Exodus 4:26

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

Exodus 4:26 (KJV)

Context

In Exodus 4, God calls Moses at the burning bush and sends him to Pharaoh. Moses hesitates, so God gives him signs: the staff becomes a serpent, his hand becomes leprous and is healed, and water turns to blood. Moses then sets out for Egypt with his wife Zipporah and their sons, as Exodus 4:20 records.

On the journey, the LORD meets Moses and seeks to kill him. Zipporah quickly takes a sharp stone, circumcises their son, and touches Moses’ feet with the foreskin, saying, “Surely a bloody husband thou art to me.” The LORD then lets Moses go. This short account shows Zipporah’s urgent action in a moment of divine threat.

Meaning

The words “So he let him go” mean the LORD stopped His attack on Moses. Zipporah’s phrase “A bloody husband thou art” refers to the circumcision and the blood it caused. Her words are harsh, but they acknowledge that the bloodshed was the reason the LORD released Moses.

Circumcision was the sign of the covenant God made with Abraham, as Genesis 17:9-14 explains. It marked the people as set apart for God. Moses, raised in Pharaoh’s household, may have neglected this duty for his son. His failure placed his life in danger, showing that even a chosen leader must obey God’s explicit commands.

Zipporah’s act, though done with displeasure, was a decisive act of obedience. It averted divine judgment and demonstrated the seriousness of the covenant. The shedding of blood here also points to the blood of the covenant, which later became central in Israel’s sacrificial system.

Biblical connections

This incident connects directly to the covenant sign given to Abraham in Genesis 17:9-14, where God required circumcision as an everlasting sign. It also foreshadows the Passover, where blood marked the houses of Israel and saved them from death. Both events show that blood and obedience are linked to deliverance.

Application

For believers today, this passage teaches that covenant obedience is not optional. Even those called to great tasks must honor God’s commands and remain faithful to their commitments. It urges readers to examine their own relationship with God and not overlook essential obligations.

Reflection

This brief incident reminds us that God’s calling does not remove the need for personal and family faithfulness. The cost of obedience may be high, but the seriousness of God’s holiness demands it. Through this narrative, believers are encouraged to be steadfast in their covenant relationship with God, honoring the promises they have made.