[Luke] 7:51 B: Uncircumcised in
heart and ears.
Genesis Rabbah 46 (29A): R. Huna
(ca. 350) said in the name of Bar Qappara (ca. 220), “Abraham sat there
(pondering about the place where circumcision is to be performed) and drew a
conclusion from the verbal analogy (גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה): The ‘orla (foreskin) is spoken of with
regard to the tree and to the man. As the ‘orla
of the tree is in the place where it bears fruit, so also the ‘orla of the man is in the place where
he bears fruit.” It was said (erase the following “to him”) by R. Hanina b.
Pazzi (ca. 280), “Did Abraham draw such conclusions on the basis of verbal
analogy? Instead, God gave him a hint (about the body part in question) with
the words, ‘I make my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you
exceedingly’ (Gen 17:2), that is, I will make my covenant between me and you in
the place where reproduction occurs.” R. Ishmael († ca. 135) and R. Aqiba (†
ca. 135). R. Ishmael said, “Abraham was a high priest; for it says in Ps 110:4,
‘Yahweh has sworn and does not repent. You are a priest forever (on this, see §
Heb 5:6)’; and it says, ‘You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin
(‘orla)’ (Gen 17:11). Where should he
perform the circumcision? If on the ear, he (as a priest) would not be fit to
sacrifice (because no one who has been mutilated in the body may perform
priestly functions). So where was he allowed to perform circumcision in order
to be fit for sacrifice?” Answer: “On the foreskin of the male member.”—R.
Aqiba said, “There are four ‘orla.
There is talk of the ‘orla on the ear;
see Jer 6:10, ‘Behold, their ear has a foreskin.’ There is an ‘orla on the mouth; see Exod 6:12, ‘I am
of uncircumcised lips.’ Furthermore, there is an ‘orla on the heart; see Jer 9:25, ‘The whole house of Israel is
uncircumcised in heart עַרְלֵי לֵב.’ Finally, there is
an ‘orla on the male member; see Gen
17:14, ‘An uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his
foreskin will be cut off.’ Furthermore, it was said to Abraham in Gen 17:1,
‘Walk before me and be perfect (in the sense of the Midrash = unharmed).’ If he
were to perform circumcision on the ear, he would not be perfect; if he were to
circumcise the mouth, he would not be perfect; if he were to circumcise the
heart, he would not be perfect either. So where can he perform circumcision and
still be perfect? Answer: At the ‘orla
of the male member. Scripture says in Gen 17:12, ‘At the age of eight days, all
males among you shall be circumcised according to your generations.’ If he were
circumcised on the ear, he would not be able to hear; if on the mouth, he would
not be able to speak; if on the heart, he would not be able to think. Where
then shall he be circumcised so he might still think? Answer: On the ‘orla of the male member.” R. Tanḥuma
(probably b. Abba [ca. 380]) said, “This passage of Scripture makes sense: ‘A
male uncircumcised …’ (Gen 17:14). Is there also a female uncircumcision?
Therefore, at the time where it is recognized whether one is male or female,
circumcision is to be performed.”—The same is said in Lev. Rab. 25 (123C); a
shorter version is present in TanḥB לך לך § 27 (41A); in
another version in b. Šabb. 108A and Tanḥ. לך לך
19B, it is anonymous. ‖ In b. Zebaḥ. 22B, ערל לב
“who is uncircumcised of heart” (Ezek 44:9) is explained by “he whose heart is
not turned to God.”—On περιτομὴ καρδίας, see
further at § Rom 2:29 B. (Hermann
L. Strack and Paul Billerbeck, A Commentary on the New Testament from the
Talmud and Midrash, ed. Jacob N. Cerone, 4 vols. [trans. Andrew Bowden and
Joseph Longarino; Bellingham, Wash.: Lexham Press, 2022], 2:786-87)