Though the phrasing of the NIV is somewhat ambiguous, the Greek text affirms that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day as stipulated in the law (Leviticus 12:3). Jesus is circumcised because he was born to Jewish parents and living in the time of the old covenant (Galatians 4:4–5).1 For God’s old covenant people, circumcision was the sign of belonging (Genesis 17:1-27). In itself, it represented the need for the removal of sin (cutting the foreskin), atonement for sin (shedding of blood) and regeneration by God’s Spirit (the eighth day symbolising a new start).2,3 Though Jesus was sinless (Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:15), he was nevertheless circumcised so as to fully identify with sinful Israel.4
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.