Castrated men. In the Bible eunuchs are usually portrayed as having positions of responsibility in royal courts. Though eunuchs were excluded from certain privileges under the old covenant, they were at no disadvantage under the new.
Eunuchs as royal servants
Esther 1:10–11 See also 2 Kings 20:16–18 parallel Isaiah 39:5–7; Esther 2:1–3, Esther 2:15, Esther 4:4–11; Jeremiah 38:7; Acts 8:27
On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him — Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas — to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.
Eunuchs among the people of God
Exclusions of eunuchs from the assembly and the priesthood
Deuteronomy 23:1 See also Leviticus 21:16–23
No man with crushed or severed genitals may enter the assembly of the LORD.
Eunuchs not excluded from God's blessings if obedient
Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.” For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant — I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
Eunuchs could become Christians like anyone else
See also Acts 8:26–39 the Ethiopian eunuch
Eunuch as an image for celibacy
Matthew 19:10–12 Jesus Christ teaches that castration is not the only legitimate reason for celibacy. Some men may be called to voluntary celibacy because of the demands of their role in the kingdom of heaven.
His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.” “Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
Paul suggests that a dogmatic demand for circumcision might lead to a demand for emasculation
See also Galatians 5:12
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.