Rom 4:11: circumcision as the sign of the covenant (Gen 17:11)

Says Gen 17:11 calls circumcision וְהָיָה לְאוֹת בְּרִית בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם (vehayah le'ot berit beni uvenekhem, "and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you," BSB). אוֹת is a "sign, pledge, token," including a sign of a covenant (BDB p. 16). Swete's LXX has καὶ ἔσται ἐν σημείῳ διαθήκης ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν.

Says Paul writes σημεῖον ἔλαβεν περιτομῆς, σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως (4:11). σημεῖον matches the LXX; "seal" (σφραγίς) is Paul's word, not found in Gen 17 in the MT or the LXX.

Says In Genesis the crediting of 15:6 comes before the circumcision of 17:24, when Abraham was ninety-nine; Paul's question in 4:10 rests on this order.

Implies Calling the sign a seal means it confirmed a righteousness already credited by faith, not that it caused it (4:10–11).

Uncertain The use of 4:11 in debates on baptism. Paedobaptist readings (Westminster Confession 28) take baptism, like circumcision, as a sign and seal of the covenant of grace given also to believers' children, comparing Col 2:11–12. Credobaptist readings (Second London Baptist Confession 29) note that Abraham's seal followed his faith and that Col 2:11–12 ties baptism to faith, so baptism follows profession of faith. The team takes no lean.