What is a Eunuch?

[JTC]

In the Bible I mean? I've wondered this a long time, and I've never been sure. Anyone know?

[Little One]

Matthew 19:11-12

Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 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. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

There is a physical type of eunuch -- someone who is made "sexless" by physical castration. Kings castrated males and put them (eunuchs) in charge of their harems, for example, because they didn't have to worry about them sampling the merchandise. Also all-male soprano choirs have been made by castrating young boys before they reach puberty and their voices deepen. But there is also a spiritual eunuch, which is someone who chooses to be celibate and not marry (or to remain "pure" or "virgin") so they can devote themselves completely to God, as Paul did, rather than trying to serve two masters -- the Lord and a spouse and children:

1 Corinthians 7

25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Revelation 14:4

...the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Little One

[missmuffet]

What is a Eunuch?

http://www.gotquestions.org/eunuch-eunuchs.html

[enoob57]

It's way past Jewish

[Openly Curious]

In the Bible I mean? I've wondered this a long time, and I've never been sure. Anyone know?

In the Bible there were eunuchs who became servants to the king. These men servants had to be castraded in order to be a sevant to the king they were made eunuchs..............The eununchs had to become a eunuch in order to be put into certain posistions to serve without temptation and distractions for the women.....................Today single christian men desiring to serve the Lord Jesus Christ without the temptation of women and the distractions that come from marriage relationship...........Then they can choose freely to become a eunuch choosing not to marry but instead they will be married to God devoted only to him............There is only two options or ways this can happen.......The first one is by being celibate being able to control their own natural sexual desires keeping their eye single only on the Lord.............The second option is to be physicially castrated..............This method was used back in bible times for those who would serve the king in certain positions in order that they wouldn't become tempted by the women................Both of these options are appropriate for single christian men to choose I believe.........All the new technology in medicine today certainly would make it easier than back in bible times to be castrated.......at least you would think...............But this decision must be made carefully out of true sincerity and love for the Lord and nothing else..........Because of this not "many" single christian men will be able to accept becoming a eunuch and will find themselves a wife and get married and raise a family.......They instead will choose to follow their own God given natural sexual desire for women and get married devoting himself to his wife..........Either choice that single christian men would make both of them are acceptable to God...... anywho I hope this helps.

[gdemoss]

As I have begun an in depth study of words to seek to better understand how they work and why we choose them to describe things, I have come to understand that there is usually a seemingly reasonable choice of a word to describe something or someone depending upon what aspect of the object we are describing. When doing this research, I abandon the use of spelling and rely solely upon the sounds contained within a word and the order in which they appear. I also give weight to accented syllables to stress which part of the word sounds are given the weight when defining them.

Eunuch or You Nick as I hear it appears to be a word to describe someone who has cut off or snipped something of themselves or by another. This word would seem to apply to more than a physical act such as having ones testicles removed for the purpose of being considered a trust worthy guard over the palace women. One could make themselves a eunuch in the sexual sense of the word by choosing to become abstinent provided God chose to allow it by giving him the ability.

I could call myself a eunuch as it pertains to alcohol as I have cut off my use of alcohol but such a use of the word would probably do nothing but work to add confusion instead of bring clarity so I would not choose to do so. Instead I call myself abstinent from alcohol or a recovering alcoholic, which in our day and normal use of the words is easily recognizable and understandable by most though the other could be considered accurate.

In my studies, I have been finding that there is a connection that is normally on a deep level that can be found if searched out when dealing with words used to describe two seemingly unconnected objects that usually depends upon finding the common attribute that they are being described by.

Words mean something but their use is not always easily discernible at times.

Peace is only in Christ, please join me in Him.

[MorningGlory]

It's way past Jewish

Steven!

[JTC]

Well okay now. The first word that comes to my mind is barbaric. But the history of mankind is loaded with barbarism.

I have to disagree with the idea that a man with all his parts, can't choose to not engage in sexual behavior with women. It's not easy, and it wouldn't happen normally unless a prepubescent teen was taught that this is his destiny in life, and that God will give him and others like him, a special reward in Heaven. I'm very against the idea that men or women MUST give in to their base sexual drives. When I was younger I knew several women who told me they have to have it. But I think we can all not have it if we know and believe God has something special in mind for those who live the life of a eunuch.

[gdemoss]

Well okay now. The first word that comes to my mind is barbaric. But the history of mankind is loaded with barbarism.

I have to disagree with the idea that a man with all his parts, can't choose to not engage in sexual behavior with women. It's not easy, and it wouldn't happen normally unless a prepubescent teen was taught that this is his destiny in life, and that God will give him and others like him, a special reward in Heaven. I'm very against the idea that men or women MUST give in to their base sexual drives. When I was younger I knew several women who told me they have to have it. But I think we can all not have it if we know and believe God has something special in mind for those who live the life of a eunuch.

What gave you the idea that anyone was saying that a man with all his parts can't choose to not engage? From what I understand making a man a eunuch in history for the purpose of having a palace guard was to make sure that you did not have to worry about the man having to make the decision. Not that he could not.

[JTC]

You answered your own question Gary. The fact that men were castrated shows they weren't trusted to keep themselves under control.