The meaning of genesis 17

Much has been written about genesis 17 of the bible where god makes a covenant with abraham.
This has been used by certain religious groups to support genital mutilation.This is because of misinterpreting genesis.God says to abraham that he will increase his descendents's population and makes a covenant or agreement with him.
I happened to read owie ben david book and I thought of writing this article.
There are two parts of the covenant.It says all men in your line and your slaves should be circumcised and after eighth day should be circumcised in the flesh of the foreskin.The meaning of circumcision is cut off from and not cutting off.This is clear from the other texts which state of the uncircumcised sixth day.So circumcision means seperated from.This can be from anything.Circumcision in greek means peritome which has several meanings.

Like

Christians gathered from among the Jews.
Christians separated from the unclean multitude and truly consecrated to god
the extinction of passions and the removal of spiritual impurity

So being circumcised means living away and separated from other people and being.That is living in a circle.The spiritual meaning is the separation of the impurities from the spirit.

And next is circumcised in the flesh of the foreskin.This is misunderstood as cutting off the foreskin. It doesn't say circumcised in the foreskin even if we are to take some literal meaning.It says in the flesh of the foreskin.There are two meanings.The flesh of the foreskin means the  penis or the sexual organ which symbolises sexual union.So jews are forbidden to have sexual union with non jews.
This also symbolises procreation,so jews shouldn't have children with non jews.This is the literal meaning.

The spirtual meaning is cutting of passions and spiritual impurity,living a life with sex just as necessary and live in  the spirit of god.

Once we understand the first part it is clear what god meant.He promised Abraham that he will multiply his people,but he can do that if the descendants of abraham cooperate with god. That is they should procreate among themselves,and should not move outwards.Once they do that god will help them That is the token of agreement.


The spiritual meaning is more important because god is spirit and not the literal meaning.Even though jews can follow the literal meaning.

But for christians genesis 17 meaning is different.And that has been elaborated by many.