To circumcise the foreskin of the heart means to remove spiritual stubbornness and yield fully to God in obedience and reverence. Physical circumcision was a sign of the covenant, but God always intended for that outward act to reflect an inward reality. Heart circumcision speaks of sincerity, repentance, and devotion without hypocrisy.
“Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.” (Deuteronomy 10:16)
This command calls for humility and a willingness to be shaped by God’s truth. A stiff-necked person resists correction and follows self-will. God demands that His people respond to Him not just with external rituals but with genuine, internal transformation.
Later, Moses connects this to God’s own work in the heart:
“And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:6)
This inward circumcision prepares the heart to love, fear, and obey God. It is foundational to the covenant relationship. The call is not merely to observe rules but to walk in heartfelt submission. Without this internal change, outward obedience is empty.
