Naravist

Person in the Old Testament

Jethro

Jethro: a welcome, a blessing and counsel for Moses

Portrait of Jethro. An AI-generated artistic interpretation, not a historical likeness.

Portrait: an AI-generated artistic interpretation, not evidence of how Jethro looked.

Who Jethro is

Jethro is identified as the priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law, whose flock Moses tends. When Moses asks to return to his relatives in Egypt, Jethro sends him in peace. Later he brings Zipporah and her sons Gershom and Eliezer to Moses in the wilderness. He hears Moses' account of Israel's deliverance, rejoices and blesses the Lord. After seeing Moses judge alone from morning to evening, he warns that the burden will wear out both Moses and the people. He advises Moses to teach God's laws and appoint able, truthful men who fear God and reject dishonest gain to share the judging. Moses follows the counsel, retaining the hard cases while the appointed men judge smaller matters.

Cited passages: Exodus 3:1, Exodus 4:18, Exodus 18:2, Exodus 18:3, Exodus 18:4, Exodus 18:5, Exodus 18:8, Exodus 18:9, Exodus 18:10, Exodus 18:13, Exodus 18:18, Exodus 18:20, Exodus 18:21, Exodus 18:24, Exodus 18:26

Historical setting

The family names require care. Exodus 2 calls the daughters' father Reuel and says he gives Zipporah to Moses; Exodus 3 calls Moses' father-in-law Jethro. Numbers 10:29 addresses Hobab, son of Raguel in KJV and Reuel in ASV and BBE. Judges 4:11 calls Hobab Moses' father-in-law in KJV, but brother-in-law in ASV and BBE. These differences should remain visible rather than be turned into a certain reconstructed family tree. Exodus 18:2 says Zipporah had been sent back but does not explain when or why. Jethro's statement that the Lord is greater than all gods is his own testimony; the passage does not give a full account of his earlier beliefs.

Cited passages: Exodus 2:18, Exodus 2:21, Exodus 3:1, Exodus 18:2, Exodus 18:11, Numbers 10:29, Judges 4:11

How the story is told

Exodus 18 moves from hearing of deliverance to sharing a meal before God, then to observing the burden of judgment the next day. Jethro first listens to Moses' explanation, then gives counsel directed at both Moses' endurance and the people's peace. His recommendation includes the condition that God command it. The narrative records Moses' response and the division of cases, then closes with Jethro's departure to his own land. The arrangement shares responsibility while preserving Moses' teaching and role in the difficult cases.

Cited passages: Exodus 18:8, Exodus 18:12, Exodus 18:13, Exodus 18:15, Exodus 18:16, Exodus 18:18, Exodus 18:20, Exodus 18:23, Exodus 18:24, Exodus 18:25, Exodus 18:26, Exodus 18:27

Story moments

  1. Jethro sends Moses in peace (Exodus 4:18). Moses asks to return to his relatives in Egypt, and Jethro agrees.
  2. He brings the family to Moses (Exodus 18:6). Jethro announces his arrival with Zipporah and her two sons.
  3. He blesses the Lord for deliverance (Exodus 18:10). Jethro praises the Lord for rescuing the people from Pharaoh and Egypt.
  4. He advises appointing qualified judges (Exodus 18:21). His counsel calls for able, truthful men who fear God and reject unjust gain.
  5. He returns to his own land (Exodus 18:27). Moses lets his father-in-law depart.

Key passages

Exodus 2:18

And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

Exodus 3:1

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

Exodus 4:18

And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

Exodus 18:1

When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt;

Exodus 18:2

Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

Exodus 18:5

And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

King James Version. 11 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

How do Jethro's qualifications for judges and his concern for both Moses and the people shape the counsel he gives?

Books Jethro appears in

Related people

Names and references are adapted from STEPBible TIPNR. A person listed with a verse is named or indexed there; it does not mean they wrote or spoke it.