564. aperitmétos
Lexical Summary
aperitmétos: Uncircumcised

Original Word: ἀπερίτμητος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: aperitmétos
Pronunciation: ah-peh-reet-MAY-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-er-eet'-may-tos)
KJV: uncircumcised
NASB: uncircumcised
Word Origin: [from G1 (α - Alpha) (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G4059 (περιτέμνω - circumcised)]

1. uncircumcised
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
uncircumcised.

From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of peritemno; uncircumcised (figuratively) -- uncircumcised.

see GREEK a

see GREEK peritemno

HELPS Word-studies

564 aperítmētos (from 1 /A "without" and 4059 /peritémnō, "circumcise") – properly, "not cut around," referring to an uncircumcised male organ. 564 /aperítmētos ("uncircumcised") signifies "alienated from God" (rebelliously opposed to Him).

564 (aperítmētos), only used at Ac 7:51, figuratively refers to the unsaved – i.e. people standing outside (disobedient to) God's covenant.

[564 (aperítmētos) literally refers to an uncircumcised foreskin, which stands for "being outside of God's covenant" – i.e. without the promise of His salvation.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and peritemnó
Definition
uncircumcised
NASB Translation
uncircumcised (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 564: ἀπερίτμητος

ἀπερίτμητος, ἀπεριτμητον (περιτέμνω), uncircumcised; metaphorically, ἀπερίτμητοι τῇ καρδία (Jeremiah 9:26; Ezekiel 44:7) καί τοῖς ὠσί (Jeremiah 6:10) whose heart and ears are covered, i. e. whose soul and senses are closed to divine admonitions, obdurate, Acts 7:51. (Often in the Sept. for עָרֵל; 1 Macc. 1:48 1 Macc. 2:46; (Philo de migr. Abr. § 39); Plutarch, am. prol. 3.)

Topical Lexicon
Word and Concept

The term denotes the state of being “uncircumcised,” yet in its single New Testament occurrence it transcends mere physical description. By coupling “heart” and “ears” (Acts 7:51), Scripture exposes a deeper issue: resistance to the covenant Lord and imperviousness to His word. Thus the word functions symbolically, gathering Old Testament prophetic warnings into one sharp indictment.

Biblical Occurrence

Acts 7:51: “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit—just as your fathers did.” Stephen addresses leaders who prided themselves on outward covenant signs. His charge exposes an internal condition that nullifies external ritual, echoing Jeremiah 6:10; 9:25 and Leviticus 26:41.

Old Testament Background

1. Sign of the covenant: Genesis 17:10-14 establishes physical circumcision as the mark of belonging to Abraham’s family.
2. Call for inner conformity: Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6 urge Israel to “circumcise your hearts,” revealing that the outward sign pointed to inward loyalty.
3. Prophetic rebuke: Jeremiah 9:25; Ezekiel 44:7 identify the “uncircumcised in heart” as those rejecting God’s rule, even if ceremonially marked.

Stephen’s phrase therefore stands in the line of Moses and the prophets, showing continuity between Testaments.

Theological Significance

• Rebellion unmasked: The word confronts the human tendency to trust symbols while ignoring submission (Isaiah 29:13).
• Work of the Spirit: Romans 2:28-29 and Colossians 2:11 explain that true circumcision is performed “by the Spirit, not by the written code,” fulfilled through union with Christ.
• Corporate warning: By accusing Israel’s leaders, Acts 7 reveals that covenant privilege without regeneration invites judgment, anticipating the gospel’s expansion to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48).

Historical Setting

First-century Judaism regarded circumcision as a non-negotiable boundary marker (Josephus, Antiquities 20.38). To call a circumcised Jew “uncircumcised” was an inflammatory reversal of identity. Stephen’s martyrdom shows the charge’s potency; it exposed religious self-confidence and provoked lethal hostility (Acts 7:54-60).

Practical Ministry Applications

• Heart examination: Churches must emphasize inner transformation over external conformity (2 Corinthians 13:5).
• Preaching that wounds to heal: Like Stephen, faithful proclamation addresses hardened hearts, trusting the Spirit to bring repentance (Hebrews 4:12).
• Listening posture: “Uncircumcised ears” warn congregations that hearing without obeying yields spiritual deafness (James 1:22).
• Inclusive mission: Since outward signs cannot save, the gospel freely invites both Jew and Gentile to the same heart circumcision (Ephesians 2:11-18).

Related Themes and Scriptures

Peritomē (circumcision) – Genesis 17:10; Philippians 3:3

Akrobustia (uncircumcision as a people) – Galatians 2:7; Ephesians 2:11

Stiff-necked rebellion – Exodus 32:9; 2 Chronicles 30:8

Hearing and responding – Isaiah 55:3; Matthew 13:15

Summary

Strong’s Greek 564 captures the prophetic charge that covenant membership without Spirit-wrought renewal is empty. In Acts 7:51 it crystallizes the clash between external religion and genuine faith, pressing every generation to seek the circumcision “made without hands” in Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
απερίτμητα απεριτμητοι απερίτμητοι ἀπερίτμητοι απερίτμητος απεριτμήτου απεριτμήτους απεριτμήτων aperitmetoi aperitmētoi aperítmetoi aperítmētoi
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Englishman's Concordance
Acts 7:51 Adj-VMP
GRK: Σκληροτράχηλοι καὶ ἀπερίτμητοι καρδίαις καὶ
NAS: You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart
KJV: and uncircumcised in heart
INT: O stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and

Strong's Greek 564
1 Occurrence


ἀπερίτμητοι — 1 Occ.

563
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