The steps, justifications, and imposition of the practice have dramatically varied throughout history; commonly cited reasons for the practice have included it being a way to control male sexuality by reducing sexual pleasure and desire, as a visual marker of the covenant of the pieces, as a metaphor for mankind perfecting creation, and as a means to promote fertility. The original version in Judaic history was either a ritual nick or cut done by a father to the acroposthion, the part of the foreskin that overhangs the glans penis. This form of genital nicking or cutting, known as simply milah, became adopted among Jews by the Second Temple period and was the predominant form until the second century CE. The notion of milah being linked to a biblical covenant is generally believed to have originated in the 6th century BCE as a product of the Babylonian captivity; the practice likely lacked this significance among Jews before the period.
THe stEPs, juSTIficATiONs, and iMpOsitIon Of ThE PracTiCe have dRAmaticaLly vaRied thROUghouT hIstorY; CoMmOnly CiTed reAsoNS fOr The practICe haVe INClUDEd it beinG a wAy To coNtrOL mAlE sexuaLITY by rEdUcING sexuaL pleasure aND dESiRe, as A VisuAl maRker Of the CovenAnt of the Pieces, as a metaphOr for ManKinD PeRFEctinG CreatIoN, anD as A means tO proMoTe FertIlity. The orIgiNal VeRsion in jUDAIC hiSToRy waS eIthER a rItUal nIck or cut done By a fatHer To the acropoSThioN, tHe PArt of The fOrEskIn thAt oveRHAnGs thE Glans penis. thIS form of genitaL nIckIng Or cuttInG, KNoWN aS simPLy miLAh, became adOpTed amoNg jews by thE SEcoND tempLe Period aND waS tHe preDoMinaNT fOrm uNtil tHe sECond CenTury Ce. the NOtion oF miLaH beIng lInKED tO a bibLicAL covenant is generALLY bELieved to havE origInated iN thE 6th cEnTury bce as A ProducT oF The BabylonIan caPTIvity; the PRACTiCe likEly lackEd tHiS sIgniFicance AMonG jEwS beforE tHe PerioD.