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EUNUCH.—In the proper sense of the word a eunuch is an emasculated human being (Deu_23:1), but it is not absolutely certain that the Heb. sârîs always has this signification, and the uncertainty is reflected in our Eng. tr. [Note: translate or translation.] , where ‘officer’ and ‘chamberlain’ are frequently found. It is interesting to note that the group of scholars who rendered Jeremiah for the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] adhered to ‘eunuch’ throughout: unhappily the Revisers have spoiled the symmetry by conforming Jer_52:25 to 2Ki_25:19. The following reasons, none of which is decisive, have been advanced in favour of some such rendering of sârîs as ‘officer’ or ‘chamberlain.’ 1. That Potiphar (Gen_37:36) was married. But actual eunuchs were not precluded from this (see Ter. Eun. 4, 3, 24; Juv. vi. 366; Sir_20:4; Sir_30:20 etc.). And the words in Gen_39:1 which identify Joseph’s first master with the husband of his temptress are an Interpolation. 2. That in 2Ki_25:19 etc. ‘eunuchs’ hold military commands, whereas they are generally unwarlike (imbelles, Juv. l.c.). But there have been competent commanders amongst them. 3. That the strict meaning cannot be insisted on at Gen_40:2; Gen_40:7. Yet even here it is admissible.
The kings of Israel and Judah imitated their powerful neighbours in employing eunuchs (1) as guardians of the harem (2Ki_9:32, Jer_41:16); Est_1:12; Est_4:4 are instances of Persian usage; (2) in military and other important posts (1Sa_8:15, 1Ki_22:9, 2Ki_8:6; 2Ki_23:11; 2Ki_24:12; 2Ki_24:15; 2Ki_25:19, 1Ch_28:1, 2Ch_18:8, Jer_29:2; Jer_34:19; Jer_38:7; cf. Gen_37:36; Gen_40:2; Gen_40:7, Act_8:27, Dan_1:3 does not of necessity imply that the captives were made eunuchs). For the services rendered at court by persons of this class and the power which they often acquired, see Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant. XVI. viii. 1. But their acquisitions could not remove the sense of degradation and loss (2Ki_20:18, Isa_39:7). Deu_23:1 excluded them from public worship, partly because self-mutilation was often performed in honour of a heathen deity, and partly because a maimed creature was judged unfit for the service of Jahweh (Lev_21:20; Lev_22:24). That ban is, however, removed by Isa_56:4-5. Euseb. (HE vi. 8) relates how Origen misunderstood the figurative language of Mat_19:12; Origen’s own comment on the passage shows that he afterwards regretted having taken it literally and acted on it. See also Ethiopian Eunuch.
J. Taylor.