Exodus 4:26

Exodus 4:26

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

a. ASV: So he let him alone. Then she said, A bridegroom of blood art thou, because of the circumcision.

b. YLT: And He desisteth from him: then she said, 'A bridegroom of blood,' in reference to the circumcision.

c. Amplified Bible Classic: When He let [Moses] alone [to recover], Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you because of the circumcision.

d. Septuagint: And he departed from him, because she said, The blood of the circumcision of my son is staunched.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: So he released him; then she said, “A bridegroom’s was because of circumcision.”

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

a. [So he] let...go [Strong: 7503 râphâh, raw-faw'; a primitive root; to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative):—abate, cease, consume, draw (toward evening), fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle, leave, let alone (go, down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be slothful, (be) weak(-en).]

b. him [Strong: 4480  min min or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural) {min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over, since, X then, through, X whether, with.]

c. [then she] said [Strong: 559 ʼâmar, aw-mar'; a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):—answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, × desire, determine, ×expressly, × indeed, × intend, name, × plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), × still, × suppose, talk, tell, term, × that is, × think, use (speech), utter, × verily, × yet.]

d. [a] bloody [Strong: 1818 dâm, dawm; from H1826 (compare H119); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood):—blood(-y, -guiltiness), (-thirsty), + innocent.]

e. husband [thou art] [Strong: 2860 châthân, khaw-thawn'; from H2859; a relative by marriage (especially through the bride); figuratively, a circumcised child (as a species of religious espousal):—bridegroom, husband, son in law.]

f. [because of the] circumcision [Strong: 4139 mûwlâh, moo-law'; from H4135; circumcision:—circumcision.]

1). It does not sound like Zipporah was very happy with the circumstances. It has been said that her response makes it appear that she was not a very spiritual mate, that she was a reluctant believer.

2). It is an Biblical and historical fact that entrance in the Covenant was by circumcision.

Genesis 17:7-14 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

17:8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

17:9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

17:13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.