Exodus 4:24
And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֥י
H1961
וַיְהִ֥י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 7
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בַדֶּ֖רֶךְ
And it came to pass by the way
H1870
בַדֶּ֖רֶךְ
And it came to pass by the way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
2 of 7
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֣הוּ
met
H6298
וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֣הוּ
met
Strong's:
H6298
Word #:
4 of 7
to come in contact with, whether by accident or violence; figuratively, to concur
יְהוָ֔ה
that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Genesis 17:14And 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.Exodus 3:18And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.Leviticus 10:3Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.Hosea 13:8I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.1 Chronicles 21:16And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.Genesis 42:27And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.1 Kings 13:24And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
Historical Context
Circumcision was the sign of Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17:10-14), mandatory for all male descendants and household members. Failure to circumcise meant being "cut off from his people" (Genesis 17:14). Moses' ministry required covenant faithfulness—he couldn't lead Israel while violating core covenant markers. This near-death encounter taught Moses the seriousness of God's holiness and covenant stipulations.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's severity with Moses over circumcision challenge modern casual attitudes toward covenant obligations?
- What does this incident teach about the necessity of personal obedience before public ministry, especially for spiritual leaders?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him (וַיְהִי בַדֶּרֶךְ בַּמָּלוֹן וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁהוּ יְהוָה וַיְבַקֵּשׁ הֲמִיתוֹ)—One of Scripture's most enigmatic verses: the LORD met him, and sought to kill him (וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁהוּ יְהוָה וַיְבַקֵּשׁ הֲמִיתוֹ). Who is "him"? Context suggests Moses, though some argue Gershom. The cause: failure to circumcise his son (v. 25-26), violating the Abrahamic covenant sign (Genesis 17:10-14). Moses, called to lead covenant people, neglected covenant obligation—perhaps from accommodation to Zipporah's Midianite background or personal negligence. God's severity shows that covenant representatives must maintain covenant faithfulness. Grace doesn't excuse disobedience; calling intensifies accountability (James 3:1).