CINXE.COM
Exodus 4:26 So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, "bridegroom of blood," she was referring to the circumcision.)
<!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 4:26 So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, "bridegroom of blood," she was referring to the circumcision.)</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/4-26.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/02_Exo_04_26.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 4:26 - Moses Leaves for Egypt" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, bridegroom of blood, she was referring to the circumcision.)" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></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/4-26.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/4-26.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 26</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="/ad1.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/4-25.htm" title="Exodus 4:25">◄</a> Exodus 4:26 <a href="/exodus/4-27.htm" title="Exodus 4:27">►</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="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </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 />So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />(When she said “a bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the LORD left him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband <i>thou art</i>, because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So He let him go. Then she said, “<i>You are</i> a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So He left him alone. At that time she said, “<i>You are</i> a groom of blood”—because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood “— because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So He let him alone. At that time she said, “<i>You are</i> a bridegroom of blood”—because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So He let him alone. At that time she said, “<i>You are</i> a bridegroom of blood” with reference to the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So He let Moses alone [to recover]. At that time Zipporah said, “<i>You are</i> a husband of blood”—because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” referring to the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” referring to the circumcision. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />So he let him alone. Then she said, A bridegroom of blood art thou, because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />So the LORD did not harm Moses. Then Zipporah said, "Yes, my dear, you are safe because of this circumcision." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />So he let him alone. Then she said, A bridegroom of blood art thou, because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So the LORD let him alone. It was because of the circumcision that she said at that time, "You are a bridegroom of blood!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD withdrew from him, and she said, "…a bridegroom of blood because of circumcision."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said, "A bridegroom of blood," referring to the circumcision.) <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />So he let him alone. Then she said, "You are a bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />So he let him alone. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and He desists from him. Then she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” in reference to the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and He desisteth from him: then she said, 'A bridegroom of blood,' in reference to the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will desist from him: then she said, A husband of bloods, for the circumcision.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he let him go after she had said A bloody spouse art thou to me, because of the circumcision. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he released him, after she had said, “You are a bloody spouse,” because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />So God let Moses alone. At that time she said, “A spouse of blood,” in regard to the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So he let him alone. It was then she said, “A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />So the LORD let him go. Then she said, You are a bloody husband, because of the circumcision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he departed from him, then she said, “A groom of blood”, because of the circumcision.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />So He let him alone. Then she said: 'A bridegroom of blood in regard of the circumcision.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and he departed from him, because she said, The blood of the circumcision of my son is staunched.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/4-26.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=892" 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">25</span>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="reftext">26</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7503.htm" title="7503: way·yi·rep̄ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- Sink, relax. A primitive root; to slacken.">So the LORD let him alone.</a> <a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: mim·men·nū (Prep:: 3ms) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses."></a> <a href="/hebrew/227.htm" title="227: ’āz (Adv) -- At that time. A demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore.">(When</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mə·rāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">she said,</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.">“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/4139.htm" title="4139: lam·mū·lōṯ (Prep-l, Art:: N-fp) -- Circumcision. From muwl; circumcision.">she was referring to the circumcision.)</a> </span><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="/genesis/21-4.htm">Genesis 21:4</a></span><br />When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him.<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="/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="/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="/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="/john/7-22.htm">John 7:22-23</a></span><br />But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.) / If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?<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.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband you are, because of the circumcision.</p><p class="hdg">no reference </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/47-26.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/exodus/4-25.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/exodus/4-25.htm">Bloody</a> <a href="/exodus/4-25.htm">Bridegroom</a> <a href="/genesis/34-24.htm">Circumcision</a> <a href="/exodus/4-25.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/genesis/36-43.htm">Reference</a> <a href="/colossians/2-22.htm">Referring</a> <a href="/genesis/45-20.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/exodus/4-10.htm">Time</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/12-16.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/exodus/7-17.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/2_samuel/16-7.htm">Bloody</a> <a href="/psalms/19-5.htm">Bridegroom</a> <a href="/exodus/12-44.htm">Circumcision</a> <a href="/exodus/21-3.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/34-11.htm">Reference</a> <a href="/john/13-18.htm">Referring</a> <a href="/exodus/5-9.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/exodus/5-23.htm">Time</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 /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-3753401421161123"; /* 200 x 200 Parallel Bible */ google_ad_slot = "7676643937"; google_ad_width = 200; google_ad_height = 200; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/exodus/4.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>So the LORD let him alone</b><br />This phrase signifies a pivotal moment of divine intervention and mercy. The Hebrew root for "let alone" is "raphah," which can mean to relax or let go. In the context of this passage, it indicates that God relented from His anger towards Moses. Historically, this moment underscores the seriousness of the covenant of circumcision, which Moses had neglected. The act of circumcision was a sign of the Abrahamic covenant (<a href="/genesis/17-10.htm">Genesis 17:10-14</a>), and Moses' failure to circumcise his son was a breach of this covenant. This phrase highlights God's willingness to forgive and restore when His commands are honored, emphasizing His grace and the importance of obedience.<p><b>(At that time she said, 'Bridegroom of Blood,' referring to the circumcision.)</b><br />The term "Bridegroom of Blood" is a unique and somewhat enigmatic phrase. The Hebrew word for "bridegroom" is "chathan," which can also mean a relative by marriage. The phrase "Bridegroom of Blood" is traditionally understood to be spoken by Zipporah, Moses' wife, after she circumcised their son. This act of circumcision was a bloody ritual, hence the reference to blood. The historical and cultural context of this phrase is deeply rooted in the ancient Near Eastern understanding of covenants, which were often ratified with blood. In this instance, Zipporah's action and words reflect a profound recognition of the life-and-death seriousness of God's covenant with His people. The phrase serves as a reminder of the cost of covenant faithfulness and the necessity of aligning with God's commands. It also foreshadows the ultimate blood covenant fulfilled in Christ, who is the true Bridegroom of the Church.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(26) <span class= "bld">So he let him go.</span>--God let Moses go, <span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> allowed him to recover--accepted Zipporah's act as sufficient, albeit tardy, reparation, and spared the life of her husband.<p><span class= "bld">Then she said.</span>--When Moses was sufficiently recovered, Zipporah explained to him why she had called him "a bloody husband;" it was "on account of the circumcisions," <span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> the two circumcisions--of Gershom in Midian, many years previously, and now of Eliezer. We learn from <a href="/context/exodus/18-2.htm" title="Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,">Exodus 18:2-3</a>, that Zipporah and her boys were sent back to Jethro by Moses, probably at this time. Moses was in haste, and the child could not have travelled conveniently for some days.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 26.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">So he let him go</span>. <span class="accented">i.e</span>. "God let Moses go" - allowed him to escape death, accepted Zipporah's tardy act as a removal of the cause of offence, and gave her husband back to her. Then she said, etc. This is not a second address of Zipporah to Moses, conceived in the same terms, but an explanation of her previous address. She called him "a bloody husband because of the circumcision." Literally, "of the circumcisions." The two circumcisions, of Gershom in Midian, and of Eliezer on the way to Egypt, are especially in the writer's mind. <p> CHAPTER 4:27, 28 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/4-26.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">So [the LORD] let him alone.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּ֖רֶף</span> <span class="translit">(way·yi·rep̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7503.htm">Strong's 7503: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sink, relax</span><br /><br /><span class="word">(When</span><br /><span class="heb">אָ֚ז</span> <span class="translit">(’āz)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_227.htm">Strong's 227: </a> </span><span class="str2">At that time, place, therefore</span><br /><br /><span class="word">she said,</span><br /><span class="heb">אָֽמְרָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·mə·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - 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 /><br /><span class="word">“bridegroom</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲתַ֥ן</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,”</span><br /><span class="heb">דָּמִ֖ים</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 was referring to the circumcision.)</span><br /><span class="heb">לַמּוּלֹֽת׃</span> <span class="translit">(lam·mū·lōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4139.htm">Strong's 4139: </a> </span><span class="str2">Circumcision</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/4-26.htm">Exodus 4:26 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/4-26.htm">OT Law: Exodus 4:26 So he let him alone (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/4-25.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 4:25"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 4:25" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/4-27.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 4:27"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 4:27" /></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>