Eunuchs in the Bible
What is a eunuch in the Bible?
But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
—Matthew 19:11–12
Stephen J. Patterson discusses what Jesus meant when he referred to “eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.”
Should the above words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew be taken literally? Is he saying that men—who can—should emasculate themselves?
The initial question that prompted this controversial teaching about eunuchs in the Bible actually concerned marriage.
When asked about marriage and divorce in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus informs his crowd that anyone who divorces—other than for reasons of unchastity—and marries another, commits adultery (Matthew 19:9).
Upon hearing this, his disciples respond, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry” (Matthew 19:10). Jesus then says there are indeed some who are called to be eunuchs “for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.”
What is a “eunuch” in the Bible passage? Is Jesus talking literally about castration—or just metaphorically about celibacy? Stephen J. Patterson, the George H. Atkinson Chair of Religious and Ethical Studies at Willamette University, addresses this question about eunuchs in the Bible in his Biblical Views column “Punch Thy Neighbor” in the May/June 2015 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. He believes that the passage should be taken literally—that Jesus is talking about castration:
Scholars squeamish at the thought of Christian castrati have sometimes insisted that this passage must be referring metaphorically to celibacy. But that is nonsense. If Matthew’s author had meant to speak of celibates (parthenoi), he knew perfectly well how to do that. In a religious context, eunuch had to mean eunuch, else he would simply have confused his audience. In the Book of Matthew, Jesus advises men (who can) to emasculate themselves!
This interpretation is as controversial and countercultural today as it would have been in the days of Jesus—a time saturated with masculine dominance and power. In the Roman world of “phallo-dominance,” castration would have set anyone apart. Stephen J. Patterson explains that Matthew’s eunuchs “remov[ed] the thing that ancients most associated with male power and dominance. This is how they chose to embody the kingdom of heaven on earth.”
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Yet not everyone agrees with Stephen J. Patterson on this issue. Birger A. Pearson thinks that this passage about eunuchs in the Bible should be taken metaphorically. He makes the case that Jesus is speaking in hyperbole in his BAR article “Did Jesus Marry?”:
While some people in the early Church took Jesus’ saying literally, we should understand it as a case of deliberate hyperbole, such as is found in other of his injunctions (see, for example, Matthew 5:27–30 on adultery: “… If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.”) The point Jesus is making about the eunuch is that it is possible for a man to live on earth as he would in God’s kingdom, where there is neither marriage nor procreation. Jesus is challenging people who are “able to receive it” to live a life of celibacy for the sake of the kingdom, and thus to live now as though the future kingdom had already come.
While there will likely always be debate about this passage, both sides can agree that Jesus’ teaching ran contrary to the majority’s opinion about power and dominance in the Roman Empire. For more information about eunuchs in the Bible—and a literal interpretation of Matthew 19:11–12—read the full Biblical Views column “Punch Thy Neighbor” by Stephen J. Patterson in the May/June 2015 issue of BAR.
BAS Library Members: Read the full Biblical Views column “Punch Thy Neighbor” by Stephen J. Patterson in the May/June 2015 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
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This Bible History Daily feature was originally published on May 4, 2015.
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Brain,
Verse 5 simply says ‘do not defraud’. Please do not add words to this. It does NOT say ‘do not refuse” or do ‘not do deprive’. There are many times where refusal is the correct thing to do (request for a three-some) and many times that one spouse may feel deprived (following childbirth). The preceding chapter of Corinthians speaks of ‘immoral’ sexual situations. Paul is continuing his talk and answering questions. If you have sexual desires ‘here is the way to handle that’ – get married…….is what he is saying. But you don’t get married and continue to act like you are single are continue to be immoral. It is up to the married spouses to work out the rest. Each have the exact same authority. Each can ‘refuse’ for a valid reason, each may feel ‘deprived’ for a valid reason – but neither spouse should permanently and intentionally defraud the other of sexual relationships. That’s what marriage is for – a sexual relationship to fight off Satan’s temptation.
jesus was not advocating the practice of castration in ANY way. if one looks at the preceding verses, he was discussing divorce and how it can lead to adultery. one of the disciples (presumably peter) asked him if it was advisable to marry at all then. how does 19:11 start? “Not all men make room for the saying, but only those who have the gift,” as in the gift of reproduction which is indicated by the discussion of castration.
he ends verse 12, not by saying “let anyone accept this who can,” as if referring to the act of castration, but “Let the one who can make room for it make room for it,” in regards to having a wife. in other words, he was saying that the one who can make room for being married and who is willing to accept the charge of “one flesh”, then let them make room for it.
I did not know that meaning
What is a eunuch in the Bible? Ever since i read the eunuch saying by Jesus ive always wanted to receive it. well 10 years later and after many many many failings due to STIMULANTS and free adultery i mean porn led to sexual immorality alot worse than i started out with. but as someone going eunuch today 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.1 Corinthians 6:9-11…..in other words id rather go eunuch than sin. Thanks be to the power of God…im thinking about a wife but as the apostle paul says ….Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.1 Corinthians 7:20…
33but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.…1 Corinthians 7:33-35
To this Day i only know love that comes from the GRACE OF GOD,mIGHT AS WELL GROW IN THAT. the things of the world perish and these days GOOD luck putting all your hope trust and love in a Female that was created from a male. Ill go with the love from above. did i mention i was poor and love not the things of the world what am i even talking about my HOPE is for the kingdom of God. Present day Kingdom of man NO THANKS.
Mathew 19:10-12 Jesus is not instructing men to emasculate themselves. Jesus (PBUH) is merely describing three subsets of eunuchs. Eunuch are neither male or female but eunuch. The Noble Qur’an instructs that Allah created Male, Female and those who are non–procreative (eunuch). The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) consistent with Jesus (PBUH) instructs that all men who are able to engage in coitus with a woman should marry. However, those who did not have the “defining skill” of a male (e.g. the ability to engage in coitus with the woman) should not marry for it would “unerve him”. All men who lacked the ” defining skill” were eunuch by default. In that time period, simply being born with male genitalia did not determine male gender. What determined whether one was male was having both the genitals and the “defining skill of a male”. The historical and archival record supports this little known fact. Eunuchs are a separate gender variant. Also, the church’s limited definition of eunuch doesn’t stand-up to the archival record. For example, the laws of Persia, Babylon, Rome document that castrated citizens could not own property or get married. However, eunuchs could own property and get married. Code of Hammurabi is the first and oldest legal code in history. In the code one finds laws governing the natural born children of eunuch. How could a eunuch have natural born children, if the eunuch was castrated as the church would have you beleive. Its important to note that these ancient empires were theocracies, thus laws reflected the religious beliefs of these societies. Eunuchs for the kingdom are not emasculated. The church should reconcile their teachings with the facts that are available in the historical and archival record.
Why is the first part of the text avoided? Those who were that way since birth. Seems that every time a scholar comes across a difficult text, it’s simply ignored. Any answers here?
The bibles given to me essentially say that one would forgo marriage for the Kingdom, or lives like a eunuch for the sake of the Kingdom. There is what Paul says in 1 Corinthian 7, and also no example of anyone emasculating themself for the Kingdom throughout the entire Bible. There is the example of the baptism of a eunuch that landed I believe Philip into a spot to hangout with our Living Lord Jesus, but we are not told nor do I assume Philip to have been a eunuch. Also what drove off many followers was God’s true claim of HIM being the living bread. And a circumcision was done after the gospels to appease Jewish believers (I think that castration would have driven Jews away from the truth).
To me self emasculation seems difficult. I mean it is easier to not marry than it is to marry. It is easier to not marry than to emasculate yourself. And our Lord’s yoke is easy, HIS burden light. I’ve seen clips of people doing this. I also read reports of someone who emasculated animals, and one day he emasculated himself. He was a Christian, yet even he had to go to the ICU or at least the emergency room because of infection. I also heard stories of people who try to emasculate themselves and end up hurting themselves while being unsuccessful and still have to go to the emergency room. My belief in Christ keeps me out of the doctors. You would also only do this to yourself with faith in our Lord Jesus which I do have, yet if I can move mountains with my faith then why not remove my genitals with faith?
There is also Jesus’ statements on the log in your own eye, and the whole “he who can grab hold of this” let him. No joke its like the log in your eye seems to be your penis, and its like I can spiritually grab hold of my penis. Spiritually its like a worm scooting about my body. I’ve noticed this after thinking about Matthew 19:12. It almost pulled me away from God. Something actually brought me to my knees, and it was like I was barely hanging on to my faith until I realized I miss read the verse in “my” bible.
It hurts a bit the thought of cutting off my boys because I’ve always wanted two is better than one when two become one flesh love, and Jesus is a God of love. Its also an understanding that most eunuchs become fat after. Paul goes on to say though that, “He wishes agitators to emasculate themselves.” And he calls circumcision mutilation. Its like The Holy Bible is right and perfect. We are flawed. There is Elohim, and the devil is red. We are to be as we are when Christ calls us. Eunuchs are not circumsized or uncircumcised they are with nothing to circumsize. Also castrated men are not able to lawfully attend the Lord’s assembly, just like women are to keep quiet in the assembly (keep in mind though law abiding and God fearing women were sought after by leaders for God’s advice).
One night I slept with the NIV under my pillow and I woke up crying real tears. Then I tried it with the KJV and I had this sort of commical dream of me trying to pull myself out of the bible. It was like I sat on the bible and was sinking into it butt first as though the bible had turned into a portal. Then I had another dream, and this voice asked me something and I told it, “because I don’t want to cut off my parts.” But something is up though with my dreams. Like visions and dreams I feel like have been tampered with by demonic forces. And by her magic spell she lead the nations astray. One example is my brother-in-law, who hates me for my faith, told me the dream I was about to tell him before I told him; and I had told no one else this dream. Then I had a dream with a masonic teacher in it and in the dream students block the passage way to the theater until she says, “No! Let him enter.” Then later that morning my sister takes me to Kroger, and there the teacher is waiting for me in disguise no less. Like waiting for me tapping her foot because I had just written this new praise a couple days ago. So I know something is up with my dreams. But somethings happen in real life that happen in my dreams that match dream interpretations from online. I also know that something happens when a man is castrated. There is a reason why guys had it done to other guys, and its is more than for reasons of making a man in capable of sex. Eunuchs can still recieve, and finger bang, and the eunuchs who have just their testicles removed can still have sex with their penis. Its like something special happens to you when you’re castrated by another, but something really special could happen when you castrate yourself for your mother the New Jerusalem.
Matthew 19:12 is the most controversial verse in the whole bible in my opinion. It is the verse that differs the most between other versions. And I noticed something; the king james, American, English, and Holman bibles, bibles by the state or for a group of people (excluding the bible for Jews) say castration is done for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. The International, Living, God’s word versions say essentially celibacy to where one is safeguarding himself even from the uncleanness caused by male ejaculation for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Versions are written to counter other versions because they disagree with Matthew 19:12. It seems that there maybe more versions saying one should emasculate themselves, but there are more copies in use of versions that state celibacy in Matthew 19:12. I know its a serious deal. Like if you remove your penis and balls for the sake of the kingdom of heaven something will happen, you will be changed drastically. But I don’t want to be effeminate, or a submissive homosexual because this would bar you entery into heaven. But better than having no private parts is having your flesh crusified and bearing the wounds of Christ. We’re not supposed to boast in our flesh, and to be an open example (except with charity and prayer). No matter what I’m not ashamed. I personally don’t hate the KJV (probably the most popular of all the bibles that command castration) but I’ve always choose the NIV before I even realized the difference. I will say the first english version translated made by the printing press states chaste, and the church defines chaste as being pure by will not mutilation (the first english version states gelded which is like complete removal of everything.) And an example of a eunuch by birth that I came across is this guy who appeared on the Doctor Oz show who had his penis and testicles yet could not conceive marriage because his genitals remained as they were when he was a boy. He had no pubic hair, and he could not ejaculate. He was tall with the body of a man, but I think like he lacked facial hair, and body hair. Still though, not a eunuch in the modern sense of the word, but fits the example of the first set of eunuchs mentioned in Matthew 19:12 (also some versions I think state “not sex minded” like functioning parts but no drive.) If anyone has castrated himself for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven I would like to talk to them, and if I’m guided to do so I’ll let you guys know how things go!
I am Johnson Choppala, Founder president of
I want to draw your attention to what Paul said of another case of physical mutilation, circumcision. Romans 2:29 “but he is, a jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision IS THAT OF THE HEART, in the spirit,not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God”. You are an eunuch if you take an oath of celibacy for purity before God. Man sees the outside while God sees the inside. BE BLESSED!
I want to draw your attention to what Paul said of another case of physical mutilation, circumcision. Romans 2:29 “but he is, a jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision IS THAT OF THE HEART, in the spirit,not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God”.
You are an eunuch if you take an oath of celibacy for purity before God. Man sees the outside while God sees the inside. BE BLESSED!