The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Deuteronomy 10:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and stiffen your neck no more.

Douay-Rheims

וּמַלְתֶּ֕ם אֵ֖ת עָרְלַ֣ת לְבַבְכֶ֑ם וְעָ֨רְפְּכֶ֔ם לֹ֥א תַקְשׁ֖וּ עֽוֹד׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

Moses emphasized the type of circumcision that is acceptable to God. He stated, "Circumcise your hard heart, and you shall not harden your neck thereby." This instruction was given to those who had not yet undergone the physical circumcision of the foreskin, as Joshua performed their circumcision after the Israelites crossed the Jordan at Gilgal. However, he also instructed them, who had not been circumcised, to turn away from hard-heartedness and cruelty, highlighting that the circumcision of the heart holds far greater significance. The Lord addressed the Israelites through the prophet Jeremiah, declaring, "All the Gentiles are uncircumcised in the flesh, but the house of Israel are uncircumcised in their hearts" (Jeremiah 9:26).

Vissarion (Nechaev)

19th centuryCommentator

Circumcise your hearts of stone. The well-established practice of circumcision, which began in the era of Abraham, served as a covenantal sign between God and His people. This rite was a constant reminder for the Israelites to remain steadfast in their commitment to the Lord, to worship Him exclusively with unwavering devotion, and to uphold His commandments with reverence. A Jew who faltered in faithfulness to God was equivalent to a Gentile. His distinction from the Gentile lay solely in physical circumcision; inwardly, he remained distant from the divine.

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Thus, the apostle Paul proclaims: "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit" (Romans 2:28-29). Consequently, the Scriptures admonish the unfaithful Jews for having uncircumcised hearts (Lev. 26:41) and refer to them as uncircumcised in heart and ears (Acts 7:51). This indicates that, although they have undergone the physical act of circumcision, their souls remain shrouded in the heavy mantle of disobedience and persistent rebellion against God. Thus, the call to circumcise the foreskin of the heart (Jer. 4:4) emphasizes the need to strive to eliminate any spirit of resistance and disobedience towards God from within. Moses further instructs, "Prune your hard hearts." Similarly, the additional phrase of the verse should be comprehended: do not harden your necks against it. Moses frequently refers to the Hebrew people as hard-hearted and stiff-necked (Ex. 32:9, Ex. 34:9), likening them to a wild or stubborn animal unwilling to accept the yoke, as they resist obedience to God’s law and refuse to walk under His guidance. In light of this obstinacy, Moses cautions the Israelites: "Do not harden yourselves to that," which means to humbly submit to the Lord's commandments and move forward bearing His yoke.

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