Jethro
maleExodusMeaning: “His excellence; abundance”
The priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, who sheltered him in exile and later gave him wise counsel to appoint judges and share the burden of leadership.
Biography
Jethro, the priest of Midian, was the father-in-law of Moses — a wise and gracious man who sheltered Moses during his exile and later helped him organize the leadership of Israel.
Refuge in Midian
When Moses fled Egypt, he came to Midian, defended Jethro's daughters at a well, and was welcomed into the household. Jethro gave him his daughter Zipporah, and Moses kept Jethro's flocks for forty years (Exodus 2:16–21; 3:1).
Wise counsel
After the Exodus, Jethro came to Moses, rejoiced in all the LORD had done, and offered sacrifices to God (Exodus 18:9–12). Seeing Moses exhausted by judging the people alone, he gave the sound advice to appoint capable, God-fearing men as judges over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens — "so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee" (Exodus 18:22). Moses heeded his father-in-law, establishing Israel's first system of shared governance.
Life Timeline
Welcomes the fugitive Moses and gives him Zipporah
Advises Moses to appoint judges over Israel
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Jethro
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Jethro appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
10 verses in 1 bookExodus10 verses
Exodus 2:18
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? Reuel: called also Jethro, or, Jether
Exodus 3:1
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, even to Horeb.
Exodus 4:18
And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. Jethro: Heb. Jether
Exodus 18:1
When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
Exodus 18:2
Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,
Exodus 18:5
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:
Exodus 18:6
And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
Exodus 18:9
And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
Exodus 18:10
And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
Exodus 18:12
And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.
Frequently asked about Jethro
Who was Jethro in the Bible?
The priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, who sheltered him in exile and later gave him wise counsel to appoint judges and share the burden of leadership.
What does the name Jethro mean?
The name Jethro means “His excellence; abundance”.
What did Jethro do in the Bible?
Jethro served as priest of midian.
Who were Jethro's children?
Jethro's children include Zipporah.
Where does Jethro appear in the Bible?
Jethro is mentioned 10 times across 1 book: Exodus.
What can we learn from Jethro?
The story of Jethro touches on themes of kenites, the, desert, journey of israel through the, midianites, zipporah — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Jethro's life.
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