Lexical Summary mul: To circumcise, to cut off Original Word: מוּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance circumcising, selves, cut down in pieces, destroy, must needs A primitive root; to cut short, i.e. Curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e. To circumcise); by implication, to blunt; figuratively, to destroy -- circumcise(-ing), selves), cut down (in pieces), destroy, X must needs. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to circumcise NASB Translation circumcise (4), circumcised (25), circumcising (1), cut off (3), shafts (1), surely be circumcised (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [מוּל] verb circumcise (Late Hebrew id.; ᵑ7 מוּל **but only seemingly in the dubious passages (see III. [מָלַל] and Commentaries) Job 14:2; Job 18:16; Job 24:24 [MS Levy], Psalm 37:2; Psalm 90:6. cut off (grass, etc.: only for III. מָלַל, q. v. ); compare Late Hebrew מָהַל, Aramaic מְהַל, according to Thes NöZMG xi. 1886, 741 Baib. xii. 1887, 626 see also מהלabove); — Qal Perfect3masculine singularמָל Joshua 5:4 2t.; 2 masculine singular מַלְתָּה Exodus 12:44; 3masculine plural מָ֫לוּ Joshua 5:5,7; 2masculine plural מַלְתֶּם Deuteronomy 10:16; Imperfect וַיָּ֫֫מָל Genesis 17:23 2t.; Imperative מֹל Joshua 5:2; Passive participle מוּל Jeremiah 9:24; plural מֻלִים Joshua 5:5; — circumcise, with accusative בשׂר ערלה (flesh of foreskin) Genesis 17:23 (P), accusativepers. Genesis 21:4; Exodus 12:44 (P), Joshua 5:2,3(J), Joshua 5:4; Joshua 5:5; Joshua 5:7; Joshua 5:7 (D); figurative ערלת לבב (foreskin of the heart) Deuteronomy 10:16; לבב Deuteronomy 30:6; pass, מוּל בערלה Jeremiah 9:24; מֻלִים Joshua 5:5 (D). Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נִמּוֺל (Ges§ 72, R. 9) Genesis 17:26; 3masculine plural נִמֹּ֫לוּ Genesis 17:27; 2masculine plural וֹּנְמִלְתֶּם (consecutive) Genesis 17:11 (for וּנְמַלֹּתֶם √ מלל Ew§ 234; e. Ges§ 67, R.11; but Bö1146B for וּנְמוֺלֹתֶם); Imperfect יִמּוֺל Genesis 17:12 3t.; 3 masculine plural וַיִּמֹּ֫לוּ Genesis 34:24; Imperative הִמֹּ֑לוּ Jeremiah 4:4; Infinitive הִמּוֺל Genesis 17:10 5t.; הִמֹּל Genesis 34:15; suffix הִמֹּ֫לוֺ Genesis 17:24,25; Participle plural נִמֹּלִים Genesis 34:22; — be circumcised, of בשׂר ערלה Genesis 17:14,24,25; Leviticus 12:3; elsewhere of person Genesis 17:10 (twice in verse); Genesis 17:12,13 (twice in verse); Genesis 17:26,27; Genesis 34:15,17,22,24; Exodus 12:48 (P), Joshua 5:8 (J): reflexive ׳הִמֹּלוּ לי Jeremiah 4:4 circumcise yourselves to Yahweh (and take away the foreskin of your heart). Hiph`il Imperfect3masculine plural כי אֲמִילִ֑ם ׳בשׁם י Psalm 118:10; Psalm 118:11; Psalm 118:12 in the name of ׳י, yea I will make them to be circumcised (enemies, by force of arms; but De cut to pieces (from מוּל = מָלַל), Che mow, Bae annihilate (?), ᵐ5 Aq ἠμυνάμην, Symm διέθρυψα, Jerome ultus sum eas). Hithpa`el Imperfect3masculine plural יִתְמֹלָ֑לוּ Psalm 58:8 be cut off, of arrows, i.e. made blunt. Topical Lexicon OverviewThe Hebrew preposition מוּל occurs roughly thirty-six times and consistently expresses the idea of “positioned so as to face.” Whether the setting is geographical, liturgical, military, or relational, the word draws attention to a deliberate orientation: someone or something is set directly before, opposite, or across from another object or person. This nuance of intentional facing enriches many Old Testament narratives and laws, illuminating both physical arrangements and spiritual priorities. Facing as Deliberate Orientation 1. Geographic markers The term frequently fixes Israel’s location in relation to landmarks. “So we remained in the valley opposite Beth Peor” (Deuteronomy 3:29). By twice repeating the phrase “opposite Beth Peor” (Deuteronomy 4:46; also 34:6 with a cognate expression), Moses ensures that future generations can trace the exact site where covenant instruction was delivered. The land itself is read in relational terms: Israel is always placed “before” the Lord and His promises. 2. Liturgical alignment Worship objects and participants are arranged to face the sanctuary. “The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the standards of their fathers’ households; they are to camp facing the Tent of Meeting on every side” (Numbers 2:2). The lamps on the menorah give light “in front of the lampstand” (Numbers 8:2), directing attention toward the Holy Place. Orientation embodies devotion; the entire camp turns toward the locus of God’s presence. Encampment and Covenant Order The Pentateuch uses מוּל eight times in instructions about camping and marching. Each tribe’s place “in front of” the tabernacle (Numbers 2; Numbers 3:38) reiterates covenant order: God at the center, Israel looking to Him. Even the red heifer ritual involves sprinkling blood “toward the front of the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 19:4, text uses a prepositional pair including מוּל). The nation learns spatially that atonement, light, and leadership must be directed toward God. Military and Leadership Contexts Facing one another often precedes decisive action: • Jonathan surveys two cliffs—one “to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba” (1 Samuel 14:5). The opposed ridges frame a daring assault that God blesses. Judicial and Familial Encounters In Genesis 31:32, Jacob tells Laban, “Set whatever you find… here before my kinsmen and yours, and let them judge between the two of us.” Although מוּל is absent from English translations, the Hebrew depicts property placed “in front of” witnesses. The preposition underscores transparent accountability within family and clan law. Prophetic and Poetic Uses Poets employ מוּל to portray spiritual posture. Psalm 38:17 (Hebrew 38:18) confesses, “I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.” The psalmist’s suffering continually “faces” him, driving him to seek mercy. Lamentations 2:19 pictures Jerusalem’s children fainting “in the streets of the city, at the beginning of every street” (Hebrew literally “before every street”), spotlighting corporate grief laid bare before God. Theological Reflections 1. God-centered orientation Israel’s life is ordered so that people, objects, and even national boundaries consciously face the Lord. Spatial language thus becomes theological: to be “opposite” or “before” Yahweh is to live under His gaze and authority. 2. Covenant witness Facing arrangements serve as visual testimonies. When tribes stand “opposite” one another around the Ark (Joshua 8), every Israelite sees that blessing and curse are uttered in the presence of the Lord. Geography turns into pedagogy. 3. Anticipation of Christ New Testament language of turning or facing the Lord (for example, “Turn to the Lord” in 2 Corinthians 3:16) resonates with מוּל’s Old Testament imagery. Salvation involves re-orientation—placing one’s life deliberately before God’s face through Christ. Ministry Implications • Worship leaders can arrange physical space to remind congregations that they stand “before” the Lord. Forms and Transliterations אֲמִילַֽם׃ אמילם׃ בְּהִ֨מֹּל֔וֹ בְּהִמֹּל֖וֹ בְּהִמּ֥וֹל בהמול בהמלו הִמֹּ֣לוּ הִמּ֥וֹל הִמּ֧וֹל הִמּ֧וֹל ׀ המול המלו וַיִּמֹּ֙לוּ֙ וַיָּ֙מָל֙ וַיָּ֜מָל וַיָּ֤מָל וּמַלְתֶּ֕ם וּמַלְתָּ֣ה וּמָ֨ל וימל וימלו ומל ומלתה ומלתם יְמוֹלֵ֥ל יִמּ֖וֹל יִמּ֛וֹל יִמּ֥וֹל יִמּוֹל֙ יִתְמֹלָֽלוּ׃ ימול ימולל יתמללו׃ לְהִמֹּ֥ל לְהִמּ֑וֹל להמול להמל מ֖וּל מָ֣ל מָ֥לוּ מָֽלוּ׃ מֹ֥ל מֻלִ֣ים מול מל מלו מלו׃ מלים נִמֹּ֖לוּ נִמֹּלִֽים׃ נִמּ֖וֹל נמול נמלו נמלים׃ ’ă·mî·lam ’ămîlam amiLam bə·him·mō·lōw bə·him·mō·wl behimMol behimmoLo bəhimmōlōw bəhimmōwl him·mō·lū him·mō·wl himMol himMolu himmōlū himmōwl lə·him·mō·wl lə·him·mōl lehimMol ləhimmōl ləhimmōwl mā·lū mal māl Malu mālū mol mōl mu·lîm mul mūl muLim mulîm nim·mō·lîm nim·mō·lū nim·mō·wl nimMol nimmoLim nimmōlîm nimMolu nimmōlū nimmōwl ū·māl ū·mal·tāh ū·mal·tem uMal ūmāl umalTah ūmaltāh umalTem ūmaltem vaiYamol vaiyimMolu way·yā·māl way·yim·mō·lū wayyāmāl wayyimmōlū yə·mō·w·lêl yemoLel yəmōwlêl yim·mō·wl yimMol yimmōwl yiṯ·mō·lā·lū yitmoLalu yiṯmōlālūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 17:10 HEB: זַרְעֲךָ֖ אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ הִמּ֥וֹל לָכֶ֖ם כָּל־ NAS: male among you shall be circumcised. KJV: Every man child among you shall be circumcised. INT: and your descendants after shall be circumcised every male Genesis 17:12 Genesis 17:13 Genesis 17:13 Genesis 17:14 Genesis 17:23 Genesis 17:24 Genesis 17:25 Genesis 17:26 Genesis 17:27 Genesis 21:4 Genesis 34:15 Genesis 34:17 Genesis 34:22 Genesis 34:22 Genesis 34:24 Exodus 12:44 Exodus 12:48 Leviticus 12:3 Deuteronomy 10:16 Deuteronomy 30:6 Joshua 5:2 Joshua 5:3 Joshua 5:4 Joshua 5:5 36 Occurrences |
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