And the father of circumcision,.... So the Jews call Abraham ראש הנימולים l, "the head of those that are circumcised"; and ראש למולים m, "the head to them that are circumcised"; but the apostle here says, he is a father
to them who are not of the circumcision only; not to the Jews only, in a spiritual sense, and not to all of them, since some were "of Israel", who were not Israel, not Israelites indeed, or true believers;
but [to such] also [who] walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had, being yet uncircumcised; that is, who have the same faith he had; imitate and follow him in the exercise of faith; walk by faith, as he did when he was uncircumcised, as they are; and so the Jews say n,
"Abraham is the father of all, באים אחריו באמונתו, "that go after him in his faith".''
l Tzeror Hammor, fol. 18. 3. m Juchasin, fol. 5. 2. Midrash Esther, fol. 85. 3. n R. Sol. Hammelech Michlol. Jophi in Mal. ii. 15.