Exodus 2 22

Exodus 2:22 kjv

And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

Exodus 2:22 nkjv

And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a stranger in a foreign land."

Exodus 2:22 niv

Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, "I have become a foreigner in a foreign land."

Exodus 2:22 esv

She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land."

Exodus 2:22 nlt

Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land."

Exodus 2 verses

Exodus 2 22 Meaning

Exodus 2:22 describes the birth of Moses' first son to his wife Zipporah and the naming of the child. Moses named his son Gershom, explaining that the name reflected his personal experience of being an alien or sojourner in a foreign land. This name served as a reminder of his displacement and exile from Egypt, underscoring his detached status from his homeland and his newfound identity as a refugee in Midian.

Exodus 2 22 Context

Exodus chapter 2 narrates Moses' early life. Born during Pharaoh's decree to kill all male Hebrew infants, Moses is miraculously preserved, discovered by Pharaoh's daughter, and raised in the royal palace. Despite his Egyptian upbringing, his heart remains with his Hebrew people. When he witnesses an Egyptian taskmaster brutalizing a Hebrew slave, Moses intervenes, killing the Egyptian. This act becomes known, forcing Moses to flee from Pharaoh's wrath into the land of Midian. In Midian, he encounters Jethro's daughters, protects them from shepherds, and is subsequently taken into Jethro's household. He marries Jethro's daughter Zipporah, settles into life as a shepherd, and in this context, Gershom is born. The verse captures Moses' emotional and social reality at this point—a former prince now an exiled refugee, living far from the land he once knew.

Exodus 2 22 Word analysis

• She bore a son: This common biblical phrase (often used, e.g., in Gen 4:1, 16:11, 29:32) indicates the natural process of childbirth. Here, it signifies the beginning of Moses' own family, transitioning him from a lone refugee to a family man in Midian.
• and he called his name Gershom: It was customary for the father to name the child, reflecting his paternal authority and interpretation of the circumstances surrounding the birth.
  • Gershom (גֵּרְשֹׁם - Gerəšōm): A Hebrew name directly related to the verb gur (גּוּר - "to sojourn," "to dwell as a foreigner") and the demonstrative pronoun sham (שָׁם - "there"). The name explicitly means "a sojourner there" or "an alien there," perfectly aligning with Moses' stated reason. The slight variations in the name's linguistic derivation, such as some associating it with "expelled" or "driven out" (garesh), still reinforce Moses' displaced status.
• for he said, "I have been a sojourner": Moses explains his naming decision directly. This provides deep insight into his psychological and spiritual state.
  • sojourner (גֵּר - ger): This significant Hebrew term denotes an alien, foreigner, or resident alien. A ger resided in a land not his own, often lacking land rights or full citizen status, depending on the period. For Moses, an adopted prince, this was a dramatic downgrade in status. It carries connotations of being temporary, dependent, and outside the primary societal structure.
• in a foreign land":
  • foreign land (אֶרֶץ נָכְרִיָה - erets nāḵrîyâ): Erets means "land" or "country." Nāḵrîyâ means "foreign," "strange," or "alien." This phrase emphasizes the complete estrangement and lack of belonging that Moses felt. It was not merely a new place, but one where he had no roots or established identity.

Words-group analysis

• "She bore a son, and he called his name Gershom": This sequence highlights the personal nature of the naming, directly linking the new life with the father's chosen meaning. It signifies a fresh start for Moses, but one tinged with the memory of his past trauma and displacement. The act of naming reflects parental authority and provides the child with an identity shaped by their lineage and immediate circumstances.
• "for he said, 'I have been a sojourner in a foreign land' ": This is a powerful, personal declaration from Moses. It's a statement of identity forged in exile. The feeling of being a "sojourner" would become deeply significant, as he would later lead his entire nation, themselves sojourners, out of a foreign land and through a wilderness to a promised land that they would not yet fully possess. This sense of being a sojourner characterizes not only Moses but later all of Israel in their pilgrimage towards God's promises, and ultimately all believers on Earth.

Exodus 2 22 Bonus section

• Theological Significance of "Sojourner": The concept of ger (sojourner) is vital throughout the Bible. It first defines Abraham's identity as he lived by faith, anticipating a city "whose designer and builder is God." This identity is then imposed on the Israelites during their Egyptian bondage and subsequently adopted by them in their covenant with God (e.g., in Ps 146:9, God protects the sojourner). Moses' initial self-identification as a ger deeply connects him to the ancestral patriarchs and foreshadows the future of his own people who will truly become sojourners in the wilderness, anticipating their promised homeland.
• Moses' Dual Identity: The name Gershom encapsulates Moses' complex identity. He is a Hebrew raised by Egyptians, then married into a Midianite family, always feeling like an outsider in various contexts. This personal experience of alienation might have cultivated a deep empathy for the plight of the oppressed, which was crucial for his later role as Israel's deliverer.
• Divine Providence in Exile: Even in a foreign land, Moses finds a family and builds a life. This verse silently speaks of God's unseen hand providing for Moses during his period of exile, preparing him for the monumental task ahead. It demonstrates that even in unexpected places and amidst feelings of displacement, God continues to work out His plan.

Exodus 2 22 Commentary

Exodus 2:22 is a poignant reflection of Moses' inner state. Having grown up as an Egyptian prince, only to flee his comfortable life as a fugitive, Moses finds temporary refuge in Midian. The birth of Gershom, his first son, provides a moment for Moses to articulate his deep sense of alienation and rootlessness. The name "Gershom" encapsulates his personal experience: he is "a sojourner there," far from the land of his birth and the people of his heritage. This moment is crucial for understanding Moses' character; despite his past status, he now identifies with the vulnerable and displaced. This personal struggle with identity and displacement would later prepare him to lead the very people who were sojourners and enslaved in a foreign land. The naming of Gershom serves as a constant, tangible reminder of God's providence in a strange land and Moses' dependence on divine leading, foreshadowing the greater journey and sojourning that would soon define the nation of Israel.