Chapter IX.—The spiritual meaning of circumcision. He speaks moreover concerning our ears, how He hath circumcised both them and our heart. The Lord saith in the prophet, “In the hearing of the ear they obeyed me.”111 And again He saith, “By hearing, those shall hear who are afar off; they shall know what I have done.”112 And, “Be ye circumcised in your hearts, saith the Lord.”113 And again He says, “Hear, O Israel, for these things saith the Lord thy God.”114 And once more the Spirit of the Lord proclaims, “Who is he that wishes to live for ever? By hearing let him hear the voice of my servant.”115 And again He saith, “Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for God116 hath spoken.”117 These are in proof.118 And again He saith, “Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of this people.”119 And again He saith, “Hear, ye children, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.”120 Therefore He hath circumcised our ears, that we might hear His word and believe, for the circumcision in which they trusted is abolished.121 For He declared that circumcision was not of the flesh, but they transgressed because an evil angel deluded them.122 He saith to them, “These things saith the Lord your God”—(here123 I find a new124 commandment)—“Sow not among thorns, but circumcise yourselves to the Lord.”125 And why speaks He thus: “Circumcise the stubbornness of your heart, and harden not your neck?”126 And again: “Behold, saith the Lord, all the nations are uncircumcised127 in the flesh, but this people are uncircumcised in heart.”128 But thou wilt say, “Yea, verily the people are circumcised for a seal.” But so also is every Syrian and Arab, and all the priests 111 Ps. xviii. 44. 112 Isa. xxxiii. 13. 113 Jer. iv. 4. 114 Jer. vii. 2. 115 Ps. xxxiv. 11–13. The first clause of this sentence is wanting in Cod. Sin. 116 Cod. Sin. has “Lord.” 117 Isa. i. 2. 118 In proof of the spiritual meaning of circumcision; but Hilgenfeld joins the words to the preceding sentence. 119 Isa. i. 10. 120 Cod. Sin. reads, “it is the voice,” corrected, however, as above. 121 Cod. Sin. has, “that we might hear the word, and not only believe,” plainly a corrupt text. 122 Cod. Sin., at first hand, has “slew them,” but is corrected as above. 123 The meaning is here very obscure, but the above rendering and punctuation seem preferable to any other. 124 Cod. Sin., with several other mss., leaves out “new.” 125 Jer. iv. 3. Cod. Sin. has “God” instead of “Lord.” 126 Deut. x. 16. 127 This contrast seems to be marked in the original. Cod. Sin. has, “Behold, receive again.” 128 Jer. ix. 25, 26. Chapter IX.—The spiritual meaning of circumcision. 383 Chapter IX.—The spiritual meaning of circumcision.