Philippians 3:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Circumcised the eighth day; or, there was, or I had, the eighth day circumcision; so it may by a usual supply of the verb be read, (as also what follows), without a metonymy. He begins with his birth privilege, intimating that he was not proselyted, but born within the pale of the church, and dedicated to God under the seal of the covenant at the day of God's appointment, Genesis 17:12. Of the stock of Israel; not sprung from ethnic parents, not an Ishmaelite, or Edomite, but a genuine Israelite, Romans 11:1 2 Corinthians 11:22. Of the tribe of Benjamin; of that more honest division where the temple stood, Joshua 18:28, of the tribe of Benjamin, the son of beloved Rachel, and his father's darling, Genesis 44:20; under God's special protection, Deuteronomy 33:12, forward in the reformation, Ezra 1:5. An Hebrew of the Hebrews; a true descendant by Jacob from Abraham the father of the faithful, called an Hebrew, (Eber joined not in building Babel), Genesis 10:21,25 Genesis 14:13 1 Samuel 4:6; signifying that he was of the truly ancient lineage which retained the Hebrew tongue, 1 Thessalonians 8:33,39 Ac 22:2 Romans 4:12 2 Corinthians 11:22. As touching the law, a Pharisee; by religion and stricter observation of the law, according to the prescript most in vogue, of that sect which for learning, knowledge of the Scripture, and reputation for holiness, was the most eminent, Acts 26:5; yea, and his father was of this order before him, Acts 23:6.

Philippians 3:5

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;