Exodus 2 20

Exodus 2:20 kjv

And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

Exodus 2:20 nkjv

So he said to his daughters, "And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread."

Exodus 2:20 niv

"And where is he?" Reuel asked his daughters. "Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat."

Exodus 2:20 esv

He said to his daughters, "Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread."

Exodus 2:20 nlt

"Then where is he?" their father asked. "Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us."

Exodus 2 verses

Exodus 2 20 Meaning

This verse describes Reuel, also known as Jethro, expressing concern and a gentle rebuke to his daughters for not extending proper hospitality to Moses, the stranger who had helped them at the well. He then instructs them to call Moses back to share a meal, emphasizing the importance of welcoming those in need and illustrating a core biblical value of kindness and provision for the sojourner. It highlights God's providence in leading Moses to a hospitable family in Midian.

Exodus 2 20 Context

Exodus chapter 2 narrates the dramatic opening of Moses's life story. Pharaoh's decree to kill all male Hebrew infants leads to Moses being placed in a basket on the Nile, discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. He grows up in the Egyptian court, but his identity as a Hebrew becomes evident. After witnessing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, Moses intervenes, killing the Egyptian. This act of justice leads to his immediate flight from Egypt to escape Pharaoh's wrath. Moses arrives in the land of Midian, a desert region east of the Gulf of Aqaba, a place of refuge for outcasts. While sitting by a well, a common meeting place and source of life in the ancient Near East, he encounters the seven daughters of Reuel, a priest of Midian, attempting to water their flock. Shepherds unjustly drive them away, but Moses chivalrously defends them, drawing water for their animals. The daughters return home unusually early, prompting their father's immediate inquiry, leading directly to the events and dialogue of verse 20. This sequence of events divinely orchestrates Moses's transition from a prince in Egypt to a shepherd in Midian, preparing him for forty years of solitude and equipping him for future leadership.

Exodus 2 20 Word analysis

• And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyō’mer): Indicates Reuel (Jethro) immediately speaking upon seeing his daughters, demonstrating his attentiveness and concern for their welfare and for proper social conduct.
• to his daughters (לִבְנֹתָיו, livnōṯāyw): Highlights the paternal relationship and Reuel's role as head of the household. His instruction serves as both a gentle rebuke and a lesson in hospitality.
• And where is he? (וְאַיֵּה, vĕ’ayēh): A rhetorical question conveying immediate curiosity and perhaps an implicit expectation of the daughters bringing back the man who helped them. It reveals Reuel's observant nature and a discerning heart, inferring that something was amiss.
• Why is it that you have left (לָמָּה זֶּה עֲזַבְתֶּן, lāmāh zeh ‘ăzavten): "Why" (lāmāh) expresses displeasure and questioning of their actions. The verb "left" (‘azav) here implies not just leaving someone physically, but neglecting them or failing to complete a necessary act of kindness or courtesy, highlighting an omission of expected hospitality.
• the man? (הָאִישׁ, hā’îsh): Refers to Moses, emphasizing his male status and the societal expectation that a man who renders aid, especially a stranger, should be shown reciprocal kindness and respect.
• Call him, (קִרְאֶן, qir’en): An imperative command, a direct instruction to rectify the oversight. "Call" (qāra’) signifies a formal invitation or summons, emphasizing a conscious effort to welcome.
• that he may eat bread. (וְיֹאכַל לָחֶם, vĕyō’khal laḥem): "To eat bread" (yô’khal laḥem) is an ancient Near Eastern idiom not just for eating food, but for sharing a full meal and participating in fellowship. It represents a deeper act of hospitality, a gesture of welcome, peace, and integration, offering security and a shared bond within the household.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man?": This sharp, two-part inquiry from Reuel immediately establishes his discernment and ethical sensitivity. He recognizes the exceptional help rendered by Moses and instinctively understands that neglecting a helper goes against the established codes of generosity and gratitude in their culture. This prompt and principled questioning highlights his righteous character and set a positive tone for Moses's refuge.
• "Call him, that he may eat bread.": This phrase serves as a direct, imperative solution to the lapse in hospitality. "Call him" indicates an active invitation and an intention to bring the stranger into the immediate space. "That he may eat bread" is a profoundly significant cultural act. It is not merely an offer of sustenance but a gesture of fellowship, welcome, and security, creating a bond between the host and the guest, symbolically offering peace and a temporary covenant of protection and shared life within the family's dwelling.

Exodus 2 20 Bonus section

• Reuel, identified as a "priest of Midian," exhibits a moral compass that aligns with biblical righteousness, demonstrating that God's truth can be found even among those not directly part of the Abrahamic covenant at that time. His immediate focus on hospitality reflects a universal principle of valuing human kindness and acknowledging help received.
• The immediate recognition and welcoming of Moses into Reuel's household through sharing a meal contrasts sharply with Moses's earlier abandonment on the Nile and his subsequent flight from Pharaoh. This moment symbolizes divine reversal, moving Moses from danger to safety and from isolation to integration into a community that would support him.
• This verse provides the context for the name Reuel, also known as Jethro, indicating the wisdom and discernment of this significant figure who would later serve as an important advisor to Moses in the wilderness (Exo 18).

Exodus 2 20 Commentary

Exodus 2:20 is a profound display of ancient Near Eastern hospitality and the providence of God in Moses's life. Reuel, Moses’s future father-in-law, demonstrates a deep ethical and possibly spiritual understanding by rebuking his daughters for their oversight in not bringing the stranger who helped them back to their home. His question, "And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man?", highlights a cultural expectation: kindness shown to you warrants reciprocal kindness, particularly when it comes from a solitary traveler. The command to "Call him, that he may eat bread" goes beyond mere sustenance. In that cultural context, to share bread was to share fellowship, peace, and protection. It marked an entry into the host's sphere of security and welcome. This immediate and unwavering commitment to hospitality from Reuel not only provided Moses with a much-needed refuge but also facilitated his entry into the very family and environment God had chosen for his wilderness preparation. It showcases divine care through human kindness and sets the stage for Moses’s forty years in Midian as a shepherd, a period of refining before his great calling to deliver Israel.