The Laws of Circumcision הִלְכוֹת מִילָה
It contains one positive mitzvah: to circumcise males on the eighth day. This mitzvah is explained in the following chapters.מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה אַחַת; וְהִיא: לָמוּל הַזְּכָרִים בְּיּוֹם שְׁמִינִי. וּבֵאוּר מִצְוָה זוֹ בִּפְרָקִים אֵלּוּ.
1. Circumcision is a positive mitzvah1 whose lack of fulfillment is punishable by2 karet,3 as Genesis 17:14 states: “And an uncircumcised male who does not circumcise his foreskin—this soul will be cut off from his people.”4 A father5 is commanded to circumcise his son,6 and a master, his slaves.7 This applies both to those who are born in his home8 and to those purchased by him.9 If the father or the master transgressed and did not circumcise them, he negated the fulfillment of a positive commandment.10 He is not, however, punished by karet, for karet is incurred only by the uncircumcised person himself.11 The court is obligated to circumcise that son or slave at the proper time and should not leave an uncircumcised male among the Jewish people or their slaves.12אמִילָה מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁחַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ כָּרֵת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר 'וְעָרֵל זָכָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִמּוֹל אֶת בְּשַׂר עָרְלָתוֹ וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מֵעַמֶּיהָ' (בראשית יז, יד). וּמִצְוָה עַל הָאָב לָמוּל אֶת בְּנוֹ וְעַל הָרַב לָמוּל אֶת עֲבָדָיו, 'יְלִיד בַּיִת וּמִקְנַת כָּסֶף' (בראשית שם, יב). עָבַר הָאָב אוֹ הָאָדוֹן וְלֹא מָל אוֹתָן – בִּטֵּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה. וְאֵינוֹ חַיָּב כָּרֵת שֶׁאֵין הַכָּרֵת תָּלוּי אֶלָּא בֶעָרֵל עַצְמוֹ. וּבֵית דִּין מְצֻוִּים לָמוּל אוֹתוֹ הַבֵּן אוֹ הָעֶבֶד בִּזְמַנּוֹ; וְלֹא יַנִּיחוּ עָרֵל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא בְעַבְדֵיהֶן.
2. We may not circumcise a person’s son without his knowledge,13 unless he has transgressed and did not circumcise him.14 In such an instance, the court must circumcise15 the child against the father’s will.16 If the matter does not become known to the court and they do not circumcise him, when the child reaches bar mitzvah, he is obligated to circumcise himself.17 With each and every day that passes after he has reached bar mitzvah, he negates a positive commandment.18He is not, however, liable for karet until he dies uncircumcised,19 having intentionally20 failed to perform the mitzvah.21באֵין מָלִין בְּנוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם שֶׁלֹּא מִדַּעְתּוֹ; אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן עָבַר וְנִמְנַע לְמוּלוֹ, שֶׁבֵּית דִּין מָלִין אוֹתוֹ בְּעַל כָּרְחוֹ. נִתְעַלֵּם מִבֵּית דִּין וְלֹא מָלוּ אוֹתוֹ, כְּשֶׁיִּגְדַּל – הוּא חַיָּב לָמוּל אֶת עַצְמוֹ; וְכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם שֶׁיַּעֲבוֹר עָלָיו מִשֶׁיִּגְדַּל וְלֹא יָמוּל אֶת עַצְמוֹ – הֲרֵי הוּא מְבַטֵּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה. אֲבָל אֵינוֹ חַיָּב כָּרֵת, עַד שֶׁיָּמוּת וְהוּא עָרֵל בְּמֵזִיד.
3. A master is obligated to circumcise both a slave who was born as the property of a Jewish owner22 and a slave purchased from the gentiles.23 There is, however, a difference between the two. A home-born slave should be circumcised on the eighth day of his life.24 In contrast, a slave who is purchased should be circumcised on the day he was purchased.25 If he was purchased on the day he was born, he should be circumcised on that day.26גאֶחָד עֶבֶד שֶׁנּוֹלַד בִּרְשׁוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֶחָד עֶבֶד הַנִּלְקָח מִן הַכּוּתִים – חַיָּב הָרַב לָמוּל אוֹתָן. אֶלָּא שֶׁיְּלִיד בַּיִת נִמּוֹל לִשְׁמֹנָה, וּמִקְנַת כֶּסֶף נִמּוֹל בְּיּוֹם שֶׁנִּלְקַח. אֲפִלּוּ לְקָחוֹ בְיוֹם שֶׁנּוֹלַד – נִמּוֹל בְּיוֹמוֹ.

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

4. There are, however,27 slaves that are purchased who should be circumcised on the eighth day of their lives,28 and home-born slaves who should be circumcised on the day they are born.29 What is implied? Should one purchase a maidservant and purchase the rights to her fetus separately,30 when she gives birth, the baby should be circumcised on the eighth day. Although the fetus itself was purchased separately, since the master purchased his mother before the child was born, he should be circumcised on his eighth day.31דיֵשׁ מִקְנַת כֶּסֶף שֶׁנִּמּוֹל לִשְׁמֹנָה וְיֵשׁ יְלִיד בַּיִת שֶׁנִּמּוֹל בְּיוֹם שֶׁנּוֹלַד. כֵּיצַד? לָקַח שִׁפְחָה וְלָקַח עֻבָּרָהּ עִמָּהּ וְיָלְדָה – הֲרֵי זֶה נִמּוֹל לִשְׁמֹנָה. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלָּקַח הָעֻבָּר בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וַהֲרֵי הָעֻבָּר עַצְמוֹ מִקְנַת כֶּסֶף; הוֹאִיל וְקָנָה אִמּוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁנּוֹלַד נִמּוֹל לִשְׁמֹנָה.
5. If a person purchased a maidservant for her offspring,32 or purchased a maidservant with the intent of not immersing her as a slave,33 even though her offspring is born in his domain, the child should be circumcised on the day he was born. This ruling was granted, because this child is considered as if he alone has been purchased by his master, and it is as if he purchased him this day. His mother is not included among the maidservants of the Jewish people, so that the child could be considered “home-born.”34הלָקַח שִׁפְחָה לְעֻבָּרֶיהָ, אוֹ שֶׁלָּקַח שִׁפְחָה עַל מְנָת שֶׁלֹּא לְהַטְבִּילָהּ לְשֵׁם עַבְדוּת, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנּוֹלַד בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ – נִמּוֹל בְּיּוֹם שֶׁנּוֹלָד. שֶׁהֲרֵי הַנּוֹלָד הַזֶּה, כְּאִלּוּ הוּא מִקְנַת כֶּסֶף לְבַדּוֹ וּכְאִלּוּ הַיּוֹם קָנָהוּ, שֶׁאֵין אִמּוֹ בִּכְלַל שִׁפְחוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַבֵּן יְלִיד בָּיִת.
If his mother immersed herself after she gave birth,35 the child should be circumcised on the eighth day.36וְאִם טָבְלָה אִמּוֹ אַחַר שֶׁיָּלָדָה – הֲרֵי זֶה נִמּוֹל לִשְׁמֹנָה.
6. When a person purchases a slave past the age of majority from the gentiles and the slave does not consent37 to be circumcised, we may be patient with him for twelve months.38 It is forbidden to maintain him for any longer period while he remains uncircumcised, and one must sell him to gentiles.39ולָקַח עֶבֶד גָּדוֹל מִן הַגּוֹיִם וְלֹא רָצָה הָעֶבֶד לָמוּל – מְגַלְגְּלִין עִמּוֹ כָּל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ; יֶתֶר עַל כֵּן אָסוּר לְקַיְמוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא עָרֵל, אֶלָּא חוֹזֵר וּמוֹכְרוֹ לְגוֹיִם.
If, at the outset, while the slave was still in the possession of his gentile master, he made a stipulation that he would not be circumcised,40 it is permissible to maintain him although he is not circumcised, provided he accepts the seven universal laws commanded to the descendants of Noah41 and becomes a resident alien.42 If he refuses to accept these seven laws,43 he should be killed immediately.44וְאִם הִתְנָה עָלָיו מִתְּחִלָּה וְהוּא אֵצֶל רַבּוֹ הַגּוֹי שֶׁלֹּא יָמוּל אוֹתוֹ – מֻתָּר לְקַיְמוֹ וְהוּא עָרֵל, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיְקַבֵּל עָלָיו שֶׁבַע מִצְוֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ וְיִהְיֶה כְּגֵּר תּוֹשָׁב. אֲבָל אִם לֹא קִבֵּל עָלָיו שֶׁבַע מִצְוֹת יֵהָרֵג מִיָּד.
A resident alien may be accepted only in the era when the laws of the Jubilee year are in effect.45וְאֵין מְקַבְּלִים גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב אֶלָּא בִזְמַן שֶׁהַיּוֹבֵל נוֹהֵג.
7. When a convert enters the congregation of Israel, he is obligated to undergo circumcision first.46 If he had been circumcised while he was a gentile,47 it is necessary to extract the blood of the covenant48 on the day that he converts.49 Similarly, a child who was born without a foreskin50 must have blood extracted for circumcision51 on the eighth day.52זגֵּר שֶׁנִּכְנַס לִקְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל – חַיָּב מִילָה תְּחִלָּה. וְאִם מָל כְּשֶׁהָיָה גּוֹי, צָרִיךְ לְהַטִּיף מִמֶּנּוּ דַּם בְּרִית בְּיּוֹם שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר. וְכֵן קָטָן שֶׁנּוֹלַד כְּשֶׁהוּא מָהוּל צָרִיךְ לְהַטִּיף מִמֶּנּוּ דַּם בְּרִית בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי.
An androgynous, a child with both male and female sexual organs,53 must be circumcised on the eighth day.54 Similarly, both a child born by Caesarian section55 and a child who has two foreskins56 should be circumcised on the eighth day.57אַנְדְּרוֹגִינוֹס, וְהוּא הַיָּלוּד שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ זַכְרוּת כַּזָּכָר וְנַקְבוּת כִּנְקֵבָה – צָרִיךְ לָמוּל אוֹתוֹ בַּשְּׁמִינִי. וְכֵן יוֹצֵא דּוֹפֶן וּמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שְׁתֵּי עֲרָלוֹת – מָלִין אֶת שְׁתֵּיהֶן בַּשְּׁמִינִי.
8. Circumcision is performed only during the day,58 after the rising of the sun,59 as Leviticus 12:3 states, “On the eighth day...,” i.e., during the day, and not at night.60 This applies to a circumcision performed at the appropriate time, the eighth day after birth, and to a circumcision performed after the appropriate time, from the ninth day and onward.חאֵין מָלִין לְעוֹלָם אֶלָּא בַּיּוֹם, אַחַר עֲלוֹת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, בֵּין בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי שֶׁהוּא זְמַנָּהּ בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא בִזְמַנָּהּ שֶׁהוּא מִתְּשִׁיעִי וָהָלְאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי" (ויקרא יב, ג) – 'בַּיּוֹם' וְלֹא בַלַּיְלָה.
If one performed the circumcision after dawn,61 it is acceptable. It is acceptable at any time throughout the entire day. Nevertheless, it is a mitzvah to perform the circumcision early, in the beginning of the day, since “the eager perform mitzvot early.”62מָל מִשֶּׁעָלָה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר – כָּשֵׁר. וְכָל הַיּוֹם כָּשֵׁר לְמִילָה; וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן – מִצְוָה לְהַקְדִּים בִּתְחִלַּת הַיּוֹם, שֶׁזְּרִיזִין מַקְדִּימִין לְמִּצְוֹת.
9. When a circumcision is performed at its appropriate time,63 its performance supersedes the prohibition against work 64 on the Sabbath.65 When it is not performed at its appropriate time, its performance does not supersede the prohibition against labor on the Sabbath or the festivals.66טמִילָה בִזְמַנָּהּ דּוֹחָה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת. וְשֶׁלֹא בִזְמַנָּהּ אֵינָהּ דּוֹחָה לֹא אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת וְלֹא אֶת יוֹם טוֹב.
Whether or not it is performed at its appropriate time,67 its performance supersedes the prohibition against removing signs of tzara’at.68וּבֵין בִּזְמַנָּהּ וּבֵין שֶׁלֹּא בִזְמַנָּהּ – דּוֹחָה אֶת הַצָּרָעַת.
What is implied? If there was a sign of tzara’at on the foreskin, it may be cut off with the foreskin. Although there is a prohibition against cutting off the signs of tzara’at, the performance of a positive commandment supersedes the observance of a negative commandment.69כֵּיצַד? שֶׁאִם הָיְתָה בַהֶרֶת בְּעוֹר הָעָרְלָה חוֹתְכָהּ עִם הָעָרְלָה; אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקְּצִיצַת נֶגַע הַצָּרַעַת בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - יָבֹא עֲשֵׂה וְיִדְחֶה אֶת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
10. Just as the circumcision of sons supersedes the prohibitions against labor on the Sabbath, so too, the circumcision of those slaves who are circumcised on the eighth day of their lives 70 supersedes the prohibitions against labor on the Sabbath when the eighth day of their life falls on the Sabbath.71יכְּשֵׁם שֶׁמִילַת הַבָּנִים דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, כָּךְ מִילַת הָעֲבָדִים שֶׁהֵן נִמּוֹלִים לִשְׁמֹנָה דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת אִם חָל שְׁמִינִי שֶׁלָּהֶן בְּשַׁבָּת.
There is one exception—a slave whose mother did not immerse herself until after she gave birth.72 Although such a slave is circumcised on the eighth day, his circumcision does not supersede the prohibitions against labor on the Sabbath.73חוּץ מִילִיד בַּיִת שֶׁלֹּא טָבְלָה אִמּוֹ עַד שֶׁיָּלְדָה, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּמּוֹל לִשְׁמֹנָה – אֵינוֹ דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת.
11. The circumcision of the following individuals does not supersede the prohibitions against work on the Sabbath: a child who was born without a foreskin;74 a child who was born in the eighth month of pregnancy before his development was completed; he is considered to be a stillborn, for he will not live;75 a child born by Caesarian section;76an androgynous; and a person with two foreskins.77 These individuals are circumcised on the following Sunday, the ninth day of their lives.78יאקָטָן שֶׁנּוֹלַד כְּשֶׁהוּא מָהוּל, ומִי שֶׁנּוֹלַד בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִי לְעִבּוּרוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁתִּגָּמֵר בְּרִיָּתוֹ, שֶׁהוּא כְּנֵפֶל מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַי; וְיוֹצֵא דוֹפֶן וְאַנְדְּרוֹגִינוֹס, וּמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שְׁתֵּי עֲרָלוֹת – אֵין דּוֹחִין אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, אֶלָּא נִמּוֹלִין בְּאֶחָד בַּשַּׁבָּת שֶׁהוּא יוֹם תְּשִׁיעִי שֶׁלָּהֶן.
12. When a child is born beyn hash’mashot,79 which is a period when it is undetermined whether it is considered as day or night, we count from the night,80 and he is circumcised on the ninth day following the day he was born, which could be the eighth day.81יבמִי שֶׁנּוֹלַד בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, סָפֵק בַּיּוֹם סָפֵק בַּלַּיְלָה – מוֹנִין מִן הַלַּיְלָה וְנִמּוֹל לַתְּשִׁיעִי, שֶׁהוּא סָפֵק שְׁמִינִי.
When a child is born beyn hash’mashot on Friday,82 his circumcision does not supersede the Sabbath prohibitions, because the Sabbath prohibitions are never superseded because of a doubtful situation. Rather, he should be circumcised on the following Sunday.83וְאִם נוֹלַד עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת אֵינוֹ דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, אֶלָּא נִמּוֹל בְּאֶחָד בַּשַּׁבָּת. שֶׁאֵין דּוֹחִין אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת מִסָּפֵק.
13. The following principles apply when a child is born in the eighth month of pregnancy:84 If the child’s nails and hair are completely formed, we assume that this is a completely formed infant that should have been born in the seventh month, but whose birth was delayed. Hence, the baby may be carried on the Sabbath, is not considered to be a stone, and may be circumcised on the Sabbath. If, however, when the baby was born, its hair and nails were incompletely formed, we can be certain that this child is in its eighth month of development and should not have been born until the ninth month, but was born prematurely. Therefore, he is considered as a stone and may not be moved on the Sabbath.יגמִי שֶׁנּוֹלַד בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִי: אִם הָיָה שָׁלֵם בִּשְׂעָרוֹ וּבְצִפָּרְנָיו – הֲרֵי זֶה וָלָד שָלֵם, וּ'בֶן שִׁבְעָה' הוּא אֶלָּא שֶׁנִּשְׁתָּהָה. וּמֻתָּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ בְשַׁבָּת וְאֵינוֹ כְּאֶבֶן; וּמָלִין אוֹתוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת. אֲבָל אִם נוֹלַד וּשְׂעָרוֹ לָקוּי וְאֵין צִפָּרְנָיו שְׁלֵמִין כִּבְרִיָּתָן – הֲרֵי זֶה בֶּן שְׁמֹנָה וַדַּאי, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה רָאוּי לְהִוָּלֵד אֶלָּא בְתִשְׁעָה וְיָצָא קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּגָּמֵר; וּלְפִיכָךְ הוּא חָשׁוּב כְּאֶבֶן וְאָסוּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת.
Nevertheless, if such an infant remains alive for thirty days, he is considered to be a viable infant and is governed by all the same rules as other infants.85 Whenever a human child lives longer than thirty days, it is no longer considered to be a stillborn.וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן – אִם שָׁהָה שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם הֲרֵי הוּא וָלָד שֶׁל קַיָּמָא וַהֲרֵי הוּא כִּשְׁאָר הַנּוֹלָדִין לְכָל דָּבָר. שֶׁכָּל שֶׁשָּׁהָה שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם בָּאָדָם – אֵינוֹ נֵפֶל.
14. The following rules apply when a child is born in the seventh month of gestation: If a child is born with his limbs completely formed,86 we assume that he will live and he should be circumcised on the eighth day even if it falls on the Sabbath.ידמִי שֶׁנּוֹלַד בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְעִבּוּרוֹ, אִם נוֹלַד שָׁלֵם – הֲרֵי זֶה וָלָד שֶׁל קַיָּמָא וּמָלִין אוֹתוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת.
If there is a question whether a child87 was born in the seventh month or in the eighth month, he can be circumcised on the Sabbath. The rationale is: If he was born in the seventh month and his limbs are completely formed, it is appropriate that his circumcision supersede the prohibitions against labor on the Sabbath. If he was born in the eighth month, circumcising him does not constitute a violation of the Sabbath prohibitions.88 It is like cutting meat, because he is like a stillborn if he is, in fact, born in the eighth month.סָפֵק בֶּן שִׁבְעָה סָפֵק בֶּן שְׁמֹנָה – מָלִין אוֹתוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת עַל כָּל פָּנִים: אִם בֶּן שִׁבְעָה הוּא וְשָׁלֵם הוּא – בְּדִין הוּא שֶׁיִּדְחֶה שַׁבָּת; וְאִם בֶּן שְׁמֹנָה הוּא – הֲרֵי זֶה שֶׁמָּל כִּמְחַתֵּךְ בָּשָׂר הוּא; לְפִי שֶׁזֶּה נֵפֶל אִם הוּא בֶּן שְׁמֹנָה.
15. When a child’s head emerges from his mother’s birth canal beyn hash’mashot between Friday and the Sabbath, but his entire body does not emerge until after the Sabbath night has commenced, the child should not be circumcised on the Sabbath.89טוהוֹצִיא הָעֻבָּר רֹאשׁוֹ חוּץ לִמְעֵי אִמּוֹ בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא יָצָא כֻּלּוֹ אֶלָּא בְלֵילֵי שַׁבָּת – אֵין מָלִין אוֹתוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת.
Whenever a child’s circumcision does not supersede the Sabbath prohibitions, such circumcision also does not supersede the prohibitions of the first day of a festival.90 It does, however, supersede the prohibitions of the second day of a festival.91 On Rosh HaShanah, however, it does not supersede the prohibitions of either the first or the second day.92 Similarly, a circumcision that is not carried out at the appropriate time93 does not supersede the prohibitions of either of the two days of Rosh HaShanah.94וְכָל מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ דוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת אֵינוֹ דּוֹחֶה אֶת יוֹם טוֹב רִאשׁוֹן, וְדוֹחֶה אֶת יוֹם טוֹב שֵׁנִי. וּבִשְׁנֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים שֶׁל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה – אֵינוֹ דוֹחֶה לֹא אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹן וְלֹא אֶת הַשֵּׁנִי. וְכֵן מִילָה שֶׁלֹּא בִזְמַנָּהּ אֵינָהּ דּוֹחָה אֶת שְׁנֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים שֶׁל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה.
16. A sick person95 should not be circumcised until he regains his health.96 Seven full days should be counted from the time he regains his health until he is circumcised.97טזחוֹלֶה אֵין מָלִין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּבְרִיא. וּמוֹנִין לוֹ מֵעֵת שֶׁיַּבְרִיא מֵחָלְיוֹ שִׁבְעָה יָמִים מֵעֵת לְעֵת וְאַחַר כָּךְ מָלִין אוֹתוֹ.
When does the above apply? When he recovers from high fever98 or from a similar illness.99 If, however, a person’s eyes hurt, as soon as his eyes heal he may be circumcised immediately.100 The same applies in all similar circumstances.101בַּמֶּה דְבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בְּשֶׁחֲלָצַתּוּ חַמָּה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָחֳלִי זֶה; אֲבָל אִם כָּאֲבוּ לוֹ עֵינָיו – בְּעֵת שֶׁיִּפָּתְחוּ עֵינָיו וְיֵרָפְאוּ מָלִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָזֶה.
17. A child whose complexion is very yellowish102 on the eighth day of his life103 should not be circumcised until his blood recovers and his complexion returns to that of an ordinary healthy child.יזקָטָן שֶׁנִּמְצָא בַּשְּׁמִינִי שֶׁלּוֹ יָרוֹק בְּיוֹתֵר – אֵין מָלִין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּפּוֹל בּוֹ דָּם וְיַחְזְרוּ מַרְאָיו כְּמַרְאֵה הַקְּטַנִּים הַבְּרִיאִים.
Similarly, if his complexion is overly red,104 as if he had been painted, he should not be circumcised until his blood recovers and his complexion returns to that of an ordinary healthy child.105 This is an example of sickness, and great care must be taken regarding this matter.וְכֵן אִם הָיָה אָדֹם בְּיוֹתֵר כְּמִי שֶׁצָּבְעוּ אוֹתוֹ, אֵין מָלִין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּבָּלַע בּוֹ דָּמוֹ וְיַחְזְרוּ מַרְאָיו כִּשְׁאָר הַקְּטַנִּים. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁזֶּה חֹלִי הוּא וְצָרִיךְ לְהִזָּהֵר בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ הַרְבֵּה.
18. When a woman106 circumcised her first son and he died because the circumcision sapped his strength,107 and similarly, circumcised her second son and he also died because of the circumcision, she should not circumcise her third son108 at the appropriate time. Rather, she should wait until he becomes older and his strength increases.109 This applies regardless of whether the first two children were sired by the same father or not.110 We should not circumcise a child who is afflicted with any sickness at all, since the danger to life takes precedence over everything. Circumcision can be performed at a later date, while it is impossible to bring a single Jewish soul back to life.111יחאִשָּׁה שֶׁמָּלָה בְּנָהּ רִאשׁוֹן וָמֵת מַחֲמַת מִילָה שֶׁהִכְשִׁילָה אֶת כֹּחוֹ; וְכֵן מָלָה אֶת הַשֵּׁנִי וָמֵת מַחֲמַת מִילָה; בֵּין מִבַּעֲלָהּ הָרִאשׁוֹן בֵּין מִבַּעֲלָהּ הַשֵּׁנִי – הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יָמוּל אֶת הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בִּזְמַנּוֹ, אֶלָּא מַמְתִּינִין לוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּגְדִּיל וְיִתְחַזֵּק כֹּחוֹ. אֵין מָלִין אֶלָּא וָלָד שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ שׁוּם חֹלִי, שֶׁסַכָּנַת נְפָשׁוֹת דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַכֹּל; וְאֶפְשָׁר לָמוּל לְאַחַר זְמַן וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַחֲזִיר נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת מִיִשְׂרָאֵל לְעוֹלָם.