Eunuch [N] [S]
literally bed-keeper or chamberlain, and not necessarily in all cases one who was mutilated, although the practice of employing such mutilated persons in Oriental courts was common ( 2 Kings 9:32 ; Esther 2:3 ). The law of Moses excluded them from the congregation ( Deuteronomy 23:1 ). They were common also among the Greeks and Romans. It is said that even to-day there are some in Rome who are employed in singing soprano in the Sistine Chapel. Three classes of eunuchs are mentioned in Matthew 19:12 .
These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
Bibliography Information
Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for Eunuch". "Easton's Bible Dictionary". .
< Eunice Euodias >
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it].
Matthew 19:12 KJV
Who are those eunuchs "so born from their mother's womb". And are they the same as those spoken of in Isaiah?
>For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose [the things] that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isaiah 56:4-5 KJV
Eunuchs are those without the 'equipment' to have sexual relations, not to include those who call themselves homosexual. Eunuchs, because they lacked some necessary equipment to have sexual relations therefore they could not have sons or daughters, hence the Is. scripture where the Lord promises them something better than sons or daughters in His house.
Category 1 -those born eunuchs from their mother's womb. This means those men born without the necessary physical equipment to have sexual relations that will end in possible pregnancy.
Category 2 - Eunuchs made that way by men. This means some men, through acts of war, etc. were actually made so that they could not have sexual relations. This caused them to be placed as overseers in harems of kings, where they were trusted not to have relations with any of the women, because they actually couldn't. Making eunuchs of men captured in war, was not an uncommon practice in antiquity. Not for example, the Bible record of the slaughter of 'all the male children'. This is another way Kings conquered certain people groups, by eliminating generations of males, within that people group.
Category 3 - Men who made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. This means that some men like Paul, lived celibate lives, although he had the right to have a wife, (and Paul may have had a wife at one time, because of certain Jewish groups he wrote that he belonged to) Paul made himself 'like a eunuch' for the sake of the gospel. These words may also mean that some men actually 'castrated themselves' physically, for the sake of the kingdom of God.
Why do these passages on eunuchs NOT include people who call themselves homosexual?
Homosexual could not be included in the eunuch category at all, because homosexuality is something that is expressly forbidden and called sin, by both the old and new testament, and does not involve dismemberment of any kind. Homosexual attraction is not castration.
Making a eunuch by birth, by others, or someone choosing to make themselves a 'eunuch' for the cause of Christ, does not include the sin of homosexuality in any way.
Homosexuality is always treated as wrong and against God in every way, by the old and especially the new testament, where even 'effiminancy', ie a male having female-like behaviours, speech or actions, is considered a similar sin to any homosexual behaviour itself. This is similar to the passage of 'whoever looks on a woman to lust, has already committed adultery in their heart'. A male acting in any effeminate way, this effiminancy was considered a deep sin, on an equal par with homosexual actions themselves.