Eunuchs in the Temple?
In The Acts of the Apostles there is a rather peculiar sight which is almost too subtle to realize:
Acts 8:27
“So he [Philip] started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,”
The Word
The focus of this inquiry is the word ευνουχος (eunoukhos) which is where the English word “eunuch” comes from. It is assigned the Strong’s Number #2135 and has the following definition:
New Testament Greek Definition:
2135 eunouchos {yoo-noo’-khos}
from eune (a bed) and 2192; TDNT - 2:765,277; n m
AV - eunuch 8; 81. 1) a bed keeper, bed guard, superintendent of the bedchamber, chamberlain
1. a) in the palace of oriental monarchs who support numerous wives the superintendent of the women’s apartment or harem, an office held by eunuchs
2. b) an emasculated man, a eunuch
1. b1) eunuchs in oriental courts held by other offices of greater, held by the Ethiopian eunuch mentioned in Ac. 8:27-39*
3. c) one naturally incapacitated
1. 1c1) for marriage
2. 1c2) begetting children
4. d) one who voluntarily abstains from marriage
The Evidence
Note the definition emphasized above. The Strong’s Lexicon has an extra entry to specifically deal with this particular use of the word. However, the only evidence for this use that is cited falls upon the story of Acts (in other words, one defines the word based upon this definition, which is in turn defined by the story; a logical loop).
If we take the Greek text for face value, we see that this particular Ethiopian had come to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple; however, such activity was forbidden. For example we see in Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy 23:1
“No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the LORD.”
With all of this in mind, things become rather puzzling. Why would the Book of Acts record an event that would be, when taken with the context of the situation, impossible?
An Aramaic Perspective
Although the Syriac Peshitta is by no means a source to take completely for face value, it does have an interesting possibility. Where ευνουχος is found in the Greek, the Peshitta reads מהימנא (mhaimnâ) which comes from the root הימן (haimen) which, in turn, derives the following words:
- מהימנא (mhaimnâ) - eunuch / faithful
- מהימנא (mhaimnâ) - believer / believing
- הימנותא (haimânûthâ) - faith / religion
- הימן (haimen) - to believe / to trust
The Conclusion
Due to the fact that eunuchs were forbidden from worshipping in the Temple as well as the possibility of an Aramaic source, it is a possibility that this passage in Acts might have intended to read:
Acts 8:27
“So he [Philip] started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian believer, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, “