Exodus 18:5
New International Version
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
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.

Amplified Bible
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].

Christian Standard Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.

American Standard Version
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:

English Revised Version
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:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Moses' father-in-law Jethro brought Moses' sons and wife to Moses in the desert where he was camped near the mountain of God.

Good News Translation
Jethro came with Moses' wife and her two sons into the desert where Moses was camped at the holy mountain.

International Standard Version
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.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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:

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
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;

Young's Literal Translation
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;

Smith's Literal Translation
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.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
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.

New American Bible
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,

New Revised Standard Version
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.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
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;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
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:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Visit of Jethro
4The 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.” 5Moses’ 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. 6He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”…

Cross References
Numbers 10:29-32
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. ...

Deuteronomy 1:9-18
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. ...

Acts 7:38
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.

Hebrews 3:2-6
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. ...

1 Kings 9:8-9
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.’”

Deuteronomy 4:10-14
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. ...

Acts 15:21
For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

1 Corinthians 10:1-4
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 ...

Deuteronomy 5:1-5
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. ...

Matthew 17:1-3
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.

2 Chronicles 20:7
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?

Psalm 103:7
He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:7-11
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! ...

Deuteronomy 33:4-5
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.


Treasury of Scripture

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:

Exodus 3:1,12
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 19:11,20
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…

Exodus 24:16,17
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…

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Camped Desert Encamped Encamping Father-In-Law Jethro Law Moses Moses's Mount Mountain Tent Together Waste Wife Wilderness
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Camped Desert Encamped Encamping Father-In-Law Jethro Law Moses Moses's Mount Mountain Tent Together Waste Wife Wilderness
Exodus 18
1. Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses
7. Moses entertains him, and relates the goodness of the Lord
9. Jethro rejoices, blesses God, and offers sacrifice
13. He gives good counsel, which is accepted
27. Jethro departs














Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law
The name "Jethro" is derived from the Hebrew root "יתר" (yeter), meaning "abundance" or "excellence." Jethro, also known as Reuel, is a significant figure in the narrative of Moses, representing wisdom and counsel. As Moses' father-in-law, he holds a position of respect and authority. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, family ties were crucial, and Jethro's relationship with Moses underscores the importance of familial bonds and the sharing of wisdom across generations. Jethro's visit is a reminder of the value of seeking counsel from those who have walked before us in faith and life.

came to Moses
The act of "coming" to Moses signifies a deliberate and purposeful journey. In the Hebrew context, the verb "בוא" (bo) implies movement with intention. Jethro's journey to meet Moses is not merely a familial visit but a divinely orchestrated encounter. This meeting highlights the importance of divine appointments and the role of God in orchestrating events for His purposes. It serves as an encouragement to believers to be open to divine encounters and the wisdom that others may bring into our lives.

in the wilderness
The "wilderness" (Hebrew: "מדבר," midbar) is a place of testing, transformation, and revelation. Biblically, the wilderness is often where God meets His people, providing guidance and sustenance. For Moses and the Israelites, the wilderness was a place of dependence on God, away from the distractions of Egypt. It symbolizes a spiritual journey where believers are stripped of worldly comforts and learn to rely solely on God. Jethro's arrival in the wilderness signifies that even in desolate places, God provides community and support through others.

where he was camped
The phrase "was camped" (Hebrew: "חנה," chanah) indicates a temporary dwelling, a pause in the journey. This reflects the transient nature of life and the pilgrim journey of faith. For the Israelites, camping in the wilderness was a time of preparation and waiting on God's timing. It serves as a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are called to be sojourners, finding their ultimate rest and home in God. The camp is a place of gathering, community, and worship, reminding us of the importance of fellowship and unity in our spiritual journey.

at the mountain of God
The "mountain of God" refers to Mount Sinai, a place of divine revelation and covenant. In Hebrew, "הר האלהים" (har ha'elohim) signifies a sacred space where God reveals Himself to His people. This mountain is where Moses would later receive the Ten Commandments, marking it as a pivotal location in the history of Israel. It represents the meeting place between God and man, a place of awe, reverence, and transformation. For believers, it symbolizes the importance of seeking God's presence and receiving His guidance and law for our lives. The mountain of God is a reminder of His holiness and the call to ascend spiritually to meet Him.

(5) Where he encamped at the mount of God.--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 Exodus 19:1-2 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.

Verse 5.- The wilderness. This term, which has the article, seems to be here used in that wide sense with which we are familiar from Exodus 3:18;

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Moses’ father-in-law
חֹתֵ֥ן (ḥō·ṯên)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2859: To give, away in marriage, to contract affinity by marriage

Jethro,
יִתְר֨וֹ (yiṯ·rōw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3503: Jethro -- Moses' father-in-law

along with Moses’
מֹשֶׁ֛ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

wife
וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (wə·’iš·tōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

and sons,
וּבָנָ֥יו (ū·ḇā·nāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

came
וַיָּבֹ֞א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

him
מֹשֶׁ֑ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

in
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the desert,
הַמִּדְבָּ֗ר (ham·miḏ·bār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

where
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he
ה֛וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was encamped
חֹנֶ֥ה (ḥō·neh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2583: To incline, to decline, to pitch a, tent, gen, to encamp

at the mountain
הַ֥ר (har)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

of God.
הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Law: Exodus 18:5 Jethro Moses' father-in-law came with his sons (Exo. Ex)
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