Exodus 18:1 kjv

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 18:1 nkjv

And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people?that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Exodus 18:1 niv

Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Exodus 18:1 esv

Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Exodus 18:1 nlt

Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the LORD had rescued them from Egypt.

Exodus 18 verses

Exodus 18 1 Meaning

Exodus 18:1 announces the arrival and purpose of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, a priest of Midian. He came to Moses in the wilderness after hearing comprehensive reports of all the powerful and miraculous deeds that God (Elohim) and specifically the LORD (YHWH) had performed to deliver Moses and His people, Israel, out of Egypt. This verse sets the stage for Jethro's significant counsel and influence on Moses' leadership.

Exodus 18 1 Context

Exodus chapter 18 directly follows the monumental events of the Exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea, the bitter waters of Marah, the provision of manna and quails, and the miraculous water from the rock at Rephidim, culminating in the victory over Amalek. At this point, Israel has arrived and encamped at the "mount of God" (Sinai, or Horeb) in the wilderness (Exod 18:5, Exod 19:2). Jethro's visit precedes the full giving of the Law and the establishment of the formal priesthood at Sinai. His appearance here is significant because he is a non-Israelite who acknowledges YHWH's supremacy. Historically and culturally, Midianites were nomadic or semi-nomadic people, descendants of Abraham through Keturah. The institution of a "priest of Midian" implies a religious structure, which is common in ancient cultures, even if it wasn't strictly monotheistic in the Israelite sense. The news of the Exodus would have traveled quickly among neighboring peoples through trade routes and oral reports.

Exodus 18 1 Word analysis

• Now (וַיִּשְׁמַע - wa-yish·maʻ): This verb begins the verse, often translated "And he heard" or "Now he heard." It acts as a transitional conjunction, linking this new event to the preceding narrative while highlighting the key action of "hearing."
• Jethro (יִתְרוֹ - Yithrô): Meaning "His Excellence" or "His Abundance." He is identified as Moses' father-in-law, first introduced as Reuel in Exod 2:18, suggesting either an alternative name or a title. His name might foreshadow the valuable counsel he gives later.
• the priest (כֹּהֵן - kōhēn): A leader in religious matters; one who mediates with the divine or leads worship. His being a "priest of Midian" suggests a established religious system distinct from, but possibly related to, early patriarchal worship or a universal acknowledgment of a high God. His position lends weight to his recognition of YHWH.
• of Midian (מִדְיָן - Miḏyān): Refers to the people and land of Midian, east of the Gulf of Aqaba, known as descendants of Abraham via Keturah. This kinship means a degree of relatedness, yet distinct nationhood from Israel.
• Moses' father-in-law: Establishes the intimate familial bond and relationship that allowed Jethro direct access and influence over Moses. This familiar connection humanizes the otherwise stark Exodus narrative.
• heard of (וַיִּשְׁמַע - wa-yish·maʻ): The same verb as "Now" at the beginning, emphasizing that Jethro's understanding came through testimony and reputation, not direct observation. This underlines the power of God's deeds to impress even distant observers.
• all that (כֹּל אֲשֶׁר - kol ašer): Implies totality and comprehensiveness. It wasn't just one isolated event but the entire sequence of overwhelming miracles God performed. This points to the widespread fame of God's acts.
• God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): The generic Hebrew term for "God" or "gods." Often used in a more universal sense, or before YHWH's specific covenant name is invoked, especially in interactions with non-Israelites who might initially perceive a general deity.
• had done (עָשָׂה - ʻāśāh): Signifies a complete action or deed. It emphasizes the active, performing nature of God.
• for Moses: Highlights God's specific care and direct intervention on behalf of His chosen leader, providing authority and sustenance.
• and for Israel His people: Indicates the corporate, covenantal nature of God's actions. It wasn't just for Moses individually but for the nation collectively, marking them as God's special possession.
• —all that: Repetition for emphasis, underscoring the completeness and impactful nature of the divine actions.
• the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exod 3:15). Its use here, after "Elohim," suggests a narrative progression from a general understanding of "God" to the specific identity of Israel's covenant God, which Jethro either grasped or the narrator provides for precision.
• had done out of Egypt: Specifically points to the core redemptive act – the Exodus. This deliverance was the ultimate demonstration of YHWH's power over the gods of Egypt and a pivotal moment in salvation history.

• "Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law": This group of descriptors fully identifies Jethro by name, profession/role, origin, and personal relationship to Moses. Each element is crucial for understanding his context and the legitimacy of his impending counsel. His unique position as a non-Israelite priest and relative bridges two worlds.
• "heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—all that the Lord had done out of Egypt": This phrase complex highlights the content of Jethro's knowledge and its source. The transition from "God" (Elohim) to "the Lord" (YHWH) within this repeated declaration signifies Jethro's recognition, or the narrative's emphasis on, the specific, covenantal God of Israel as the agent of these mighty deeds, focusing on the defining event of the Exodus. It speaks to God's powerful self-revelation being communicated broadly.

Exodus 18 1 Bonus section

The visit of Jethro is significant because it occurs while Israel is camped at the base of Mount Sinai, a strategic location where they would receive the Law. The counsel of Jethro, a Midianite priest, immediately precedes the covenant ceremony at Sinai. This sequence emphasizes that divine wisdom, or at least practical leadership principles informed by external divine acknowledgment, can play a role in the nascent community even before the formal structure of the Law. Jethro's pre-Mosaic recognition of YHWH's supremacy hints at a broader, perhaps monotheistic, understanding in his tribal background, which he now definitively aligns with YHWH, affirming Him as "greater than all gods" (Exod 18:11). This interaction contrasts sharply with later narratives where Midian becomes an antagonist to Israel, underscoring the unique and positive role of Jethro as an early example of a Gentile acknowledging and glorifying the God of Israel.

Exodus 18 1 Commentary

Exodus 18:1 acts as a pivotal narrative transition, bringing an external observer into the sacred history of Israel. Jethro's act of "hearing" about God's deeds is not mere curiosity; as a priest, it implies a theological reckoning with the evident supremacy of Israel's God, YHWH, over any other perceived deity. His response demonstrates that God's actions, even if performed for a specific people, have a universal impact, proclaiming His power and sovereignty beyond Israel's borders. This verse thus prefigures the later call for all nations to acknowledge and worship YHWH (Isa 49:6). It sets the stage for Jethro, a figure from outside the covenant, to offer crucial administrative wisdom to Moses, demonstrating that divine wisdom can sometimes be channeled through unexpected vessels, even before the full establishment of the Israelite religious system.