Cutting
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Cutting in the Bible?
Cutting refers to the ancient practice of ritual self-laceration or bloodletting. This act was frequently associated with the propitiation of deities in various Near Eastern cults.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying these practices helps historians distinguish between distinct cultural religious rituals and the specific prohibitions listed in legal codes like Deuteronomy.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Cutting. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Cutting in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Cutting clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Cutting." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/cutting/