Quick Definition
ἐπισπάομαι v. I become uncircumcised
Strong's Definition
to draw over, i.e. (with G203 (ἀκροβυστία) implied) efface the mark of circumcision (by recovering with the foreskin)
Derivation: from G1909 (ἐπί) and G4685 (σπάω);
KJV Usage: become uncircumcised
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | σπάομαι
53.52 · Religious Activities · Dedicate, Consecrate
to conceal circumcision, to extend the foreskin (a technical and medical term) to pull the foreskin over the end of the penis as a means of concealing former circumcision A literal and descriptive rendering of ἐπισπάομαι could prove to be quite vulgar in some languages. Furthermore, such a practice might seem to be medically impossible or absurd, so that in general, translators have used some such expression as ‘do not conceal the circumcision’ or ‘do not change the circumcision to appear like uncircumcision,’ but often some additional marginal note is required if people are to understand satisfactorily what is involved.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-σπάω, -@: fr. Aeschyl. down; to draw on: μὴ ἐπισπάσθω, sc. ἀκροβυστίαν, let him not draw on his foreskin (Hesych. μὴ ἐπισπάσθω - μὴ ἑλκυέτω τὸ δέρμα) [ A. V. let him not become uncircumcised], 1 Co. vii. 18. From the days of Antiochus Epiphanes [B. c. 175-164] down (1 Mace. i. 15; Joseph. antt. 12, 5, 1), there had been Jews who, in order to conceal from heathen persecutors or scoffers the external sign of their nationality, sought artificially to compel nature to reproduce the prepuce, by extending or drawing forward with an iron instrument the remnant of it still left, so as to cover the glans. The Rabbins called such persons 0°31w, from 2 to draw out, see Buxtorf, Lex. Talm. p. 1274 [(ed. Fischer ii. 645 sq.). Cf. BB.DD. s. v. Circumcision, esp. McC. and S. ibid. 11. 2.]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπισπάομαι epispaomai 1x
to draw upon or after; in NT mid. to obliterate circumcision by artificial extension of the foreskin, 1 Cor. 7:18*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-σπάω, -ῶ
[in LXX: Is 5:18 (מָשַׁךְ), etc. ;]
to draw on: mid., in peculiar sense of effacing signs of Judaism (cf. I Mac 1:15, FlJ, Ant., xii, 5, i; v. Thayer, s.v.), to become as uncircumcised: I Co 7:18.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐπισπάω. For this strong verb cf. P Magd 245 (B.c. 218) (as completed Archiv vi. p. 274) of an assault—WevoBaotis τῆι αὐτῆι δεξιᾶι χειρὶ ἐπισπασαμένη τῆς ἀναβολῆς τοῦ ἱματίου. Cf. P Tebt I. 274 (B.c. 113) περὶ τῶν ἐπισπασθησομ[ένων] els τὰς γενημ[α]τοφυλακίας, ‘concerning the persons to be made to undertake the custody of the crops” (Edd.), so 15, and Sy/Z 929° (ii/B.c.) where the mid. ἐπεσπάσαντο = “brought in to help.” In P Par 461° (B.c. 153) (= Witkowski?, p. 86) ἀλλὰ σὲ αὐτὸν μάρτυρα ἐπισπάφῳ, the verb =‘‘to subpoena’: cf. P Lond 1164 (/)8 (A.D. 212) (= III. p- 161) μετὰ κυρίου οὗ ἑκοῦσα ἐπεσπάσατο πρὸς μόνην ταύτην τὴν οἰκονομίαν κτλ. For the meaning “ persuade " cf. OGZS 22518 (iii/B.c.) καὶ νῦν πολύ τι μᾶλλον ἐπεσπάσμεθα, κατανοοῦντες τὸ εὐγενὲὲ ὑμῶν. The compound προσεπισπάω occurs in P Tor I. 1°99 (B.C. 117) πολυπραγμόνως δὲ προσεπισπώμενον τὴν τῶι στρατηγῶι καθήκουσαν ἐξουσίαν, “tum totis viribus distendens auctoritatem, quae Stratego competit” (Ed.).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐπισπάω (epispaō) — to uncircumcise. ἐπι-σπάω, draw or drag after one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἦγ᾽ ἐπισπάσας κόμης by the hair, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:— middle, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, ἐπισπασθῆναι τῇ χειρί with the hand, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. metaphorically, bring on, cause, τοσόνδε πλῆθος πημάτων [Refs 4th c.BC+]
3. pull to, τὴν θύραν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare ἐπισπαστήρ: ἐπισπασθέντος τοῦ βρόχου being drawn tight, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
4. attract, gain, win, πέποιθα τοῦτ᾽ ἐπισπάσειν κλέος [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—frequently in middle, ἐπισπᾶσθαι κέρδος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔχθραν [Refs 6th c.AD+]; welcome, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ἐπισπᾶσθαι πώγωνα get one a beard, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; induce, ὕπνον ἐκπώμασιν [Refs 4th c.AD+]; attract, σίδηρον [Refs 1st c.BC+]
5. draw on, allure, persuade, τὴν ψυχήν [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, ὁ λόγος.. ἂν ἐπισπάσαιτο [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. ἡ πέρδιξ [τὸν θηρεύοντα] [Refs 4th c.BC+]; θάτερον παρεμπῖπτον ἐπεσπάσατο.. τὸ ἕτερον ἐπινόημα induced, provoked, [Refs 4th c.BC+] G.: c.infinitive, induce to do, ἐπισπάσασθαι [ἂν] αὐτοὺς ἡγεῖτο προθυμήσεσθαι he thought it would induce, invite them to make the venture, uncertain reading in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπισπᾶσθαί τινα ἐμπλησθῆναι δακρύων τὰ ὄμματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but τοὺς πολεμίους εἰς τόπους allure, entice, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —passive, ἐπισπώμενον εἰς τἀναντία πολλάκις ἅμα though often he is being drawn in opposite directionsatonce, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φοβοῦμαι μὴ πάντες.. ἐπισπασθῶσιν πέρα τοῦ συμφέροντος [πολεμῆσαι] [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐπεσπάσθην φιλονεικεῖν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
6. middle, absorb, τὰ σιτία -σπᾶται τὴν ὑγρότητα [Refs 4th c.BC+]; quaff, of a drinker, ἀπνευστὶ ἐ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of infants, suck, γάλα [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of cupping instruments, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; draw in, πνεῦμα [Refs 1st c.BC+]:—passive, of air, to be sucked in, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
7. middle, draw in, call in, Πύρρον [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; φυλακὴν καὶ βοήθειαν παρά τινος[Refs 1st c.BC+]:—passive, to be called in, forced to work, εἴς τι [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
8. in passive, of the sea, ἐπισπωμένη βιαιότερον returning with a rush after having retired, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. overturn: hence proverbial, ὅλην τὴν ἅμαξαν ἐπεσπάσω you have `upset the apple-cart', [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. middle, draw the prepuce forward, become as if uncircumcised, μὴ ἐπισπάσθω [NT]; of the nurse, ἐπισπάσθω τὴν ἀκροποσθίαν [Refs 2nd c.AD+]