[Greek] εὐνοῦχος (eunouchos), [Latin] castratus: eunuch, celibate, court official, impotent male, servant; Mt.19:12, Acts 8:27, 34,36,38-39
Absalom’s Monument: Absalom set up a monument to himself because he had no son to perpetuate his name. (2Sam.18:18)
Background information:
Absalom’s Monument: This structure is an ancient monumental rock-cut tomb with a conical roof located in the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem. Absalom set this monument to himself for he said, “I have no son to perpetuate my name.” There was a highly held cultural value to perpetuate one’s family line with children (most importantly sons). This monument alludes to Isa.56:4-5 whereby the Lord will honor eunuchs who will keep His Sabbath and hold fast to His covenant. The Lord will give them a monument and a name (better than sons and daughters). Later in the New Testament, this scripture will take on more significance pointing to those unmarried eunuchs who will serve Christ.
Greek Hellenism: Eunuchs are the servants and overseers of women and confidants of nobles and princes. In certain cults, the eunuch priest occupies a prominent place of authority. The priest’s motive for self-castration (self-emasculation) often comes from the desire for mystical spiritual union with the gods (being setting aside) and public honor and recognition. It is just natural that this type of life would be dedicated to the deity.
Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 7.5.60: “Those, who had children or congenial wives or sweethearts, such he believed were by nature constrained to love them best. But as he observed that eunuchs were not susceptible to any such affections, he thought they would esteem most highly those who were in the best position to make them rich and stand by them, if ever they were wronged, and to place them in offices of honor.”
Old Testament: Castration is strictly forbidden as it contradicts God’s command for procreation. Although there were generally no eunuchs in Israel itself, the royal courts were an exception. Eunuchs, originally excluded from the community of the Lord, are now offered an honored place in His house for those eunuchs who kept His Sabbath and held fast to His covenant. These eunuchs will receive better blessings. The philosopher Josephus mentions that three eunuchs were held in the highest esteem in Herod’s place. The prophets (Isaiah and Jeremiah) introduce the surprising notion that unmarried and single persons can serve God.
Scripture:
“For thus says the Lord: ‘To the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths, who chooses what pleases me, and who hold fast to My covenant, I will give then, in My house and within My walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters.’” Isa.56:4-5
God promises that those, who remain single in Christ, will receive blessings that are better than the blessings of marriage and children.”
“But it was the Lord’s (God the Father) will to crush Him (Jesus) with pain. By making His life as a reparation offering, He (Jesus) shall see His offspring, shall lengthen His days, and the Lord’s will shall be accomplished through Him. Isa.53:10
By Jesus’ offering for guilt, He will produce many spiritual ‘children’ through His saving act. The new people of God will be formed not by physical procreation but by His atoning death.
“Raise a glad cry, you barren one who never bore a child, break forth in jubilant song, you who have never been in labor. For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife than the children of her who has a husband.” Isa.54:1
Jerusalem, pictured as a barren and deserted wife, now suddenly find herself with innumerable children (the returning exiles). Those who are single (unmarried) in Christ will often find themselves ministering to many others. Priests, nuns, religious, consecrated, lay single catechists are examples of such ministries.
New Testament: This term refers to eunuchs (those incapable of marriage) and a court official. Jesus mentions those who were born as eunuchs, those who were made like eunuchs (through mutilation), and those who have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom. Because Jesus was influenced by the Hebrew traditions, rather than Hellenism, Jesus was thinking of a voluntary “castration” (the renouncing of the sexual life and marriage to serve the kingdom of God on earth). These persons would focus their energies on a goal (new order) beyond the natural world. With the help of Phillip, the eunuch of Queen Candace comes to faith and becomes part of the kingdom of God.
Scripture:
“Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom. Whoever can accept this out to accept it.” Mt.19:12
Jesus recognized the circumstances of those who are incapable of marriage for various reasons. Jesus also recognized that there are those who are called to serve the kingdom as a single (unmarried) vocation. Jesus mentions that this is a worthwhile vocation.
Etymology: This term is derived the Greek noun eune (bed) and the Greek verb ekhein (to keep). This term essentially means bed keeper. Some were castrated in order to assume the roles of domestic servants, couriers, soldiers, govt. officials, royal guards, and guardians of women or harem servants. The Latin verb castrare means to cut or to prune.
Conclusion:
Eunuch, castration, castrate
It was very interesting in discovering the original meaning of this term (bed keeper). Not surprisingly, this evokes images of a soldier (eunuch) guarding a tent filled with beautiful harem servants. I did not realize that the practice of castration came from the Orient (Persia). Perhaps it is not surprising that priests gravitated toward this practice as a means to separate themselves from the world. These priests also attained public honor and acclaim, being closer to the deity.
In the Old Testament culture, castration was expressly forbidden against God’s command to procreate. Yet, eunuchs were held in high esteem in the king’s royal court. Then the prophets (Jeremiah and Isaiah) bring forth the idea that God has plans for eunuchs and unmarried persons in His Providence. God told Jeremiah to remain single in serving Him. Isaiah illustrates that the eunuch can attain a place of honor in the house of God. This relates to a barren Israel receiving many children (exiles). This notion of service later foretells that singles (unmarried) have a place in serving the kingdom of God.
It is significant to note that Jesus highly encouraged the single path to serve the kingdom of God. Priests (also being celibate) are spiritual fathers to their congregations. Sisters (nuns) are likewise spiritual mothers. These vocations allow one to be set aside in order to serve God. For a long time, our culture has been conditioned to think that the married state was the most preferable path for a young single person to pursue.
Update: However, in more recent times, there seems to be a concerning trend among young singles not wanting to get married. The high divorce rate, family issues, hook up culture, and gender ideology could perhaps account for this reluctance or reticence about marriage. I am also pretty sure that there are also many singles who are not aware about what scripture says about serving the Lord. For all those singles who seem to feel that they do not have any purpose in life: consider that better blessings can be attained for those you who seek this path. (God created us on earth to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him).
So one can say that God leads some of us on a very unique (eunuch) path! ☺☺☺