Bible Strands
Exodus 4:25
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Zipporah acts at a lodging place while the LORD confronts Moses and intends to kill him. She circumcises their son and touches Moses’ feet with the foreskin, declaring him a "bridegroom of blood."
The words — The Hebrew צֹר (Tzor) denotes a flint stone used for the cutting, and עָרְלַת (‘a.re.Lat) specifies the foreskin removed from her son.
The thread — The command to circumcise males appears in Genesis 17:14 with a covenant warning, and Joshua 5:2 repeats the instruction to use flint knives for Israel’s renewal. The phrase "bridegroom of blood" echoes the covenantal language of Genesis 17:14 and contrasts with the curse language in 2 Samuel 16:7.
Why it lands — The text requires recognition that covenant obedience is non-negotiable and that divine confrontation demands immediate compliance. The reader must see that ritual action, not prayer or negotiation, resolves the crisis.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 5:2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.”
- Genesis 17:14 But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
- 2 Samuel 16:7 And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!