Circumcision knives are used during a circumcision ceremony, a ritual which involves the removal of the foreskin of the male organ. Normally, a male child is circumcised eight days after birth. The circumcision is performed by a mohel (circumcisor).

This circumcision knife, which was made in 1646, is about 15 centimeters long. The knife is made from silver, a gold colored metal, and solid coral. The coral, which most of the handle consists of, is shaped like a stretched-out lion. On either side of this lion is an uncultivated pearl. On the other side of the pearls are short gold colored sections, each bordered on the other side by some silver and clear jewel decorations. These gold sections bear Hebrew inscriptions which are unreadable. The blade of the knife is made of solid silver. The handle and the blade each compose about half of the knife.

In Judaism, images of lions are often references to the "Lion of Judah". Biblically, lions were the symbol of the tribe of Judah, or Jews, which is why they are identified as a Jewish symbol. For Jews, just as in other cultures, lions represent bravery, strength, and ferocity.

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