Exodus 4:17-27

17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”

Moses Returns to Egypt

18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.” Jethro said, “Go, and I wish you well.”
19 Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead.”
20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
21 The LORD said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son,
23 and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’ ”
24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses[a] and was about to kill him.
25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it.[b] “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.
26 So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)
27 The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.

Cross References 19

  • 1. S ver 2
  • 2. ver 20; Exodus 17:9
  • 3. Exodus 7:9-21; Exodus 8:5,16; Exodus 9:22; Exodus 10:12-15,21-23; Exodus 14:15-18,26; Numbers 14:11; Deuteronomy 4:34; Psalms 74:9; Psalms 78:43; Psalms 105:27
  • 4. Exodus 2:15
  • 5. Exodus 2:23; Matthew 2:20
  • 6. Exodus 2:22; Exodus 18:3; Acts 7:29
  • 7. S ver 2; Exodus 17:9; Nu 20:8-9,11
  • 8. S Exodus 3:19,20
  • 9. Exodus 7:3,13; Exodus 8:15; Exodus 9:12,35; Exodus 10:1,20,27; Exodus 11:10; Exodus 14:4,8; Deuteronomy 2:30; Joshua 11:20; 1 Samuel 6:6; Psalms 105:25; Isaiah 6:10; Isaiah 63:17; John 12:40; Romans 9:18
  • 10. Exodus 8:32; Exodus 9:17
  • 11. S Genesis 10:15; Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 3:19; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1; Malachi 2:10; Romans 9:4; 2 Corinthians 6:18
  • 12. Exodus 5:1; Exodus 7:16
  • 13. S Exodus 3:18
  • 14. Genesis 49:3; Exodus 11:5; Exodus 12:12,29; Numbers 8:17; Numbers 33:4; Psalms 78:51; Psalms 105:36; Psalms 135:8; Psalms 136:10
  • 15. Numbers 22:22
  • 16. S Exodus 2:21
  • 17. Genesis 17:14; Joshua 5:2,3
  • 18. S Exodus 3:1
  • 19. ver 14; S Genesis 27:27; S Genesis 29:13

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Hebrew "him"
  • [b]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
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