Exodus 18:4 kjv

And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

Exodus 18:4 nkjv

and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh");

Exodus 18:4 niv

and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh."

Exodus 18:4 esv

and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh").

Exodus 18:4 nlt

His second son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, "The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.")

Exodus 18 verses

Exodus 18 4 Meaning

Exodus 18:4 reveals the name of Moses' second son, Eliezer, which means "My God is help." This name served as a personal testament to God's divine intervention and rescue in Moses' life, specifically when God delivered him from the threat of Pharaoh's sword. The naming reflects Moses' gratitude and deep awareness of God's protecting hand even before the grand Exodus from Egypt. It signifies that God is a personal helper and deliverer.

Exodus 18 4 Context

Exodus chapter 18 details the reunion of Moses with his father-in-law Jethro, his wife Zipporah, and his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, in the wilderness at the mountain of God. This meeting occurs after the miraculous Exodus from Egypt and after the giving of the Law at Sinai, as the Israelites were encamped there. Jethro, having heard all that the Lord had done for Moses and Israel, brings the family to Moses. Verses 3 and 4 specifically mention the names of Moses' sons and the reasons for their names, reflecting Moses' personal history with and reliance upon God's deliverance during a period of fear and persecution by Pharaoh.

Exodus 18 4 Word analysis

• and the name of the other: Indicates that Moses had two sons, the first being Gershom (mentioned in Exod 18:3). This highlights the continuation of Moses' family line.
• was Eliezer:
  • Original Word: אֱלִיעֶזֶר ('Ěliyʻezer).
  • Meaning: "My God is help" or "God of help." This name is a combination of two Hebrew elements: 'El (אֵל), meaning "God" (a common designation for God in ancient Semitic cultures and in the Bible, particularly in compound names), and 'ezer (עֶזֶר), meaning "help" or "aid."
  • Significance: The name serves as a theological statement, encapsulating Moses' personal experience of divine intervention. It's a memorial to God's faithfulness and provision.
• for he said: This indicates that Moses himself gave this name to his son. It personalizes the declaration of faith, revealing his mindset and a lesson he wanted to instill or remember.
• 'The God of my father:
  • Original Word: אֱלֹהֵי אָבִי ('Elohey 'Avi).
  • Meaning: 'Elohey is a possessive form of 'Elohim (God). 'Avi means "my father."
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes a generational, covenantal relationship with God. Moses acknowledges God not just as a generic deity, but as the same God who related to his ancestors (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). It ties his personal experience to the broader redemptive history and the promises made to the patriarchs, indicating continuity of faith.
• was my help:
  • Original Word: עֶזֶר ('ezer).
  • Significance: Reinforces the meaning of Eliezer's name. It describes God as active and direct in providing aid when Moses was in peril. This help was not abstract but concrete and timely.
• and delivered me:
  • Original Word: יַצִּילֵנִי (yaṣṣîlēni) – from the verb נָצַל (natsal), "to snatch away," "to deliver," "to rescue."
  • Significance: Implies a powerful act of salvation, removing one from immediate danger or threat. It signifies God's intervention to save Moses from what seemed like inevitable harm.
• from the sword of Pharaoh':
  • Original Word: מֵחֶרֶב פַּרְעֹה (mēḥereḇ Par‘ōh) – mē (from) + ḥereḇ (sword) + Par‘ōh (Pharaoh).
  • Significance: This specific threat likely refers to the incident in Exodus 2:15, where Pharaoh sought to kill Moses after he killed the Egyptian, prompting Moses' flight to Midian. It vividly describes the deadly peril Moses faced and from which God rescued him, demonstrating God's protection of His chosen servant long before the national deliverance of Israel. It portrays Pharaoh as the embodiment of an oppressive and life-threatening force.

Exodus 18 4 Bonus section

The pattern of naming children to reflect significant life events or prophetic meanings is prevalent throughout Scripture, underscoring that for the biblical authors, personal and historical events were deeply intertwined with divine action. Moses' naming of Gershom ("a sojourner there") and Eliezer ("God is help") together encapsulate his entire pre-Exodus journey: initially a displaced wanderer (Gershom), but crucially, one whom God delivered from existential threats (Eliezer). These two names therefore tell a mini-narrative of Moses' flight from Egypt, his exile, and God's protective hand, setting the stage for his return as Israel's deliverer. The dual naming highlights two aspects of God's interaction with His people: His presence with them in their displacement and His active intervention for their safety.

Exodus 18 4 Commentary

Exodus 18:4, though brief, provides profound insight into Moses' personal walk with God and the theological significance of names in the biblical narrative. The naming of Eliezer serves as a profound act of remembrance and testimony, articulating Moses' personal gratitude and the core of his faith. Long before the spectacular Red Sea crossing or the dramatic pronouncements at Sinai, Moses had experienced God as his direct, personal Helper and Deliverer. The explicit reference to being saved "from the sword of Pharaoh" harkens back to the precarious moments of his early adult life, reminding him and future generations that God had preserved him for His mighty work. This verse illustrates that even great leaders and deliverers are themselves beneficiaries of God's personal, rescuing power. It underlines the intimate relationship between the God of the fathers and His individual servants, emphasizing His consistent faithfulness. The name Eliezer became a perpetual memorial, not merely a title, but a confession of faith—a tangible expression of reliance on God's active presence and power against seemingly insurmountable human threats. It provides a reminder that God’s providential care precedes His grand acts of national deliverance.