Exodus 4:25 - Printer Friendly

What does Exodus 4:25 mean?

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!"

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.

NASB: 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!'

CSB: 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!"

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.'

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.

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!”

Verse Commentary:

Zipporah is Moses' wife (Exodus 2:21). She and Moses have at least two sons: Gershom (Exodus 2:22) and Eliezer (Genesis 18:4). As their family travels towards Egypt (Exodus 4:19–20), God apparently threatens Moses' life (Exodus 4:24). Scripture doesn't offer many details in this bizarre account. All that's clear is that Moses' life was at stake, and that Zipporah's choice to circumcise her son ended that threat.

God commanded Abraham to circumcise all males in his family as a sign of their relationship with God (Genesis 17:10–12). Hebrew circumcision involves removing the foreskin from the penis; this is a permanent and heavily symbolic sign of Israel's relationship with the Lord. It's possible Moses had not circumcised one or both of his sons while living in Midian (Exodus 2:15). Zipporah's seemingly sour response to the situation may indicate that she hadn't wanted the son—or sons—to be circumcised. Yet she takes the necessary steps.

Tradition and some of God's specific orders (Joshua 5:2–3) suggested that flint knives were more sacred than metallic blades. Many commentators assume that the son being circumcised is Gershom. Yet the text does not specify, and Moses is said to have brought both of his boys (Acts 7:29). These are not infants; Moses left Egypt at age forty (Acts 7:23) and is now nearly eighty (Exodus 7:7). The sons are almost certainly grown adults and perhaps even have children of their own.

No clear explanation is given for why Zipporah touches Moses' feet with the severed foreskin. Some commentators suggest this is an act of submission, possibly done with a touch of sarcasm. Zipporah's comment about her husband and blood may have been a bitter response to something she found distasteful (Exodus 4:26). Others think this is a moment of sincerity and faith indicating that Zipporah now realizes how serious these concerns are.

A few interpreters suggest Moses himself had not been circumcised, and Zipporah's act symbolically transferred the circumcision to him. This seems unlikely, first because circumcision isn't a transferable ritual. One is either circumcised, or they are not. Second, it seems Israel had maintained circumcision during their time in captivity. God's command prior to the first Passover only mentioned circumcising servants and strangers (Exodus 12:43–48), suggesting that the rest of Israel was already practicing it. After leaving Egypt, the practice seemed to have stopped (Joshua 5:5).

There are no clear indicators anywhere in Scripture to firmly settle on one of these interpretations. All that's clear is that God threatened Moses' life, somehow in connection to circumcision, and Zipporah's actions saved him (Exodus 4:26). It's possible that Moses sent Zipporah and their sons back to Midian after this incident. They are not mentioned again until Israel leaves Egypt and encounters Jethro (Exodus 18:1–6).

Exodus 4:18–26 includes a bizarre incident in the life of Moses. He plans to return to Egypt , to perform the signs given by God, and to challenge Egypt's Pharaoh to release Israel. On the way, Moses seems to fall deathly ill, at God's hand. Moses' wife circumcises one of their sons and transfers some meaning of the ceremony to Moses by touching his feet. This removes the danger, and Moses continues on towards Egypt.

Chapter Summary:

While speaking with God in the form of a supernaturally burning bush, Moses expresses a lack of confidence. God gives Moses several miraculous signs so he can prove the source of his message. Moses is still unsure because of his poor speech. Though irritated, God appoints Moses' brother, Aaron, to be the spokesman while Moses relays the words of God. Moses returns to Egypt. Along the way, he nearly dies due to God's anger over some issue related to circumci-sion. After meeting his brother, Moses convinces the elders of Israel that his mission is genuine.

Chapter Context:

Moses, born an Israelite (Exodus 2:1) but raised by an Egyptian princess (Exodus 2:10) fled into exile after killing an abu-sive Egyptian taskmaster (Exodus 2:14–15). Later, Moses meets God (Exodus 3:6) and receives the initial command to challenge Pharaoh for the freedom of the Israelites (Exodus 3:18–20). In this chapter, Moses makes excuses about his public speaking and nearly dies because of an uncircumcised son. Israel's elders believe Moses' story. But in the next chapter, Moses' early confrontation with Pharaoh goes poorly; the people are worked even hard-er (Exodus 5:5–9) and they begin to turn against Moses (Exodus 5:20–21).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 7/4/2025 7:51:44 AM