Exodus 4 26

Exodus 4:26 kjv

So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

Exodus 4:26 nkjv

So He let him go. Then she said, "You are a husband of blood!"?because of the circumcision.

Exodus 4:26 niv

So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.)

Exodus 4:26 esv

So he let him alone. It was then that she said, "A bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.

Exodus 4:26 nlt

(When she said "a bridegroom of blood," she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the LORD left him alone.

Exodus 4 verses

Exodus 4 26 Meaning

Exodus 4:26 describes a pivotal, yet perplexing, encounter where God threatened Moses' life for neglecting the circumcision of his son. Zipporah, Moses' wife, swiftly acts by circumcising their son, using the severed foreskin to symbolically touch Moses, declaring, "A bridegroom of blood you are to me." This act of blood sacrifice appeases God's wrath, indicating that Moses' covenant standing and fitness for divine service were re-established through this urgent, bloody covenant act, literally sealing his role as a "blood-cleansed" leader.

Exodus 4 26 Context

Exodus 4:26 occurs immediately after a shocking encounter: God sought to kill Moses while he was journeying back to Egypt with his family. This threat stemmed from Moses' failure to circumcise one of his sons, an egregious violation of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 17:14), which stipulated that any uncircumcised male among God's covenant people would be "cut off." At this point in Moses' life, having just been commissioned by God at the burning bush to lead Israel, this omission represented a significant covenant breach. The act itself is part of Moses' preparation and purification, highlighting that obedience to God's fundamental commands precedes and enables divine service. The chapter sets Moses on his path to confront Pharaoh, but first, he must ensure his own household is in order according to God's law.

Exodus 4 26 Word Analysis

• So he let him alone. (וַיִּרֶף מִמֶּנּוּ, vayyiref mimennu): "And He withdrew from him" or "He slackened from him." The subject "he" refers to the Lord, and "him" likely refers to Moses, whom God was threatening. This signifies an immediate cessation of the divine assault or wrath, a direct consequence of Zipporah's decisive action.
• Then she said, (אָז אָמְרָה, az amerah): "Then she said." Emphasizes Zipporah's prompt reaction and declaration, highlighting her active and instrumental role in averting the crisis. Her words are spoken immediately after the critical event of circumcision and touching.
• "A bridegroom of blood" (חֲתַן דָּמִים, hatan damim):
  • חֲתַן (hatan): "bridegroom," but can also mean son-in-law or even simply one related by marriage. In this context, it refers to Moses as Zipporah's husband.
  • דָּמִים (damim): The plural form of "blood," which can intensify the meaning (e.g., indicating a significant amount of blood, or even bloodguilt/bloodshed).
  • The entire phrase is complex and much debated:
    • A "bloody bridegroom": Describing Moses who has just passed through a severe crisis sealed by blood.
    • A "bridegroom by blood" / "bridegroom sealed with blood": Implying that Moses' status as a proper covenant member (and thus Zipporah's true husband in the sight of God) has been established or reaffirmed through the shedding of blood.
    • "One consecrated by blood": Signifying purification and acceptance through this bloody ritual.
    • It suggests that Moses' life or status as a "bridegroom" (a figure central to his family's continuity and the covenant line) was directly redeemed or affirmed by this blood-shedding act.
• you are to me, (לִי אַתָּה, li attah): "to me you are." Zipporah's direct address to Moses. It personalizes the declaration, showing her perspective on the dramatic transformation or re-establishment of Moses' identity and relationship, both to God and to her. It could imply that because of this "bloody" event, Moses is now truly "hers" again, having survived.
• because of the circumcision. (לַמּוּלֹת, labbūlōt): "for/on account of the circumcisions" (plural).
  • לַמּוּלֹת (lammulot): The plural form is notable. It could refer to:
    • The act of cutting, encompassing the several pieces of foreskin (even though typically only one son is circumcised).
    • A way to emphasize the intensely bloody nature of the ritual itself.
    • Possibly an idiom signifying "the required rite of circumcision," highlighting the plural implications or extent of this specific event.
  • This phrase clearly states the direct reason for God's withdrawal, underscoring the vital importance of this covenant sign.

Exodus 4 26 Bonus Section

• The identity of "him" whom the Lord sought to kill in the preceding verse (Exo 4:24) is often debated, though most scholars infer it was Moses, as he was the covenant leader responsible for ensuring the circumcision of his household. The narrative pivots on Moses' neglected obligation, not the son's.
• Zipporah's specific action of taking the foreskin and touching Moses' feet with it (Exo 4:25) is unique and symbolically significant. It may represent a ritualistic act of transferring the cleansing/protective power of the covenant blood to Moses, a symbolic 'payment' for his life, or a concrete demonstration of fulfilling the neglected covenant sign.
• This incident, while brief, is a severe initiation for Moses, profoundly teaching him the non-negotiable nature of obedience to God's law. This lesson prepares him for his role in delivering and legislating for the nation of Israel, where strict adherence to God's commandments would be paramount.
• The fact that Zipporah, a Midianite woman, performs this crucial life-saving covenant act rather than Moses highlights a spiritual acuity and immediate obedience on her part that Moses himself lacked at that critical juncture.

Exodus 4 26 Commentary

Exodus 4:26 presents a startling reminder of God's absolute holiness and the serious ramifications of neglecting His covenant commands, even for His chosen leaders. Moses, newly appointed to lead Israel, was paradoxically at risk of death for his own covenant disobedience. The obscure phrase "bridegroom of blood" signifies the profound re-establishment of Moses' relationship with God, his family, and his mission, all brought about through the vital shedding of blood in the act of circumcision. It illustrates that spiritual readiness, obedience, and alignment with God's foundational requirements are non-negotiable prerequisites for divine service. Zipporah's quick discernment and decisive action in a moment of extreme peril underscores that divine revelation and the means to obey God were not exclusively confined to Israel, but sometimes recognized and acted upon by those outside the direct lineage, and her actions reveal a vital commitment to the covenant of Moses. This event marks Moses' personal, visceral encounter with the gravity of God's commands, hardening him for the trials and demands of leading an entire nation under the divine Law. It reveals that the Lord does not tolerate negligence from those whom He calls into covenant partnership.