CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 4:25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin, and touched it to Moses' feet. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/4-25.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/02_Exo_04_25.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 4:25 - Moses Leaves for Egypt" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin, and touched it to Moses' feet. Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me, she said." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/4-25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/4-25.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 25</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/4-24.htm" title="Exodus 4:24">◄</a> Exodus 4:25 <a href="/exodus/4-26.htm" title="Exodus 4:26">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son&#8217s foreskin and touched Moses&#8217 feet with it. &#8220Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,&#8221 she said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />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!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast <i>it</i> at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband <i>art</i> thou to me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast <i>it</i> at <i>Moses’</i> feet, and said, “Surely you <i>are</i> a husband of blood to me!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet; and she said, “You are indeed a groom of blood to me!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son&#8217s foreskin and threw it at Moses&#8217 feet, and she said, &#8220You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw <i>it</i> at Moses’ feet, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched his feet with it, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and threw it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Indeed you are a husband of blood to me!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son’s foreskin, threw it at Moses’s feet, and said, “You are a bridegroom of blood to me! ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son&#8217s foreskin, and threw it at Moses&#8217 feet. Then she said, &#8220You are a bridegroom of blood to me!&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, Surely a bridegroom of blood art thou to me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But Zipporah circumcised her son with a flint knife. She touched his legs with the skin she had cut off and said, "My dear son, this blood will protect you." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, Surely a bridegroom of blood art thou to me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin, and touched Moses' feet [with it]. She said, "You are a bridegroom of blood to me!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin, and touched Moses' feet with it, saying while doing so, "…because you are a bridegroom of blood to me." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son?s foreskin, and touched it to Moses? feet. ?Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,? she said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off the foreskin of her son and touched it to Moses' feet, and said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and Zipporah takes a flint, and cuts off the foreskin of her son, and causes [it] to touch his feet, and says, “You [are] surely a bridegroom of blood to me”;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and Zipporah taketh a flint, and cutteth off the foreskin of her son, and causeth it to touch his feet, and saith, 'Surely a bridegroom of blood art thou to me;'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Zipporah will take a stone, and will cut off the uncircumcision her son, and will come to his feet, and will say, For a spouse of bloods, thou to me.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Immediately Sephora took a very sharp stone, and circumcised the fore skin of her son, and touched his feet and said: A bloody spouse art thou to me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For this reason, Zipporah took a very sharp stone, and she circumcised the foreskin of her son, and she touched his feet, and she said, “You are a bloody spouse to me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But Zipporah took a piece of flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and, touching his feet, she said, “Surely you are a spouse of blood to me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet with it, and said, “Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me!”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off the foreskin of her son, and she fell down at the feet of the LORD and said, I have a bloody husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Tsepura took a flint and circumcised the uncircumcision of her son and gripped on his feet, and she said “A groom of blood you are to me.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said: 'Surely a bridegroom of blood art thou to me.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and Sepphora having taken a stone cut off the foreskin of her son, and fell at his feet and said, The blood of the circumcision of my son is staunched:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/4-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=881" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/4.htm">Moses Leaves for Egypt</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">24</span>Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. <span class="reftext">25</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6855.htm" title="6855: ṣip·pō·rāh (N-proper-fs) -- Bird, Moses' wife. Feminine of tsippowr; bird; Tsipporah, Moses' wife.">But Zipporah</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: wat·tiq·qaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">took</a> <a href="/hebrew/6864.htm" title="6864: ṣōr (N-ms) -- A hard pebble, flint. From tsuwr; a stone; a knife.">a flint knife,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3772.htm" title="3772: wat·tiḵ·rōṯ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To cut off, cut down. A primitive root; to cut; by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant.">cut off</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nāh (N-msc:: 3fs) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">her son’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/6190.htm" title="6190: ‘ā·rə·laṯ (N-fsc) -- Foreskin. Feminine of arel; the prepuce.">foreskin,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5060.htm" title="5060: wat·tag·ga‘ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- A primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. Lay the hand upon; by implication, to reach; violently, to strike.">and touched it</a> <a href="/hebrew/7272.htm" title="7272: lə·raḡ·lāw (Prep-l:: N-fdc:: 3ms) -- Foot. From ragal; a foot; by implication, a step; by euphem. The pudenda.">to Moses’ feet.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">“Surely</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tāh (Pro-2ms) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you are</a> <a href="/hebrew/2860.htm" title="2860: ḥă·ṯan- (N-msc) -- A relative by marriage, a circumcised child. From chathan; a relative by marriage; figuratively, a circumcised child.">a bridegroom</a> <a href="/hebrew/1818.htm" title="1818: dā·mîm (N-mp) -- Blood. From damam; blood of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively bloodshed.">of blood</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">to me,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wat·tō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">she said.</a> </span><span class="reftext">26</span>So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-10.htm">Genesis 17:10-14</a></span><br />This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. / You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. / Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/5-2.htm">Joshua 5:2-9</a></span><br />At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.” / So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. / Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of war—had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-8.htm">Acts 7:8</a></span><br />Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-25.htm">Romans 2:25-29</a></span><br />Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. / If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? / The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/2-11.htm">Colossians 2:11-13</a></span><br />In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. / And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. / When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-2.htm">Galatians 5:2-6</a></span><br />Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. / Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. / You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/34-14.htm">Genesis 34:14-17</a></span><br />“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us. / We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males. / Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We will dwell among you and become one people. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/12-3.htm">Leviticus 12:3</a></span><br />And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/10-16.htm">Deuteronomy 10:16</a></span><br />Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/4-4.htm">Jeremiah 4:4</a></span><br />Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/44-7.htm">Ezekiel 44:7-9</a></span><br />In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food—the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant. / And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.’ / This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary—not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/3-3.htm">Philippians 3:3</a></span><br />For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-18.htm">1 Corinthians 7:18-19</a></span><br />Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. / Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/6-15.htm">Galatians 6:15</a></span><br />For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-11.htm">Romans 4:11-12</a></span><br />And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. / And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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 are you to me.</p><p class="hdg">a sharp stone.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/5-2.htm">Joshua 5:2,3</a></b></br> At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time… </p><p class="hdg">cast it.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/16-7.htm">2 Samuel 16:7</a></b></br> And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/4-9.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/acts/28-8.htm">Bloody</a> <a href="/revelation/18-23.htm">Bridegroom</a> <a href="/exodus/4-3.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/exodus/4-20.htm">Causeth</a> <a href="/genesis/41-36.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/jeremiah/22-14.htm">Cutteth</a> <a href="/genesis/45-6.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/exodus/3-5.htm">Feet</a> <a href="/zechariah/7-12.htm">Flint</a> <a href="/genesis/34-14.htm">Foreskin</a> <a href="/genesis/30-20.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/exodus/3-16.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/genesis/22-10.htm">Knife</a> <a href="/exodus/4-24.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/genesis/47-24.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/genesis/17-11.htm">Private</a> <a href="/genesis/49-7.htm">Sharp</a> <a href="/genesis/30-37.htm">Skin</a> <a href="/genesis/45-10.htm">Son's</a> <a href="/genesis/49-24.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/exodus/3-16.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/exodus/4-3.htm">Threw</a> <a href="/genesis/27-21.htm">Touch</a> <a href="/genesis/32-32.htm">Touched</a> <a href="/genesis/28-12.htm">Touching</a> <a href="/exodus/2-22.htm">Zipporah</a> <a href="/exodus/2-21.htm">Zippo'rah</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/4-26.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/exodus/4-26.htm">Bloody</a> <a href="/exodus/4-26.htm">Bridegroom</a> <a href="/exodus/6-1.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/exodus/15-22.htm">Causeth</a> <a href="/exodus/8-9.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-29.htm">Cutteth</a> <a href="/exodus/28-11.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/exodus/11-8.htm">Feet</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/8-15.htm">Flint</a> <a href="/leviticus/12-3.htm">Foreskin</a> <a href="/exodus/4-26.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/exodus/9-16.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Knife</a> <a href="/exodus/4-27.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/exodus/12-9.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/23-1.htm">Private</a> <a href="/exodus/20-25.htm">Sharp</a> <a href="/exodus/22-27.htm">Skin</a> <a href="/exodus/10-2.htm">Son's</a> <a href="/exodus/7-19.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/exodus/9-15.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/exodus/7-10.htm">Threw</a> <a href="/exodus/7-17.htm">Touch</a> <a href="/exodus/19-13.htm">Touched</a> <a href="/exodus/12-22.htm">Touching</a> <a href="/exodus/18-2.htm">Zipporah</a> <a href="/exodus/18-2.htm">Zippo'rah</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/4-1.htm">Moses's rod is turned into a serpent.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/4-6.htm">His hand is leprous.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/4-10.htm">He loathes his calling.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/4-13.htm">Aaron is appointed to assist him.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/4-18.htm">Moses departs from Jethro.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/4-21.htm">God's message to Pharaoh.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/4-24.htm">Zipporah circumcises her son.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/4-27.htm">Aaron is sent to meet Moses.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/4-29.htm">The people believe them.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But Zipporah took a flint knife</b><br>Zipporah, the wife of Moses, is a Midianite, which provides cultural context as the Midianites were descendants of Abraham through Keturah. The use of a flint knife is significant as it reflects ancient practices; flint was commonly used for circumcision in the ancient Near East due to its sharpness and availability. This act indicates a return to the covenantal practice commanded by God to Abraham in <a href="/genesis/17-10.htm">Genesis 17:10-14</a>, highlighting the importance of obedience to God's covenant.<p><b>cut off her son’s foreskin</b><br>Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants. The act of circumcision here is crucial as it signifies inclusion in the covenant community. The urgency of the act suggests that Moses had neglected this important covenantal sign, which was necessary for his son to be part of God's chosen people. This neglect could have been due to Moses' time in Midian, where such practices might not have been observed.<p><b>and touched it to Moses’ feet</b><br>The phrase "touched it to Moses’ feet" is subject to various interpretations. Some scholars suggest that "feet" is a euphemism for genitals, indicating a symbolic act of transferring the covenantal sign to Moses. This act may represent Zipporah's intercession, averting God's wrath from Moses by fulfilling the covenantal requirement. It underscores the seriousness of covenantal obedience and the role of intercession.<p><b>“Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.</b><br>Zipporah's statement, "a bridegroom of blood," reflects the gravity and the life-and-death nature of the covenant. The term "bridegroom of blood" may indicate the cost of entering into a covenant relationship with God, which often involves sacrifice and bloodshed, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. This phrase also highlights the tension between cultural practices and divine mandates, as Zipporah, a Midianite, is confronted with the Hebrew covenantal requirement. The blood signifies purification and consecration, themes that are central to the sacrificial system and ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the ultimate bridegroom who shed His blood for the Church.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/z/zipporah.htm">Zipporah</a></b><br>The wife of Moses, daughter of Jethro, a Midianite priest. She plays a crucial role in this passage by performing the circumcision.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The central figure in the Exodus account, chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. In this passage, he is the one whose life is at risk due to the lack of circumcision of his son.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/gershom.htm">Gershom</a></b><br>Moses and Zipporah's son, who is circumcised by Zipporah in this event.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord's_encounter.htm">The Lord's Encounter</a></b><br>This event occurs during a divine encounter where God seeks to put Moses to death, highlighting the seriousness of the covenant sign of circumcision.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/midian.htm">Midian</a></b><br>The region where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian and where he met and married Zipporah.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience_to_god's_covenant.htm">The Importance of Obedience to God's Covenant</a></b><br>The act of circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and His people. Moses' failure to circumcise his son put him at odds with God's command, showing the importance of obedience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_women_in_god's_plan.htm">The Role of Women in God's Plan</a></b><br>Zipporah's decisive action saved Moses' life, highlighting how God can use anyone, regardless of gender, to fulfill His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_god's_commands.htm">The Seriousness of God's Commands</a></b><br>This passage underscores the seriousness with which God views His commands and the necessity for His people to adhere to them.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_concept_of_atonement_and_blood.htm">The Concept of Atonement and Blood</a></b><br>Zipporah's reference to a "bridegroom of blood" points to the idea of atonement and the significance of blood in the covenant relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/family_and_spiritual_leadership.htm">Family and Spiritual Leadership</a></b><br>Moses' oversight in his family's spiritual obligations serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual leadership within the family unit.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_god_present_in_his_people's_praise.htm">Why did God seek to kill Moses in Exodus?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_god_attempt_to_kill_moses.htm">Why did God attempt to kill Moses?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_god_want_to_kill_moses.htm">Why did God seek to kill Moses in Exodus?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_seek_to_kill_moses.htm">(Exodus 4:24-26) What is the significance and historical context of the bizarre episode where God seeks to kill Moses, and Zipporah circumcises their son?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(25) <span class= "bld">A sharp stone.--</span>On the use of stone knives by the Egyptian <span class= "ital">paraschist?</span> see Herod. ii. 86. They were regarded as more pure than metal knives. From <a href="/joshua/5-2.htm" title="At that time the LORD said to Joshua, Make you sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.">Joshua 5:2</a> it would seem that stone knives were in the early ages commonly employed for circumcision by the Israelites.<p><span class= "bld">At his feet.</span>--Moses' feet, undoubtedly. The action was petulant and reproachful. Zipporah regarded the bloody rites of her husband's religion as cruel and barbarous, and cast the foreskin of her son at his feet, as though he were a Moloch requiring a bloody offering.<p><span class= "bld">A bloody husband.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">a husband of bloods</span> A husband, <span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> who causes the blood of his children to be shed unnecessarily for some unintelligible reason.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 25.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Zipporah took a sharp stone</span>. Literally "a stone." Stone knives were commonly used in Egypt for making the incisions necessary when bodies were embalmed, and were regarded as purer than iron or bronze ones. Joshua ordered the preparation of stone knives for the circumcision of those born in the wilderness (<a href="/joshua/5-2.htm">Joshua 5:2</a>); and the Jews seem to have used stone for circumcision for many ages, though before the compilation of the Talmud they had changed their practice. Cast it at his feet. Not, certainly, the child's feet, but her husband's, to whom at the same moment she addresses herself. A bloody husband. Literally, "a bridegroom of blood." The words are clearly a reproach; and the gist of the reproach seems to be that Moses was a husband who cost her dear, causing the blood of her sons to be shed in order to keep up a national usage which she regarded as barbarous. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/4-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But Zipporah</span><br /><span class="heb">צִפֹּרָ֜ה</span> <span class="translit">(ṣip·pō·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6855.htm">Strong's 6855: </a> </span><span class="str2">Zipporah -- 'bird', Moses' wife</span><br /><br /><span class="word">took</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּקַּ֨ח</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tiq·qaḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a flint knife,</span><br /><span class="heb">צֹ֗ר</span> <span class="translit">(ṣōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6864.htm">Strong's 6864: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hard pebble, flint</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cut off</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּכְרֹת֙</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tiḵ·rōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3772.htm">Strong's 3772: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her son’s</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּנָ֔הּ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">foreskin,</span><br /><span class="heb">עָרְלַ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·rə·laṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6190.htm">Strong's 6190: </a> </span><span class="str2">The prepuce</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and touched</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתַּגַּ֖ע</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tag·ga‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5060.htm">Strong's 5060: </a> </span><span class="str2">To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[Moses’] feet [with it].</span><br /><span class="heb">לְרַגְלָ֑יו</span> <span class="translit">(lə·raḡ·lāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7272.htm">Strong's 7272: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foot, a step, the pudenda</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Surely</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֧י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you [are]</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתָּ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a bridegroom</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲתַן־</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·ṯan-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2860.htm">Strong's 2860: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative by marriage, a circumcised child</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of blood to me,”</span><br /><span class="heb">דָּמִ֛ים</span> <span class="translit">(dā·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1818.htm">Strong's 1818: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed</span><br /><br /><span class="word">she said.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתֹּ֕אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/4-25.htm">Exodus 4:25 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/4-25.htm">OT Law: Exodus 4:25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/4-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 4:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 4:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/4-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 4:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 4:26" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>