Exodus 4:24–26
Why Did God Try to Kill Moses?
Introduction
There is a very strange and easily overlooked incident in the story of Moses.
God had just appeared to Moses in the burning bush and called him to return to Egypt. Moses was to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of slavery. After much hesitation, Moses finally set out on his journey.
But then, suddenly, we read:
"On the way at a lodging place, Yahweh met Moses and wanted to kill him."
Exodus 4:24
Why would God, having just chosen Moses to deliver Israel, suddenly want to kill him?
The answer appears to be connected with circumcision.
Exodus continues:
"Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, 'Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.'"
Exodus 4:25
And immediately afterward:
"So he let him alone. Then she said, 'You are a bridegroom of blood,' because of the circumcision."
Exodus 4:26
The passage is remarkably brief, and it leaves many questions unanswered.
Who exactly was God threatening to kill? Why had the child not been circumcised? Why did Zipporah perform the circumcision? What did she mean by "bridegroom of blood"?
We cannot answer all these questions with certainty.
But there are some important clues.
Circumcision Was a Covenant Sign
To understand why circumcision could have been so serious, we have to go back to Abraham.
God had established a covenant with Abraham and his descendants and gave circumcision as its sign:
"This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised."
Genesis 17:10
Circumcision was therefore much more than a physical procedure.
It was an outward sign that a person belonged to the covenant people of God.
This is important when we return to Moses.
Moses was about to become the leader of those very people.
He was going to stand before Pharaoh and speak on behalf of Yahweh. He was going to lead God's covenant people out of Egypt.
Yet, immediately before beginning that mission, something concerning circumcision within his own household had to be dealt with.
Moses was about to lead God's covenant people, but first he had to submit his own household to God's covenant.
This may be the central lesson of this mysterious incident.
But Why Had Moses' Son Not Been Circumcised?
This is something the Bible does not explain.
The most common interpretation is that Moses had failed to circumcise his son as required by the covenant.
But why had this happened?
We simply do not know.
And this is where Moses' unusual background becomes interesting.
Moses had been born a Hebrew but was raised in Pharaoh's household. He was educated in Egyptian culture and lived for many years in Egypt.
Later, after fleeing Egypt, he spent approximately forty years in Midian, where he married Zipporah, a Midianite woman.
His household therefore brought together different worlds:
Hebrew ancestry.
Egyptian upbringing.
Midianite family.
Could this complicated background have contributed in some way to the failure to circumcise his son?
It is possible, but Scripture does not tell us.
We should therefore be careful not to claim that Zipporah opposed circumcision, or that Moses deliberately refused it. Those are possibilities that have been suggested, but they remain speculation.
There is, however, something important that Scripture does tell us about Moses' identity.
Moses Chose God's People Over Egypt
The writer of Hebrews gives us a remarkable insight into Moses' life:
"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time."
Hebrews 11:24–25
This tells us that Moses had made a deliberate choice.
Although he had been raised in Pharaoh's household, he chose to identify himself with God's people.
He gave up the privileges associated with Egypt and accepted the suffering that came from identifying with the Israelites.
This is important because it means that when Moses eventually returned to Egypt, he was not simply returning as the Egyptian-raised man he had once been.
He was returning as God's appointed representative and as the leader of Israel.
And this makes the circumcision incident even more interesting.
Moses had already chosen God's people.
But was that covenant identity fully reflected within his own household?
We cannot know.
Yet the timing is striking.
Before Moses could begin his mission of deliverance, the issue of circumcision had to be addressed.
A Curious Detail in Joshua
There is another fascinating detail that helps us understand the situation.
When Israel finally entered the Promised Land, Joshua circumcised the males who had been born during the wilderness years. Joshua explains:
“For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness on the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.”
Joshua 5:5
This tells us something important: the generation that came out of Egypt was circumcised, while the males born during the wilderness journey had not been circumcised.
But this raises another question:
When were the Israelites who left Egypt circumcised?
Scripture does not tell us.
It is possible that circumcision was already being practised among the Israelites before Moses returned to Egypt. It is also possible that Moses, after his own frightening encounter with God in Exodus 4, ensured that this covenant requirement was taken seriously before the people left Egypt.
We cannot know.
There is, however, an interesting connection with the events that follow. Exodus 12 makes circumcision relevant to participation in the Passover: a foreigner or servant could participate in the Passover only after being circumcised. The covenant sign therefore had a clear place in Israel's preparation for the great act of deliverance from Egypt.
Could Moses have been especially conscious of this requirement after what had happened to him on the journey to Egypt? Could his own experience with his son have impressed upon him the seriousness of covenant obedience, leading him to make sure that the people were properly prepared?
That is possible—but Scripture does not record Moses doing this, so we should not present it as fact.
What we can say with confidence is that, by the time Israel left Egypt, the generation that came out was circumcised. The exact circumstances and timing of that circumcision remain unstated.
This small detail makes the story of Exodus 4 even more intriguing. Moses had personally experienced how seriously God regarded the covenant sign within his own household. Soon afterward, Israel would begin the journey from slavery to freedom as God's covenant people.
Why Did Zipporah Circumcise Her Son?
Another mystery is that Zipporah, not Moses, performs the circumcision.
"Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son…"
Exodus 4:25
Why did she do it?
Perhaps Moses was unable to act at that moment because his life was under threat.
Perhaps Zipporah understood the seriousness of what was happening and acted immediately.
Perhaps there had been some disagreement or difference of understanding within the household.
We cannot know.
But one thing is clear:
Zipporah acted.
Her action resulted in Moses being spared.
The woman who is sometimes only a minor figure in the story suddenly becomes crucial to Moses' survival.
There is also something wonderfully humbling here.
Moses had been chosen by God to deliver Israel.
Yet at this moment, God used Zipporah to save Moses' life.
What Does "Bridegroom of Blood" Mean?
Zipporah's words are among the most mysterious in the entire passage:
"Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me."
Exodus 4:25
The Hebrew expression is often translated "bridegroom of blood", but its exact meaning is uncertain.
Some understand Zipporah to be speaking to Moses.
Others believe she may have been speaking to the son whom she had just circumcised.
The Hebrew text is sufficiently brief and ambiguous that we cannot be certain.
Whatever the exact meaning, the connection between blood and circumcision is unmistakable.
And this is important because blood will become one of the major themes of the Exodus story.
In Exodus 4, blood is associated with circumcision and the sparing of a life.
Later, in the Passover, blood will again be associated with protection from death and deliverance.
We should not claim that Exodus 4 is simply predicting the Passover. But the repeated association of blood, covenant, death, and deliverance is certainly worth noticing.
Was Circumcision About Health?
There may have been practical or cultural reasons why circumcision was practised in the ancient world, and circumcision can certainly have physical and hygienic implications.
However, Scripture itself gives us a much more important reason for Israel.
Circumcision was the sign of God's covenant.
Therefore, we should be cautious about explaining Moses' problem primarily in terms of medical concerns, hygiene, or preventing infections during the wilderness journey.
Those may be interesting historical questions, but they are not the explanation given by Scripture.
The biblical emphasis is much deeper:
Covenant.
Belonging.
Obedience.
But Didn't the Apostles Later Reject Circumcision?
This naturally raises another question.
If circumcision was so important in the days of Moses, why did the apostles later decide that Gentile Christians did not need to be circumcised?
The answer is that the apostles were not teaching that circumcision itself was wrong.
They were rejecting the idea that Gentiles had to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law in order to become part of God's people and be saved through Christ.
The coming of Christ brought God's covenant purposes to their fulfilment.
The outward sign was no longer the requirement for belonging to God's people.
Instead, the New Testament points toward the deeper spiritual reality.
Paul speaks of:
"…circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit…"
Romans 2:29
And Colossians speaks of a circumcision that is not performed by human hands.
The physical sign pointed toward something deeper.
God wanted His people not merely to carry an outward mark of belonging, but to have hearts that truly belonged to Him.
The Deeper Lesson
This brings us back to Moses.
Moses was chosen by God.
He had a great mission.
He would confront Pharaoh.
He would lead Israel out of slavery.
He would receive God's Law.
He would become one of the greatest figures in biblical history.
Yet before he began his mission, God dealt with something within his own household.
That should make us pause.
It is very easy to be concerned about whether other people are obeying God.
We may want our families, friends, fellow Christians, or society to live according to God's commands.
But God may first ask:
"Are you obeying Me?"
Moses was going to tell Pharaoh what God commanded.
He was going to lead God's people.
But he himself first had to submit to God's command.
Calling does not exempt us from obedience.
In fact, the greater our responsibility, the more seriously we should take our obedience to God.
Moses' Choice and Our Choice
Hebrews tells us that Moses once had to make a choice.
He could remain identified with Pharaoh's household and enjoy the privileges of Egypt.
Or he could identify himself with God's people, even if that meant suffering.
He chose God's people.
Exodus 4 then reminds us that belonging to God's people was not merely a matter of identity.
It involved obedience.
And the New Testament takes that principle even deeper.
We are not saved by performing an outward ritual.
We are not made God's people simply because of an external sign.
Through Christ, God calls us to something much deeper:
A heart surrendered to Him.
The question for us is therefore not merely:
"Do I belong to God's people?"
but:
"Does my life show that I belong to God?"
Did You Know?
God Often Moves His Purposes Forward Through People We Might Easily Overlook
Zipporah appears only briefly in the story of Moses, yet in Exodus 4 she plays a remarkable role.
Moses had been chosen by God to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel out of Egypt. He was the great leader of the Exodus. Yet, at a critical moment, Moses' life was in danger—and it was Zipporah who acted.
She took a flint knife, circumcised her son, and the threat against Moses ended.
The Bible does not tell us exactly what Zipporah understood about the situation or why she acted as she did. But her action was decisive.
This is a beautiful reminder that God's work is not accomplished only through the people who stand at the centre of the story.
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly works through people who might easily be overlooked:
- Moses' mother protected him when he was a helpless infant.
- Moses' sister watched over him and helped shape the circumstances of his rescue.
- Pharaoh's daughter took him from the Nile and raised him.
- The Hebrew midwives defied Pharaoh's command and preserved the lives of Hebrew children.
- And here, Zipporah acts at a moment when Moses himself is in grave danger.
The great story of salvation is filled with people whose actions may occupy only a few verses, yet whose faithfulness becomes part of God's greater purpose.
We may not always be the person standing at the centre of the story—but our obedience may still be important to God's plan.
📖 Key Takeaways
- Circumcision was a covenant sign. For Israel, circumcision was not merely a physical or medical practice; it was an outward sign of belonging to God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants.
- Moses' calling did not exempt him from obedience. Before Moses could lead God's people and speak on God's behalf, something concerning obedience within his own household had to be addressed.
- Moses had chosen God's people over Egypt. Hebrews 11:24–25 reminds us that Moses deliberately rejected the privileges of Pharaoh's household and chose to identify himself with God's people.
- Some questions remain unanswered. Scripture does not tell us exactly why Moses' son had not been circumcised, why Zipporah acted as she did, or precisely what she meant by "bridegroom of blood." We should distinguish what Scripture tells us from what we can only speculate about.
- God desires obedience of the heart. Under the New Covenant, the emphasis moves beyond the outward sign of circumcision to the deeper reality of a heart surrendered to God. Our faith must therefore be more than an outward identity—it must be reflected in the way we live.
A Final Reflection
The strange story of Exodus 4:24–26 may leave us with more questions than answers.
Why had Moses' son not been circumcised?
Why did Zipporah perform the circumcision?
Who exactly was the "bridegroom of blood"?
Why did God threaten Moses' life?
We cannot answer every question with certainty.
But perhaps the central lesson is clear.
Moses was about to become God's representative before Pharaoh and the leader of His people.
Before he could lead others, however, he had to obey God himself.
That principle has not changed.
God does not merely want our words, our titles, our ministries, or our outward appearance of faith.
He wants our obedience.
He wants our hearts.
And perhaps the question Exodus 4 leaves with each of us is this:
Am I asking God to use me to lead others while there is something in my own life that I am unwilling to surrender to Him?
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References & Credits
- Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), which is in the public domain.
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Related Bible Passages
Primary Passage
- Exodus 4:24–26 — The Circumcision of Moses' Son.
The central passage of this study. God confronts Moses on his journey to Egypt, and Zipporah circumcises their son. The passage raises important questions about covenant obedience, Moses' household, and the mysterious expression "bridegroom of blood".
Old Testament
- Genesis 17:9–14 — The Covenant of Circumcision.
God establishes circumcision as the sign of His covenant with Abraham and his descendants, providing the background for understanding the seriousness of Moses' situation. - Exodus 12:21–28 — The Passover and the Blood.
The Passover introduces another major Exodus theme: blood associated with protection from death and God's deliverance of His people. This provides an interesting background when considering the mysterious connection between blood and deliverance in Exodus 4. - Joshua 5:2–9 — Israel Circumcised at Gilgal.
Joshua circumcises the generation born during the wilderness journey. The passage also tells us that the males who came out of Egypt had been circumcised.
New Testament
- Romans 2:28–29 — Circumcision of the Heart.
Paul moves beyond the outward sign of circumcision to the deeper reality of belonging to God through a transformed heart. - Galatians 5:2–6 — Circumcision and Faith in Christ.
Paul explains why circumcision is not a requirement for those who belong to Christ, emphasizing faith working through love rather than reliance on the outward covenant sign. - Colossians 2:11–12 — A Circumcision Not Made with Hands.
Paul describes the deeper spiritual reality fulfilled in Christ—a circumcision that is not merely physical but involves being united with Christ in His death and resurrection. - Hebrews 11:24–26 — Moses Chooses God's People.
The New Testament explains that Moses rejected the privileges of Pharaoh's household and chose to identify himself with God's people, helping us understand his complicated relationship with Egypt.
- Exodus 4:24–26 — The Circumcision of Moses' Son.
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"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path."
— Psalm 119:105
Grace and peace.