ἐπισπάομαι
epispáomai
G1986 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To draw, pull, or bring something over; specifically, to draw the foreskin forward over the glans penis, i.e., to conceal or attempt to reverse circumcision. The term denotes the act of attempting to obscure the physical sign of circumcision, particularly by stretching the foreskin over the exposed part, sometimes through surgical or non-surgical means. In broader usage, the verb can mean to draw over or cover, but in Koine Greek sources, the technical use concerning circumcision is prominent.
Semantic Range
to draw over, to cover, to pull something over another; to draw the foreskin forward (covering the circumcised area); to pursue or undergo a procedure to obscure circumcision; to conceal circumcision mark
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐπί ('over, upon') and the verb σπάω ('to draw, pull'); thus, literally 'to draw/pull over'. Formed by combining a prepositional prefix with a verbal root. No indication of borrowing from another language; the formation is regular.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Earliest attestations of the root σπάω relate to 'drawing,' 'pulling,' or 'dragging.' In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, ἐπισπάομαι acquired a technical sense in contexts where circumcised males attempted to conceal or 'erase' their circumcised state. This was especially relevant in regions where Greek norms prevailed, such as gymnasia or bathhouses where nudity was common, and circumcision was distinctive and at times stigmatized. The process, referred to as 'epispasm,' ranged from mechanical stretching to surgical reconstruction. The verb is rare, typically appearing in medical, rhetorical, or polemical literature, and in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 7:18. Standard translations render it as 'become uncircumcised,' but this does not capture the nuance that complete reversal was not usually possible; the act was one of concealment, not restoration. The verb is distinct from terms for circumcision (περιτέμνω) or uncircumcision (ἀκροβυστία), and marks a social practice rather than a natural state.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπί and σπάω; to draw over, i.e. (with ἀκροβυστία implied) efface the mark of circumcision (by recovering with the foreskin):--become uncircumcised.
Root Family
ἐπισπάομαι (epispáomai) — to draw over, to pull over, to cover by drawing
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1986-01 |
ἐπισπάσθω | epispastho | V PRS MID IMP 3P SG |
become uncircumcised | let him draw over himself | let him draw over himself | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1986-01 |
1 Corinthians 7:18 | ἐπισπάσθω | epispastho | V PRS MID IMP 3P SG |
become uncircumcised | let him draw over himself | let him draw over himself |