What does מוּל (mûl) mean in the Bible?
מוּל (mûl): Circumcision as covenant sign; cutting embodies divine obligation to remove spiritual obstruction and mark belonging to God's people.
Hebrew · H4135
מוּל
To cut short, i.e. curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e. to circumcise ); by implication, to blunt ; figuratively, to destroy
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
מוּלH4135
Pronunciationmûl
What does מוּל (mûl) mean in the Bible?
מוּל (mûl): Circumcision as covenant sign; cutting embodies divine obligation to remove spiritual obstruction and mark belonging to God's people.
Full entry for מוּל (H4135) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4135?
The BSB source-word alignment has 37 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include circumcised (5), I cut them off (3), must be circumcised (3), . . . (2), had been circumcised (2).
Where does מוּל (mûl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 17:10. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (17), Joshua (8), Psalms (5), Deuteronomy (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itcircumcised5×Genesis 17:14, Genesis 34:15, Joshua 5:5, Joshua 5:7
I cut them off3×Psalms 118:10, Psalms 118:11, Psalms 118:12
must be circumcised3×Genesis 17:10, Genesis 17:12, Exodus 12:48
. . .2×Genesis 17:13, Genesis 34:22
had been circumcised2×Joshua 5:5, Joshua 5:8
-1×Genesis 17:25
after you have circumcised him1×Exodus 12:44
and circumcise1×Joshua 5:2
and circumcised1×Joshua 5:3
and he circumcised them1×Genesis 17:23
are circumcised1×Genesis 34:22
be blunted1×Psalms 58:7
been circumcised1×Joshua 5:7
Circumcise1×Deuteronomy 10:16
Circumcise yourselves1×Jeremiah 4:4
circumcised him1×Genesis 21:4
circumcised them1×Joshua 5:4
is to be circumcised1×Leviticus 12:3
it fades1×Psalms 90:6
they must be circumcised1×Genesis 17:13
to be circumcised1×Genesis 34:17
was circumcised1×Genesis 34:24
were circumcised1×Genesis 17:26
were circumcised with him1×Genesis 17:27
when he was circumcised1×Genesis 17:24
will circumcise1×Deuteronomy 30:6
You are to circumcise1×Genesis 17:11
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 17:10הִמּ֥וֹלtomust be circumcisedVerb - Nifal - Infinitive absoluteGenesis 17:11וּנְמַלְתֶּ֕םtoYou are to circumciseConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralGenesis 17:12יִמּ֥וֹלtomust be circumcisedVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 17:13הִמּ֧וֹל׀tothey must be circumcisedVerb - Nifal - Infinitive absoluteGenesis 17:13יִמּ֛וֹלto. . .Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 17:14יִמּוֹל֙tocircumcisedVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 17:23וַיָּ֜מָלtoand he circumcised themConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 17:24בְּהִמֹּל֖וֹtowhen he was circumcisedPreposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularGenesis 17:25בְּהִ֨מֹּל֔וֹto-Preposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularGenesis 17:26נִמּ֖וֹלtowere circumcisedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 17:10
Aligned rows37
Books represented7
Genesis17Exodus2Leviticus1Deuteronomy2Joshua8Psalms5Jeremiah2
Source forms
אֲמִילַֽם׃3x’ă·mî·lamPsalms 118:10, Psalms 118:11, Psalms 118:12
לְהִמּ֑וֹל2xlə·him·mō·wlGenesis 34:17, Joshua 5:8
מָ֣ל2xmālJoshua 5:4, Joshua 5:7
בְּהִמּ֥וֹל1xbə·him·mō·wlGenesis 34:22
בְּהִמֹּל֖וֹ1xbə·him·mō·lōwGenesis 17:24
בְּהִ֨מֹּל֔וֹ1xbə·him·mō·lōwGenesis 17:25
הִמּ֥וֹל1xhim·mō·wlGenesis 17:10
הִמּ֧וֹל1xhim·mō·wlExodus 12:48
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular4xGenesis 17:12, Genesis 17:13, Genesis 17:14, Leviticus 12:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular3xGenesis 17:23, Genesis 21:4, Joshua 5:3
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct3xGenesis 34:15, Genesis 34:17, Joshua 5:8
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural3xPsalms 118:10, Psalms 118:11, Psalms 118:12
Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute3xGenesis 17:10, Genesis 17:13, Exodus 12:48
Preposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular2xGenesis 17:24, Genesis 17:25
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2xJoshua 5:5, Joshua 5:7
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xJoshua 5:4, Joshua 5:7
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Circumcision as covenant sign; cutting embodies divine obligation to remove spiritual obstruction and mark belonging to God's people.
Strong'sH4135
Lexical occurrences36 versesWord forms4 forms20 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 17:9-14Source Gloss
to cut short, i.e. curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e. to circumcise ); by implication, to blunt ; figuratively, to destroy
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Circumcision as covenant sign; cutting embodies divine obligation to remove spiritual obstruction and mark belonging to God's people.
to cut short, i.e. curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e. to circumcise); by implication, to blunt; figuratively, to destroy BDB: circumcise Usage: circumcise(-ing), selves), cut down (in pieces), destroy, × must needs.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms20
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action11×
ImperfectGen 17:12 · Gen 17:13 · Gen 17:14 · Lev 12:34×
Infinitive absoluteExod 12:48 · Gen 17:10 · Gen 17:133×
PerfectGen 17:26 · Gen 17:272×
Participle activeGen 34:221×
Sequential imperfectJer 4:41×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense6×
PerfectJosh 5:4 · Josh 5:7 · Josh 5:54×
Sequential imperfectJosh 5:21×
Participle passiveJosh 5:51×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others1×
ImperfectPs 58:81×
Poel1×
ImperfectPs 90:61×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Covenant obligation to circumcise male descendants as sign of Abraham's covenant
Narrative fulfillment of covenant command, Abraham circumcises household members
Zipporah circumcises her son to avert God's judgment against Moses
Figurative usage calling for inner spiritual circumcision of the heart
External circumcision contrasted with internal spiritual condition and covenant faithfulness
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מוּל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.