Exodus 4 25

Exodus 4:25 kjv

Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

Exodus 4:25 nkjv

Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses' feet, and said, "Surely you are a husband of blood to me!"

Exodus 4:25 niv

But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said.

Exodus 4:25 esv

Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!"

Exodus 4:25 nlt

But Moses' wife, Zipporah, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She touched his feet with the foreskin and said, "Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me."

Exodus 4 verses

Exodus 4 25 Meaning

Exodus 4:25 describes Zipporah, Moses' wife, performing a life-saving act of ritual circumcision on their son Gershom, at a critical moment when the Lord was about to strike Moses down for his failure to obey the covenant command. Her cryptic declaration, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!" signifies the establishment or reaffirmation of a covenant relationship sealed by blood, ensuring Moses' survival and validating his divine commission through adherence to God's requirements. This act averted divine judgment and underscores the deadly seriousness of obedience to God's covenant.

Exodus 4 25 Context

Exodus 4:25 occurs at a pivotal moment after Moses' initial call at the burning bush and his return journey from Midian to Egypt with his family. The Lord has empowered Moses with signs (staff to snake, hand leprosy), declared His intent to bring Israel out of Egypt, and issued a grave warning that Pharaoh's firstborn would die if he did not release God's "firstborn" (Israel). Despite these mighty revelations and commissions, Moses himself falls under God's wrath at a "lodging place" because he had failed to circumcise his son, a fundamental requirement of the Abrahamic covenant. Zipporah's swift and decisive action immediately before the passage averts this divine judgment, highlighting the non-negotiable importance of covenant obedience even for the leader chosen by God.

Exodus 4 25 Word analysis

• Then Zipporah took: Zipporah (צִפֹּרָה, Tsipporah - meaning "bird" or "sparrow"), Moses' Midianite wife, acts decisively. Her non-Israelite background yet immediate understanding of the severity demonstrates deep wisdom and courage, taking initiative when Moses (seemingly incapacitated or overwhelmed by divine attack) cannot.
• a flint: (Tzur - צֻר), a sharp stone. This detail is significant, indicating a primitive, perhaps hurried or emergency, act, rather than using a metal knife (which would have been available). It links the act to ancient covenantal practice, echoing Gen 17, and later, Josh 5:2. The rough nature of the instrument underscores the urgent and serious nature of the situation.
• and cut off: (Karaṭ - כָּרַת), implies a cutting, severing, or indeed "making a covenant" (as in karat brit, "to cut a covenant," referring to the ancient practice of cutting an animal in two to seal a vow). Here, it's a physical cutting that is covenantally significant.
• her son's foreskin: (Orlah - עָרְלָה), the foreskin of the penis. This is the very object of the covenant of circumcision (Gen 17), a physical sign on the male body that outwardly marked an Israelite as belonging to God's chosen people and the Abrahamic covenant. Moses' failure to circumcise his son placed his entire family outside this covenant marker and him in danger of God's wrath.
• and threw it: (Nâga‛ - נָגַע), means to touch, reach, or strike; it can also mean to throw or cast. The force suggested by "threw" highlights Zipporah's desperate, perhaps even indignant, act. It wasn't a casual placement but a powerful symbolic gesture.
• at Moses' feet: This positioning is significant. It's an act directed towards Moses, the intended victim of God's wrath, indicating that his covenant negligence was the cause. It could also symbolize an offering or placing something under someone's authority. The act of placing the blood-stained foreskin at his feet visibly connected him to the consequences of neglecting the covenant.
• saying, 'Surely you are: The word "surely" (Ki - כִּי) is an emphatic particle, underlining the certainty and conviction of Zipporah's statement. It marks a moment of profound revelation or declaration.
• a bridegroom of blood: (Ḥatan Damim - חֲתַן דָּמִים). This is the most enigmatic phrase.
  • "Bridegroom" (Ḥatan - חָתָן): Can mean "son-in-law" or "bridegroom." In ancient Semitic custom, the shedding of blood was sometimes associated with the consummation of marriage or the establishment of a new family connection (though not a universal interpretation for circumcision). Here, it seems to symbolize a re-initiation or consecration into a "covenant relationship" with God through the shedding of blood. Moses is being made acceptable or consecrated, as a groom is made one with his bride.
  • "of blood" (Damim - דָּמִים): Plural form, indicating "bloods." This emphasizes the reality of the shed blood. It connects directly to the saving power of blood as a means of atonement and sealing covenants, which is a core biblical theme. The act purified Moses or bought him back from the brink of death through this blood offering.
• to me!: (Lī - לִי), "to me," or "for me." This personalizes the statement, showing Zipporah's direct involvement, and perhaps her understanding that Moses' survival also secured her and her family's future, as well as God's plan for Israel.

Exodus 4 25 Bonus section

• Rabbinic Tradition: Some Jewish traditions suggest that Moses was unable to perform the circumcision because he was afflicted, either struck with a debilitating illness or directly paralyzed by the divine encounter, hence Zipporah's intervention became necessary.
• Midianite Role: Zipporah's knowledge of the necessity of circumcision, though she was a Midianite, speaks to the broader ancient Semitic world's awareness of such practices, and perhaps the shared heritage between Abraham and Midian (through Abraham's son Midian, Gen 25:1-2). Her immediate recognition of the divine wrath and the appropriate remedy points to her spiritual sensitivity or cultural understanding.
• Foreshadowing Christ: This passage, where blood saves from death due to disobedience, serves as a powerful type (a prophetic pattern). Just as Gershom's blood averted the physical death of Moses and secured his prophetic mission, so the ultimate blood sacrifice of Christ saves from spiritual death and secures the new covenant, allowing believers to enter God's service and walk in fellowship.
• Household Obedience: The event emphasizes that the covenant involves the entire household of the leader. Moses' personal obedience, though significant, was tied to his family's adherence to God's commands. A leader's failure at home can impact their divine commission and lead to divine discipline.

Exodus 4 25 Commentary

Exodus 4:25 stands as a profound theological statement, packed with symbolic action and a mysterious utterance. Following Moses' reluctance and arguments with God concerning his mission, he faces a lethal divine encounter for a deeply personal failure: his son remained uncircumcised, a direct violation of God's Abrahamic covenant. This highlights that obedience to God's foundational commands is non-negotiable, even for His chosen leaders. The seriousness is underscored by God's intent to "kill" Moses, not merely scold him.

Zipporah's quick, decisive action using a flint knife, a primitive tool, suggests an urgent, life-saving, and perhaps desperate ritual. She understands the stakes. Her throwing of the foreskin "at Moses' feet" is a potent symbol—a ritualistic completion of the blood sacrifice, and perhaps a stark reminder to Moses of his obligation, almost an accusation, "This is what you should have done!" The act physically manifests the covenant.

The enigmatic declaration "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!" carries deep significance. It signifies the blood of the covenant, which had been ignored but now cleanses and consecrates. Moses, by virtue of his son's blood, is made "acceptable" or "covenant-worthy" in the eyes of God, consecrated as God's instrument for the exodus, similar to how a groom is "bound" to his bride. The "bridegroom" terminology could allude to the deeper covenantal marriage relationship between God and Israel, with Moses now fully participating in that relationship through his household's obedience. This event forcefully illustrates the critical necessity of "walking with God" in obedience, and that even the divine call does not exempt one from basic covenantal obligations. It foreshadows the centrality of blood in atonement and covenant ratification throughout Scripture.