Pensamiento judío sobre Jeremías 9:25

The Talmud Nedarim 31 relates the following. Rabbi Eleazar son of Azaryah said, "The foreskin is ugly, since evil people are characterized as having it." Jeremiah 9,25 says, "For all the nations are uncircumcised." Samuel I 17,36 describes Goliath as being an uncircumcised Philistine. In Samuel II chapter one, we read about "the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoicing." Rabbi Ishmael said, "Great is circumcision for thirteen covenants were entered into on account of it." Rabbi Yossi said, "The commandment of circumcision is great since it overrides the commandment of the Sabbath." Rabbi Nechemyah said that circumcision is great since Moses was not allowed to tarry with performing it for even one hour. Rabbi Meir said that circumcision is great since Abraham was not called "perfect" until he had circumcised himself, as is written, "Walk before Me and become perfect, and I will place My covenant between Myself and you." Another thought. Milah is great because but for it G-d would not have created the universe, as we know from Jeremiah 33,25, "If not for My covenant, neither day nor night, nor the laws of heaven and earth would I have established." Rabbi Shimon said, “Milah is great since it is of equal weight to all the other commandments in the Torah as is stated (Exodus 24,8), "This is the blood of the covenant on account of which G-d entered into a covenant with you concerning all these matters."

Hear the opinion of our Sages on this subject in their own words. The passage occurs in Bereshit Rabba, and runs thus, “In one place Scripture says, ‘And all things that are desirable (ḥafaẓim) are not to be compared to her’ (Prov. 8:11); and in another place, ‘And all things that thou desirest (hafaẓeḥa) are not to be compared unto her’” (ibid. 3:15). By “things that are desirable” the performance of Divine precepts and good deeds is to be understood, whilst “things that thou desirest” refer to precious stones and pearls. Both—things that are desirable, and things that thou desirest—cannot be compared to wisdom, but “in this let him that glorieth glory, that he understandeth and knoweth me.” Consider how concise this saying is, and how perfect its author; how nothing is here omitted of all that we have put forth after lengthy explanations and preliminary remarks.