Exodus 4:26
New International Version
So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)

New Living Translation
(When she said “a bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the LORD left him alone.

English Standard Version
So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

Berean Standard Bible
So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)

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

New King James Version
So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.

New American Standard Bible
So He left him alone. At that time she said, “You are a groom of blood”—because of the circumcision.

NASB 1995
So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood “— because of the circumcision.

NASB 1977
So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”—because of the circumcision.

Legacy Standard Bible
So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood” with reference to the circumcision.

Amplified Bible
So He let Moses alone [to recover]. At that time Zipporah said, “You are a husband of blood”—because of the circumcision.

Christian Standard Bible
So he let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” referring to the circumcision.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” referring to the circumcision.

American Standard Version
So he let him alone. Then she said, A bridegroom of blood art thou, because of the circumcision.

Contemporary English Version
So the LORD did not harm Moses. Then Zipporah said, "Yes, my dear, you are safe because of this circumcision."

English Revised Version
So he let him alone. Then she said, A bridegroom of blood art thou, because of the circumcision.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So the LORD let him alone. It was because of the circumcision that she said at that time, "You are a bridegroom of blood!"

International Standard Version
Then the LORD withdrew from him, and she said, "…a bridegroom of blood because of circumcision."

Majority Standard Bible
So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, ?bridegroom of blood,? she was referring to the circumcision.)

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

New Heart English Bible
So he let him alone. Then she said, "You are a bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.

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

World English Bible
So he let him alone. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and He desists from him. Then she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” in reference to the circumcision.

Young's Literal Translation
and He desisteth from him: then she said, 'A bridegroom of blood,' in reference to the circumcision.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will desist from him: then she said, A husband of bloods, for the circumcision.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he let him go after she had said A bloody spouse art thou to me, because of the circumcision.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he released him, after she had said, “You are a bloody spouse,” because of the circumcision.

New American Bible
So God let Moses alone. At that time she said, “A spouse of blood,” in regard to the circumcision.

New Revised Standard Version
So he let him alone. It was then she said, “A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So the LORD let him go. Then she said, You are a bloody husband, because of the circumcision.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he departed from him, then she said, “A groom of blood”, because of the circumcision.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So He let him alone. Then she said: 'A bridegroom of blood in regard of the circumcision.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and he departed from him, because she said, The blood of the circumcision of my son is staunched.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses Leaves for Egypt
25But 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. 26So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)

Cross References
Genesis 17:10-14
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. ...

Joshua 5:2-9
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. ...

Acts 7:8
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.

Romans 2:25-29
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. ...

Colossians 2:11-13
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,

Genesis 21:4
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him.

Leviticus 12:3
And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

Galatians 5:2-6
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. ...

Philippians 3:3
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—

Deuteronomy 10:16
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.

Jeremiah 4:4
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.”

Ezekiel 44:7-9
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.

John 7:22-23
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?

1 Corinthians 7:18-19
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.

Galatians 6:15
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.


Treasury of Scripture

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

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Exodus 4
1. Moses's rod is turned into a serpent.
6. His hand is leprous.
10. He loathes his calling.
13. Aaron is appointed to assist him.
18. Moses departs from Jethro.
21. God's message to Pharaoh.
24. Zipporah circumcises her son.
27. Aaron is sent to meet Moses.
29. The people believe them.














So the LORD let him alone
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 (Genesis 17:10-14), 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.

(At that time she said, 'Bridegroom of Blood,' referring to the circumcision.)
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.

(26) So he let him go.--God let Moses go, i.e., allowed him to recover--accepted Zipporah's act as sufficient, albeit tardy, reparation, and spared the life of her husband.

Then she said.--When Moses was sufficiently recovered, Zipporah explained to him why she had called him "a bloody husband;" it was "on account of the circumcisions," i.e., the two circumcisions--of Gershom in Midian, many years previously, and now of Eliezer. We learn from Exodus 18:2-3, 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.

Verse 26. - So he let him go. i.e. "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.

CHAPTER 4:27, 28

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So [the LORD] let him alone.
וַיִּ֖רֶף (way·yi·rep̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7503: Sink, relax

(When
אָ֚ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore

she said,
אָֽמְרָ֔ה (’ā·mə·rāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“bridegroom
חֲתַ֥ן (ḥă·ṯan)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2860: A relative by marriage, a circumcised child

of blood,”
דָּמִ֖ים (dā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

she was referring to the circumcision.)
לַמּוּלֹֽת׃ (lam·mū·lōṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4139: Circumcision


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OT Law: Exodus 4:26 So he let him alone (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 4:25
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