Exodus 2:18 kjv
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
Exodus 2:18 nkjv
When they came to Reuel their father, he said, "How is it that you have come so soon today?"
Exodus 2:18 niv
When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, "Why have you returned so early today?"
Exodus 2:18 esv
When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, "How is it that you have come home so soon today?"
Exodus 2:18 nlt
When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, "Why are you back so soon today?"
Exodus 2 18 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference Note |
---|---|---|
Gen 24:15-20 | ...Rebekah came out... speedily emptied her jar... ran again to the well... | Speed and unexpectedness at a well encounter, divine orchestration. |
Gen 29:9-10 | ...Rachel came... with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess... Jacob came... and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth... | Well encounters leading to help, shepherdess, removal of obstacles. |
Exod 2:16-17 | ...Reuel’s seven daughters came to draw water... But the shepherds came and drove them away... Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. | The immediate context; Moses's protective action leading to their early return. |
Judg 6:13 | Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?..." | An inquiry asking "why" concerning an unusual or difficult situation. |
1 Sam 10:11 | ...when all who knew him previously saw him prophesying among them, the people said to one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish?" | Inquiry about an unexpected change or phenomenon. |
2 Kgs 5:25 | Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant has gone nowhere.” | A master questioning a subordinate about an unexpected return or whereabouts. |
Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. | Divine guidance behind seemingly mundane human actions or encounters. |
Ps 37:23 | The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; | God directing the paths and timely encounters of His people. |
Jon 4:10 | And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor... which came into being in a night and perished in a night?" | Refers to rapid growth and sudden change, unexpected outcomes. |
Mt 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. | Moses's righteous act of help leading to his own provision and connection. |
Lk 1:34 | And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” | Question expressing surprise or seeking clarification for an unexpected announcement/event. |
Lk 1:39-40 | In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah... | An example of rapid movement or hastened travel. |
Acts 7:29 | At this statement Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian... | Historical context of Moses's flight leading to this specific location and event. |
Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. | Divine providence orchestrating events for a larger purpose, including timely meetings. |
1 Cor 7:29 | This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none... | Emphasis on the concept of time and unexpected shortness/haste. |
Gal 4:4 | But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, | Divine timing in great events, contrasting with the immediate 'sudden' question here. |
Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. | Relates to the principle of righteousness (Moses's action) leading to reward/blessing. |
Job 1:6-7 | Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them... "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” | General context of inquiries about whereabouts and actions. |
Ps 104:19-20 | He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. You bring darkness, and it is night... | Contrast with 'so soon today,' showing expected vs. unexpected timing in daily rhythm. |
Dan 2:2 | Then the king commanded to call the magicians... and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. | Being summoned to account for an event, setting a scene for explanation. |
Phil 4:6 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. | God's awareness of all circumstances, no event goes unnoticed or unquestioned. |
Jam 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. | The father's inquiry is a simple search for information, much like asking questions is key to gaining understanding. |
Exodus 2 verses
Exodus 2 18 Meaning
The verse describes the return of Reuel's daughters to their home significantly earlier than expected, prompting their father to inquire about the unusual swiftness of their arrival. This question serves as a pivotal point, setting the stage for them to recount how an unknown Egyptian man (Moses) assisted them against oppressive shepherds at the well.
Exodus 2 18 Context
Exodus chapter 2 narrates Moses' miraculous survival from Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew male infants, his adoption into the Egyptian royal household, and his burgeoning awareness of his Hebrew heritage. Following his defense of a Hebrew slave by killing an Egyptian overseer, Moses flees Pharaoh's wrath into the land of Midian. There, at a well, he encounters the seven daughters of Reuel (also known as Jethro), who are struggling against local shepherds attempting to drive them away from watering their flock. Moses intervenes, defends them, and helps them water their animals. Verse 18 is the immediate consequence, as the daughters return home to their father, prompting his surprised question, which then leads to Moses being invited into their home, setting the stage for his marriage to Zipporah and his forty years of pastoral life in Midian. The swiftness of their return highlights Moses's effectiveness and underscores a disruption of the usual, unfair practices at the well.
Exodus 2 18 Word analysis
- When they came (וַתָּבֹאןָ - va-tavo'nah): This Hebrew phrase implies a sudden or direct arrival, immediately upon completing their task at the well. The 'va' prefix, typical of the Waw-consecutive, suggests a consequence of the preceding actions—their task was finished unusually fast.
- to their father (אֶל-אֲבִיהֶן - el-avihen): Indicates the destination of their immediate report. In a patriarchal society, the father was the head of the household and the authority figure to whom such unexpected events would be conveyed.
- Reuel (רְעוּאֵל - Rə'ū'el): Meaning "Friend of God" or "Shepherd of God." He is also known as Jethro (יִתְרוֹ - Yitro, meaning "His Excellence" or "His Abundance") later in Exodus. He was a priest of Midian. His name suggests a spiritual inclination, preparing him to acknowledge God's hand in future events. The specific mention of Reuel rather than Jethro here may indicate this was his given name or the common address by his family, contrasting with a later professional or honorific title.
- he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - va-yomer): Introduces Reuel's direct speech, a response prompted by his observation.
- How is it (מַדּוּעַ - Maddu'a): A direct interrogative particle meaning "Why?" or "How come?" It conveys surprise, astonishment, and a desire for an explanation. It suggests an anomaly—something has happened out of the ordinary routine.
- that you have come home (שַׁבְתֶּן - šaḇ-tem): Emphasizes their return to the family abode. The verb's perfect tense confirms the completion of their action, and the sense of being "at home" again.
- so soon (מַהֵר - mahēr): An adverb expressing great speed or haste. This is the crucial element that flags the abnormality. Typically, watering the flocks and dealing with other shepherds would take a considerable amount of time. Their speedy return indicates this usual struggle was absent or cut short.
- today? (הַיּוֹם - ha-yōm): Reinforces the immediacy and specific timing of the unexpected event. It highlights that the departure from their normal routine happened this very day, causing the father's prompt reaction.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "When they came to their father Reuel": This phrase immediately establishes the reporting structure within the family unit and brings the central domestic figure into the narrative, preparing for the unfolding revelation.
- "How is it that you have come home so soon today?": This complete question is filled with paternal observation and genuine surprise. It's not merely curiosity but a recognition that the girls' daily task usually involved significant delay, possibly due to conflicts at the well. Reuel's sharp question signifies his attentiveness and leads directly to the telling of Moses's decisive intervention, underscoring the extraordinary nature of that help. This specific phrase drives the plot forward, providing the opportunity for Moses to be acknowledged and subsequently integrated into Reuel's family.
Exodus 2 18 Bonus section
- The Well Motif: The encounter at the well is a common biblical literary trope for significant meetings, particularly those leading to betrothal or a new phase in life. Moses meeting Zipporah and his future father-in-law here parallels the encounters of Isaac and Rebekah (Gen 24) and Jacob and Rachel (Gen 29). This motif often signifies God's providential hand in arranging human relationships and destinies.
- Contrast of Conduct: The verse implicitly highlights the contrast between the unrighteous conduct of the Midianite shepherds, who unjustly drove away the women, and Moses's righteous action of defending the vulnerable. This contrast sets the tone for Moses's character as a protector and foreshadows his future role in delivering Israel from oppression.
- Reuel's Character: His immediate question reveals he is an engaged and discerning father, observant of his family's routines and aware of potential difficulties they might face. This sets him apart as a figure open to new information and appreciative of integrity, laying the groundwork for his eventual wise counsel to Moses in later chapters (Exo 18).
Exodus 2 18 Commentary
Exodus 2:18 serves as a seemingly mundane domestic inquiry that pivots the narrative towards a significant encounter. Reuel’s question "How is it that you have come home so soon today?" is crucial because it implies that his daughters' return was strikingly quicker than usual. This abnormal swiftness directly attests to the effectiveness of Moses's intervention (Exo 2:17). Ordinarily, women faced challenges at the well, being at the mercy of more aggressive male shepherds, causing delays. Moses, through his righteous act, removed these obstacles, allowing the daughters to complete their task with unprecedented efficiency. Reuel’s perceptiveness highlights his role as a watchful patriarch and establishes him as an inquirer who seeks truth. His surprise initiates a chain of events, prompting his daughters to explain Moses’s heroism, leading to Moses being invited into their household and eventually becoming part of their family. This moment underscores divine providence, using a seemingly simple observation to draw Moses, the future deliverer, into the orbit of his eventual supportive family.