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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 18:5 Moses' father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses' wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/18-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/02_Exo_18_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 18:5 - The Visit of Jethro" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Moses' father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses' wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/18-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/18-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/18.htm">Chapter 18</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/18-4.htm" title="Exodus 18:4">◄</a> Exodus 18:5 <a href="/exodus/18-6.htm" title="Exodus 18:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/18.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/18.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Jethro, Moses&#8217 father-in-law, together with Moses&#8217 sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, now came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He brought Moses’ wife and two sons with him, and they arrived while Moses and the people were camped near the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then Jethro, Moses&#8217 father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then Jethro, his father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to [join] Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God [that is, Mt. Sinai in Horeb].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Moses’s father-in-law, Jethro, along with Moses’s wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Moses&#8217 father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses&#8217 wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Moses' father-in-law Jethro brought Moses' sons and wife to Moses in the desert where he was camped near the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Jethro came with Moses' wife and her two sons into the desert where Moses was camped at the holy mountain. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Moses' father-in-law Jethro, together with Moses' two sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camped at the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Moses? father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses? wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camping by the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was camped, at the Mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, comes, and his sons, and his wife, to Moses, to the wilderness where he is encamping—the mountain of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, cometh, and his sons, and his wife, unto Moses, unto the wilderness where he is encamping -- the mount of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, will come, and and his sons and his wife, to Moses to the desert, where he encamped there in the mountain of God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And Jethro the kinsman of Moses came with his sons and his wife, to Moses into the desert, where he was camped by the mountain of God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, with his sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert, where he was encamped next to the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Together with Moses’ wife and sons, then, his father-in-law Jethro came to him in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came into the wilderness where Moses was encamped at the mountain of God, bringing Moses’ sons and wife to him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he encamped at the mountain of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Yethrown, Father in Law of Moshe, and his children and his wife came to Moshe, to the wilderness, who was camping there at the mountain of God:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Jothor the father-in-law of Moses, and his sons and his wife, went forth to Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped on the mount of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/18-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=4491" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/18.htm">The Visit of Jethro</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">4</span>The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” <span class="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2859.htm" title="2859: ḥō·ṯên (N-msc) -- Make oneself a daughter's husband. A primitive root; to give away in marriage; hence to contract affinity by marriage.">Moses’ father-in-law</a> <a href="/hebrew/3503.htm" title="3503: yiṯ·rōw (N-proper-ms) -- Moses' father-in-law. From yether with pron. Suffix; his excellence; Jethro, Moses' father-in-law.">Jethro,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4872.htm" title="4872: mō·šeh (N-proper-ms) -- A great Isr. leader, prophet and lawgiver. From mashah; drawing out, i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver.">along with Moses’</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: wə·’iš·tōw (Conj-w:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">wife</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ū·ḇā·nāw (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 3ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">and sons,</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·yā·ḇō (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">came</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/4872.htm" title="4872: mō·šeh (N-proper-ms) -- A great Isr. leader, prophet and lawgiver. From mashah; drawing out, i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver.">him</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">in</a> <a href="/hebrew/4057.htm" title="4057: ham·miḏ·bār (Art:: N-ms) -- A pasture, a desert, speech. From dabar in the sense of driving; a pasture; by implication, a desert; also speech.">the desert,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">where</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">he</a> <a href="/hebrew/2583.htm" title="2583: ḥō·neh (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to incline; by implication, to decline; specifically, to pitch a tent; gen. To encamp.">was encamped</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: har (N-msc) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">at the mountain</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of God.</a> </span><span class="reftext">6</span>He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/10-29.htm">Numbers 10:29-32</a></span><br />Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.” / “I will not go,” Hobab replied. “Instead, I am going back to my own land and my own people.” / “Please do not leave us,” Moses said, “since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-9.htm">Deuteronomy 1:9-18</a></span><br />At that time I said to you, “I cannot carry the burden for you alone. / The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. / May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times over and bless you as He has promised. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-38.htm">Acts 7:38</a></span><br />He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-2.htm">Hebrews 3:2-6</a></span><br />He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. / For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. / And every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-8.htm">1 Kings 9:8-9</a></span><br />And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ / And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, the LORD has brought all this disaster upon them.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-10.htm">Deuteronomy 4:10-14</a></span><br />The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.” / You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. / And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; there was only a voice. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/15-21.htm">Acts 15:21</a></span><br />For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-1.htm">1 Corinthians 10:1-4</a></span><br />I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. / They all ate the same spiritual food ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-1.htm">Deuteronomy 5:1-5</a></span><br />Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I declare in your hearing this day. Learn them and observe them carefully. / The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. / He did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with all of us who are alive here today. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/17-1.htm">Matthew 17:1-3</a></span><br />After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. / There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. / Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/20-7.htm">2 Chronicles 20:7</a></span><br />Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/103-7.htm">Psalm 103:7</a></span><br />He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-17.htm">John 1:17</a></span><br />For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/3-7.htm">2 Corinthians 3:7-11</a></span><br />Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, / will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? / For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness! ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/33-4.htm">Deuteronomy 33:4-5</a></span><br />the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob. / So the LORD became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered, when the tribes of Israel came together.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/3-1.htm">Exodus 3:1,12</a></b></br> Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, <i>even</i> to Horeb… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/19-11.htm">Exodus 19:11,20</a></b></br> And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/24-16.htm">Exodus 24:16,17</a></b></br> And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/17-1.htm">Camped</a> <a href="/exodus/17-1.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/exodus/17-1.htm">Encamped</a> <a href="/exodus/14-9.htm">Encamping</a> <a href="/exodus/18-2.htm">Father-In-Law</a> <a href="/exodus/18-2.htm">Jethro</a> <a href="/exodus/18-2.htm">Law</a> <a href="/exodus/18-3.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/exodus/18-2.htm">Moses's</a> <a href="/exodus/4-27.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/exodus/15-17.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/exodus/16-16.htm">Tent</a> <a href="/exodus/17-9.htm">Together</a> <a href="/exodus/16-32.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/exodus/18-2.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/exodus/17-1.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/19-2.htm">Camped</a> <a href="/exodus/19-1.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/exodus/19-2.htm">Encamped</a> <a href="/numbers/1-51.htm">Encamping</a> <a href="/exodus/18-6.htm">Father-In-Law</a> <a href="/exodus/18-6.htm">Jethro</a> <a href="/exodus/18-6.htm">Law</a> <a href="/exodus/18-6.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/exodus/18-14.htm">Moses's</a> <a href="/exodus/19-2.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/exodus/19-2.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/exodus/18-7.htm">Tent</a> <a href="/exodus/19-8.htm">Together</a> <a href="/exodus/19-1.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/exodus/18-6.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/exodus/19-1.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 18</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/18-1.htm">Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/18-7.htm">Moses entertains him, and relates the goodness of the Lord</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/18-9.htm">Jethro rejoices, blesses God, and offers sacrifice</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/18-13.htm">He gives good counsel, which is accepted</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/18-27.htm">Jethro departs</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/18.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/18.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Moses’ father-in-law Jethro</b><br>Jethro, also known as Reuel, was the priest of Midian. His role as a priest suggests he was a leader and spiritual guide among the Midianites, a people descended from Abraham through Keturah. Jethro's relationship with Moses is significant, as he provided counsel and support to Moses, highlighting the importance of wise counsel and mentorship in leadership.<p><b>along with Moses’ wife and sons</b><br>Moses' wife, Zipporah, and his sons, Gershom and Eliezer, are mentioned here. This reunion indicates a period of separation, likely due to the dangerous journey Moses undertook to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The inclusion of his family underscores the importance of family unity and support in fulfilling God's calling.<p><b>came to him in the desert</b><br>The desert, or wilderness, is a recurring setting in the Bible, often symbolizing a place of testing, preparation, and revelation. It was in the desert that God provided for the Israelites and revealed His laws. This setting emphasizes the theme of reliance on God and spiritual growth through trials.<p><b>where he was encamped at the mountain of God</b><br>The mountain of God, also known as Mount Sinai or Horeb, is a significant location in biblical history. It is where Moses encountered the burning bush and later received the Ten Commandments. This mountain represents God's presence and covenant with His people. The encampment here signifies a pivotal moment of divine instruction and revelation for the Israelites.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jethro.htm">Jethro</a></b><br>Moses' father-in-law, a priest of Midian, who plays a significant role in advising Moses on leadership and governance.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses'_sons_and_wife.htm">Moses' Sons and Wife</a></b><br>They are brought by Jethro to reunite with Moses, highlighting the importance of family even amidst leadership responsibilities.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness.htm">The Wilderness</a></b><br>Represents the place of testing and reliance on God, where the Israelites are journeying towards the Promised Land.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_mountain_of_god.htm">The Mountain of God</a></b><br>Refers to Mount Sinai, a significant location where God reveals Himself and gives the Law to Moses.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_family_support.htm">The Importance of Family Support</a></b><br>Moses' reunion with his family underscores the significance of familial relationships and support, even for those in leadership roles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_wise_counsel.htm">The Role of Wise Counsel</a></b><br>Jethro's visit is a precursor to his wise counsel to Moses, reminding us of the value of seeking and heeding godly advice in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/sacred_spaces_and_encounters_with_god.htm">Sacred Spaces and Encounters with God</a></b><br>The mountain of God is a place of divine encounter and revelation, encouraging us to seek our own sacred spaces for communion with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_delegation.htm">Leadership and Delegation</a></b><br>The account sets the stage for Jethro's advice on delegation, teaching us the importance of sharing responsibilities to avoid burnout and ensure effective leadership.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_18.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 18</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_jethro_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Jethro in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'god_is_truth'_mean.htm">Who was Moses' father-in-law?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_jethro_embrace_yahweh.htm">If Jethro was a Midianite priest (Exodus 18:1), how could he seemingly embrace Yahweh while Midianites appear as enemies in other passages?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_zipporah_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Zipporah in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) <span class= "bld">Where he encamped at the mount of God.</span>--It is quite possible that "the mount of God" may be here used, in a broad sense, of the entire Sinaitic mountain-region, as "wilderness" is just before used in the broad sense of the infertile region between Egypt and Palestine. Or the movement described in <a href="/context/exodus/19-1.htm" title="In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.">Exodus 19:1-2</a> may have taken place before Jethro's arrival, though not related until after it. We must bear in mind that Exodus was probably composed in detached portions, and arranged afterwards. The present chapter has every appearance of being one such detached portion.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span>- <span class="cmt_word">The wilderness</span>. This term, which has the article, seems to be here used in that wide sense with which we are familiar from <a href="/exodus/3-18.htm">Exodus 3:18</a>; <a href="/exodus/4-27.htm"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/18-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Moses’ father-in-law</span><br /><span class="heb">חֹתֵ֥ן</span> <span class="translit">(ḥō·ṯên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2859.htm">Strong's 2859: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, away in marriage, to contract affinity by marriage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Jethro,</span><br /><span class="heb">יִתְר֨וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(yiṯ·rōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3503.htm">Strong's 3503: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jethro -- Moses' father-in-law</span><br /><br /><span class="word">along with Moses’</span><br /><span class="heb">מֹשֶׁ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(mō·šeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4872.htm">Strong's 4872: </a> </span><span class="str2">Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wife</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’iš·tōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and sons,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבָנָ֥יו</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇā·nāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּבֹ֞א</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·ḇō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">him</span><br /><span class="heb">מֹשֶׁ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(mō·šeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4872.htm">Strong's 4872: </a> </span><span class="str2">Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the desert,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמִּדְבָּ֗ר</span> <span class="translit">(ham·miḏ·bār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4057.htm">Strong's 4057: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pasture, a desert, speech</span><br /><br /><span class="word">where</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁר־</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he</span><br /><span class="heb">ה֛וּא</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was encamped</span><br /><span class="heb">חֹנֶ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(ḥō·neh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2583.htm">Strong's 2583: </a> </span><span class="str2">To incline, to decline, to pitch a, tent, gen, to encamp</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at the mountain</span><br /><span class="heb">הַ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(har)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mountain, hill, hill country</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of God.</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/18-5.htm">Exodus 18:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/18-5.htm">OT Law: Exodus 18:5 Jethro Moses' father-in-law came with his sons (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/18-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 18:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 18:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/18-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 18:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 18:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>