It was a normal custom in ancient times for rulers to castrate some of their servants and/or advisers in order to restrain and subdue them. Eunuch, castrated human male.From remote antiquity, eunuchs were employed in the Middle East and in China in two main functions: as guards and servants in harems or other women’s quarters, and as chamberlains to kings. Where there are Jezebels, you will always find eunuchs and false prophets. Copyright 2011-2021 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved. Sure, they're mentioned here and there in the Bible, but what do they have to do with homosexuality? What Is a Eunuch in the Bible? “In the story of Esther, it is even rather probably that the saris mentioned in Esther 1:10, 12; 2:3, 14-15; 4:4-5, being attached to the service of the royal harem, had been castrated, through this cannot be stated with certainty,” according to this United Bible Societies article. The prophesies in these two (identical) verses likely refer to castration. It is possible, although the Bible doesn't say, that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were eunuchs in Nebuchadnezzar's court (Isaiah 39:5-7; Daniel 1:3-7). But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come” (Esther 1:10-12). In a world where there were clear divisions between male and female, they were neither or they were both. Several eunuchs hold a candidate down while a sharp knife lops off the penis and testicles in one strike. No. Does the Bible talk about self-love / loving self. What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus? If only Jesus were … He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. John Gill’s commentary provides a thorough explanation of the three kinds of eunuchs in this verse, defining them as either impotent from birth, castrated by men, or one who voluntarily chose a life of celibacy in order to be freer to serve God’s kingdom. The second part of the verse says: "and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men;" These would be the man-made or castrated eunuchs. The acerbic poet describes a particular lover of fine food having "consumed his estate dining lavishly and at leisure every day on tuna and garlic-honey cheese paté like a Lampsacene eunoukhos." In the Bible, the Hebrew word saris (eunuch), refers to a man in some sort of service to a ruler, but castration isn’t always a part of the story. But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. Here are some of our most popular articles covering Christian terms to help your journey of knowledge and faith: The Full Armor of GodThe Meaning of "Selah"What is a "Concubine"?Christian Meaning of Humility, Who are Gentiles? But this lifestyle isn’t the only representation of a eunuch. “But as some of these [eunuchs] rose to be confidential advisers of their royal master or mistresses, the word was occasionally employed to denote persons in such a position, without indicating anything of their proper manhood.”. Christian Truth. The Hebrew word saris-eunuch, is found 45 times in the Old Testament, translated in the King James Bible as eunuch 17 times, chamberlain 13 times, officer 12 times and Rabsaris, 3 times. When deciphering the root words and original meaning of saris, it’s uncertain if the word originally meant “unable to procreate” or “castrated.” It’s possible the role of the saris may have influenced this meaning later to include impotent or castrated. “Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus” (vs. 35) and baptized the eunuch in some nearby water. Why Did God Withhold from His Most Faithful in the Bible? Eunuchs were used as a sign of status and affluence and the wealthy members of ancient Chinese society also utilized the services of eunuchs within their … it does mention sterile men in the bible. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. A broader definition includes men who are impotent or who are voluntarily celibate. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. The most significant passage in the Bible about eunuchs occurs in Matthew 19. They were the ones the king told “to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. All rights reserved. He was reading from the book of Isaiah but didn’t understand the messianic prophecy until “an angel of the Lord” (vs. 26) instructed Philip to “go over and join this chariot” (vs. 29). Shaashgaz was another eunuch of King Xerxes who was “in charge of the concubines” (Esther 2:14). Because of their physical limitations, they were also used for harem guards and body servants of the king. Eunuchs take on many roles. In 2 Kings 18:17, more literal translations like the ESV, KJV, NASB, and CSB use the term “the Rab-saris” instead of “chief officer,” used in the NIV, or “field commander,” which is used in the NLT. After the Babylonian king Xerxes removed Queen Vashti from her royal position, the king called for select young women to be brought into his harem, under the care of Hegai. Some biblical accounts imply a eunuch’s castration such as in Isaiah 39:7 and 2 Kings 20:18. “This would then be the case of castration of prisoners of war, as a punishment, and certainly also to put an end to a royal dynasty.”, 3. “Since some of these important officials, in certain cultures, were castrated because of their occupations (such as guarding the harem), it is not surprising that, by a quite normal process of semantic change, the expression came to denote a castrated man.”. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, “And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” (. 1 And although the meaning of the word isn't always clear, it generally refers to a castrated male, or a man who, for one reason or another, is not attracted to women. In Esther 2:15, Hegai is reported to have given her advice, which helped Esther succeed in becoming the queen. Postscript: June 16, 2020. In short, it just seems like Megan has used one possible ancient meaning of “eunuch”— biologically neither male nor female, a meaning that isn’t clear from the Biblical text or most other ancient texts—and then goes on to assume this meaning throughout her discussion. Because of their physical limitations, they were also used for harem guards and body servants of the king. While Jesus taught on marriage in Matthew 19:1-12, he mentioned eunuchs living lives of singleness in verse 12: “For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Eunuchs were castrated males who guarded an emperor’s harem and some were used in positions of leadership and government. the inability to produce off spring In Matthew 19:12, Jesus mentions eunuchs in the context of whether it is good to marry. We need to stop saying every human is clearly either one or the other, male or female, because Jesus is the Truth, and to say so is not to tell the truth. Also, the Jewish Talmud has a list of possible ways one may be … They were the ones the king told “to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. This term is used as an official title also in Jeremiah 39:3 and Jeremiah 39:13. Greer's thesis is that the "traditional" suburban, consumerist, nuclear family represses women sexually, and that this devitalises them, rendering them eunuchs.The book was published in London in October 1970. The other 39 mentions of eunuchs in the Old Testament focus on the social status and roles of the eunuch rather than his physical condition. Eunuchs In the Bible — Created By God. The born eunuchs in the above verse from Matthew are referring to homosexual men. 2 Fortunately for us, Jesus was an expert on eunuchs. They are often essential to the narratives, and they are celebrated. But no physical condition of castration or impotence is mentioned, nor is it likely because Potiphar had a wife (Genesis 39). The eunuch was traveling back home from worshipping in Jerusalem. What Does it Mean That Today Is the Day of Salvation? In summary, we have discovered that there were prophetesses of God who were virgins, were married and were widows. This conversion story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39 shows that eunuchs are welcome in God’s kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ. He made himself a eunuch for the kingdom of heaven's sake: Matthew 19.12. Some Eunuchs Were Gay Men I ecourage Christians who are struggling with LGBTQ issues to do a study of the eunuchs in the Bible. Other Eunuchs in the Bible. Eunuchs … The Kama Sutra, which was written before the birth of Christ, has a section for eunuch/eunuch intercourse -- so it was known that some eunuchs were sexual beings (at least with each other). To date, historians have found evidence for almost a dozen female presbyters dating from the second to the fifth century. Consider Jesus’s statement that “some were born eunuchs” (Matt. For example, Potiphar was an officer (saris) to Pharaoh (Genesis 37:36). Answer: The eunuchs of the Bible were usually castrated males or those incapable of reproduction due to a birth defect. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. It was common in Bible times for the rulers of conquering nations to take pre-pubescent boys from among the new subjects and castrate them. Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas are named as the seven eunuchs who served King Xerxes. Here is paragraph from a forthcoming paper entitled, Women Presbyters/Elders in the NT and the Ancient Church, written by Charles Stelding. The boys would be used for duties close to the king, sometimes important political roles; since eunuchs would be unable to leave a genetic legacy, it was thought they would be more loyal to their monarch. King James Bible (ASV) For there are eunuchs , that were so born from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs , that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs , that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. “For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whichever of the young women who pleased the king got to be queen. A eunuch is usually defined as a man who has been castrated. they were called eunichs. Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.Acts 21:8-9 (NASB) Just as God did not give us the name of Isaiah’s wife, who was a prophetess, God does not give us the names of these four virgin daughters. Eunuch Meaning: Unable to Procreate or Choosing a Life of Celibacy. Jesus listed three in Matthew 19:12. Berean Literal Bible For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas are named as the seven eunuchs who served King Xerxes. The one who can accept this should accept it.”. You will find weak, insecure men who use gossip, whisper campaigns, smear campaigns, and propaganda to … There is the story of the eunuch in the Bible that sought out Jesus to learn of his teachings. The one who can accept this should accept it.” Explanation and Commentary of Matthew 19:12 Castrated eunuchs were obviously unable to procreate, but the eunuchs mentioned in Isaiah 56:3-5 and Matthew 19:12 were not necessarily castrated, although they are recorded as living in chastity or unable to procreate for one reason or another. Esther was one of the women taken into the king’s harem, and Hegai is a key player in her story. 19:12). Eunuch comes from the Ancient Greek word εὐνοῦχος (eunoukhos), first attested in a fragment of Hipponax, the 6th century BC comic poet and prolific inventor of compound words. Jesus is not affirming that eunuchs constitute a third gender option or an exception to maleness and femaleness. The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” The men that were castrated, were done so, so that they wouldn't have affairs with women. Harbona is mentioned again in Esther 7:9 as the eunuch who informed King Xerxes about “the gallows that Haman prepared for Mordecai” (ESV). Definition and Examples. "For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He that is able … Eunuchs in the Bible are typically defined as castrated men placed in charge over a king’s harem of wives and concubines. Jesus highlights eunuchs because, as a rule, they didn’t marry. The intent of purposeful castration was to cause infertility and eliminate sexuality. Eunouchos is also used four times in the New Testament. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. Jesus answers, “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who had made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is not affirming that eunuchs constitute a third gender option or an exception to maleness and femaleness. The word eunuch can refer only to the title of a court officer or important official to a ruler. As a eunuch was someone in charge of the bed chamber(s) in a palace or large home, “jealous” Eastern rulers often required the eunuch to be one “deprived of their virility,” as Smith’s Bible Dictionary expresses. Also, the eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men were those appointed by the king to be servants in the king’s palace. Eunuchs that were castrated prior to puberty generally don’t ever experience the secondary sexual characteristics such as body and facial hair, deeper voice and muscle growth. Verses 10-12 capture an important statement made by Christ. I think there were many types of eunuchs in Jesus's day. One day I read in the Bible that Jesus said there were eunuchs who were born so from their mother's womb.1 To my knowledge, a eunuch was a man who had been castrated, so how could he be born that way? (with a listing of secondary sources) by Mark Brustman . Let anyone accept this who can” (19:12). Saris (or cariyc) is the Hebrew word for eunuch, occurring 45 times in the Old Testament (OT). Smith’s goes on to explain that because this practice was the norm, the word eunuch became saddled with the connotation of castration. The Female Eunuch is a 1970 book by Germaine Greer that became an international bestseller and an important text in the feminist movement. Rab-saris means “chief eunuch,” specifically to an Assyrian or Babylonian king. Eunuch Meaning: Physical Condition Is Unclear. The eunuchs of the Bible were normally castrated males or those unable of reproduction due to a birth deficiency. “Isaiah tells Hezekiah, king of Judah, that his sons will be taken away captive to Babylon and made eunuchs in the service of the king of Babylon,” according to United Bible Societies. 4. In context he is addressing marriage not gender. There were at least four designations of the word "eunuch" in the Bible. A eunuch could also be someone who performed work typical of eunuchs, although he remained perfectly capable of having sex—i.e., “eunuch” in … China has a long history with the use of Eunuchs and many emperors routinely made them a part of their court. Hegai is mentioned a couple times in the book of Esther as “the king’s eunuch, who [was] in charge of the women” (Esther 2:3). It is possible, although the Bible doesn't say, that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were eunuchs in Nebuchadnezzar's court (Isaiah 39:5-7; Daniel 1:3-7). They appear in many stories. This article is part of our Christian Terms catalog exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright © 2021, Christianity.com. An Ethiopian eunuch is unnamed but Acts 8:26-39 says he was “an important official in charge of all the treasury” of the Queen of Ethiopia. Hathak was one of Queen Esther’s eunuchs who informed her about Haman’s plan to annihilate the Jews in area (Esther 4:1-9). The word "eunuch" occurs 27 times in 23 verses in the King James Version of Bible. India's Nirvan eunuchs undergo castration with methods much like the ancient Asians experienced, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. 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