What is a eunuch in the Bible?

In the Bible, a eunuch is a man who has been castrated or is celibate and often served in roles of authority, especially in royal courts or administrative positions. Eunuchs were sometimes physically castrated to serve specific purposes, such as guarding harems, or they voluntarily chose a life of celibacy for religious or spiritual reasons. The term also has symbolic and metaphorical uses in Scripture.

Eunuchs in the Bible

1. Literal Eunuchs: Castrated Servants or Officials

Eunuchs were commonly employed in royal courts because their physical state (castration) ensured they would not pose a threat to the king’s harem or lineage. They held positions of trust and authority.

  • Example: Potiphar (possibly a eunuch)
    While the term “eunuch” is not explicitly used for Potiphar, he is described as an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, roles often filled by eunuchs.
    • Genesis 39:1 (NIV):
      “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.”
  • Example: Ethiopian Eunuch
    The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 was an important official in charge of the treasury of Queen Candace of Ethiopia. His encounter with Philip highlights the inclusion of eunuchs in God’s kingdom.
    • Acts 8:27 (NIV):
      “So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means ‘queen of the Ethiopians’). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship.”
      After Philip explained Isaiah’s prophecy, the eunuch believed and was baptized.

2. Voluntary Celibates for Spiritual Purposes

Jesus mentioned eunuchs in a spiritual sense, referring to those who choose celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of God.

  • Matthew 19:12 (NIV):
    “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.”
    • Three Types of Eunuchs in This Verse:
      1. Those born as eunuchs, possibly referencing men incapable of reproduction due to physical conditions.
      2. Those made eunuchs by others, referring to castrated men, often in royal service.
      3. Those who choose to live like eunuchs, referring to individuals who voluntarily abstain from marriage and sexual relations to dedicate themselves to God.

3. Eunuchs in Prophecy and Inclusion in God’s Kingdom

Eunuchs, who were often excluded from full participation in Israelite worship and society, were given hope through prophecy and the New Covenant.

  • Old Testament Exclusion
    According to the Law of Moses, eunuchs were barred from entering the assembly of the Lord.
    • Deuteronomy 23:1 (NIV):
      “No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the Lord.”
  • Promise of Inclusion
    In Isaiah, God promised eunuchs who were faithful to Him a place of honor in His kingdom, indicating their inclusion in the future Messianic age.
    • Isaiah 56:3-5 (NIV):
      “Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.’ And let no eunuch complain, ‘I am only 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— to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.’”
  • This prophecy reflects God’s grace and the inclusiveness of His kingdom.

Symbolic and Metaphorical Use of “Eunuch”

  1. Devotion to God
    Eunuchs often symbolize complete dedication to God, as their celibacy or physical condition removed distractions from worldly concerns.
  2. Sacrifice for the Kingdom
    Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:12 suggests that choosing to live like a eunuch for the kingdom reflects a life wholly devoted to God’s service, placing spiritual priorities above worldly desires.

Key Lessons from Biblical References to Eunuchs

  1. Inclusion in God’s Kingdom
    Despite societal or physical limitations, eunuchs can have a significant role in God’s kingdom, as evidenced by Isaiah’s prophecy and the Ethiopian eunuch’s conversion.
  2. Commitment to God
    Voluntary celibacy for the sake of God’s work is seen as an honorable sacrifice, highlighting the value of prioritizing spiritual goals.
  3. God’s Redemption
    Even those who were once excluded under the Old Covenant are included in the New Covenant through faith in Christ, emphasizing God’s grace and redemption for all.

Conclusion

In the Bible, eunuchs can refer to physically castrated men, celibate individuals, or those wholly dedicated to God’s service. While they were often marginalized in ancient societies, the Bible demonstrates that God values their faithfulness and includes them in His kingdom.

  • Galatians 3:28 (NIV):
    “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”