce, foreskin; uncircumcision, the state of being uncircumcised; the abstract being put for the concrete, uncircumcised men. i.e. Gentiles. S.

Lexical Sources

TBESGSTEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)

ἀκροβυστία, -ας, ή (perh. an Alexandrian form of cl. ἀκροποσθία; cf. MM, VGT, see word) [in LXX for עׇרְלָה ;] the prepuce, foreskin (LXX), hence abstr., uncircumcision: Act.11:3, Rom.2:25-27 3:30 4:10-12, 1Co.7:18-19, Gal.5:6 6:15, Col.2:13 3:11 By meton., the uncircumcised: Rom.4:9, Gal.2:7, Eph.2:11.† (AS)

Lemma
ἀκροβυστία
Meaning
uncircumcision
View original lexicon entry
{
    "type": "abbott-smith",
    "slug": "g0203",
    "title": "ἀκροβυστία",
    "source": "STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)",
    "strong": "G0203",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "ἀκροβυστία",
    "transliteration": "akrobustia",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "G:N-F",
    "meaning": "",
    "description": "",
    "definition": "ἀκροβυστία, -ας, ή (perh. an Alexandrian form of cl. ἀκροποσθία; cf. MM, VGT, see word) [in LXX for עׇרְלָה ;] the prepuce, foreskin (LXX), hence abstr., uncircumcision: Act.11:3, Rom.2:25-27 3:30 4:10-12, 1Co.7:18-19, Gal.5:6 6:15, Col.2:13 3:11 By meton., the uncircumcised: Rom.4:9, Gal.2:7, Eph.2:11.† (AS)",
    "glosses": [
        "uncircumcision",
        "not circumcised, uncircumcised (with G2192 (ἔχω)), uncircumcision"
    ],
    "lexical_summary": [],
    "exhaustive_concordance": [],
    "brown_driver_briggs": [],
    "topical_lexicon": [],
    "occurrences": [],
    "references": [
        {
            "osis": "Act.11.3",
            "display": "Act.11:3"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.2.25-27; 3.30; 4.10-12",
            "display": "Rom.2:25-27 3:30 4:10-12"
        },
        {
            "osis": "1Co.7.18-19",
            "display": "1Co.7:18-19"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Gal.5.6; 6.15",
            "display": "Gal.5:6 6:15"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Col.2.13; 3.11",
            "display": "Col.2:13 3:11"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Rom.4.9",
            "display": "Rom.4:9"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Gal.2.7",
            "display": "Gal.2:7"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Eph.2.11",
            "display": "Eph.2:11"
        }
    ],
    "occurrence_count": 20,
    "url": "bible/greek/g0203",
    "source_url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
    "source_license": "CC BY-SA"
}
A GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICOA Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament

the prepuce, foreskin; uncircumcision, the state of being uncircumcised; the abstract being put for the concrete, uncircumcised men. i.e. Gentiles. S.

View original lexicon entry
{
    "type": "greenfield",
    "slug": "greenfield-159df2f7dac8",
    "title": "Ἀκροβυστία",
    "source": "A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament",
    "strong": "G0203",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "Ἀκροβυστία",
    "transliteration": "akrobystía",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "",
    "meaning": "",
    "description": "",
    "definition": "the prepuce, foreskin; uncircumcision, the state of being uncircumcised; the abstract being put for the concrete, uncircumcised men. i.e. Gentiles. S.",
    "glosses": [
        "not circumcised, uncircumcised (with G2192 (ἔχω)), uncircumcision"
    ],
    "lexical_summary": [],
    "exhaustive_concordance": [],
    "brown_driver_briggs": [],
    "topical_lexicon": [],
    "occurrences": [],
    "references": [],
    "occurrence_count": 20,
    "url": "bible/greenfield/greenfield-159df2f7dac8",
    "source_url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
    "source_license": "CC BY-SA"
}
STRONG'SStrong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

the prepuce by implication, an uncircumcised (i.e. gentile, figuratively, unregenerate) state or person

View original lexicon entry
{
    "strongs": "G0203",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "ἀκροβυστία",
    "transliteration": "akrobystía",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "",
    "glosses": [
        "not circumcised, uncircumcised (with G2192 (ἔχω)), uncircumcision"
    ],
    "definitions": [
        "the prepuce",
        "by implication, an uncircumcised (i.e. gentile, figuratively, unregenerate) state or person"
    ],
    "administrator_commentary": "",
    "source": {
        "dataset": "Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon",
        "provider": "Open Scriptures",
        "url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
        "license": "CC BY-SA"
    },
    "version": 1,
    "updated_at": "2026-08-05T10:41:56-05:00",
    "strong": "G0203"
}

New Testament Usage

20 occurrences

First listed reference: Act.11.3

View All Greek Occurrences

Sources: STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith) · A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament · Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

Biblical Usage

Concordance and Scripture Usage

17Exact Lemma4Conceptual Relationship
Acts · 1
Epistles · 16

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