Which Old Testament passage symbolizes the practice of infant baptism?

Genesis 17:10-12 is significant in the discussion of infant baptism because it records God’s covenant with Abraham, which includes the command for circumcision. This practice was a sign of the covenant and was to be administered to male children on the eighth day after birth. The theological connection here is that just as circumcision was a covenantal sign initiated by God that included infants in the community of faith, infant baptism is seen by many as a New Testament parallel that incorporates infants into the covenant community through baptism.

In the context of infant baptism, this passage underscores the importance of initiating children into the covenant relationship with God, which has been interpreted by many Christian traditions as a basis for baptizing infants. The emphasis is on the inclusion of the next generation in the faith community, which is foundational for those who support the practice of baptizing infants.

Other passages, while they might cover various aspects of law, purification, or community conduct, do not specifically address the inclusion of infants in the covenant in the same way as Genesis 17:10-12.