Who was Jethro in the Bible?

Jethro, also called Reuel, was a priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses. He is best known for offering Moses wise counsel on leadership and justice after the Exodus (Exodus 18:1-27).

What advice did Jethro give to Moses?

Jethro advised Moses to delegate judicial responsibilities to other capable leaders to avoid burnout and to govern the people of Israel more effectively. This established a system of judges, allowing Moses to focus on the most difficult cases (Exodus 18:17-23).

Why is Jethro significant in the Old Testament?

Jethro is significant as a non-Israelite who recognized and praised the God of Israel after hearing about the Exodus (Exodus 18:10-11). His practical advice helped shape Israel's early system of governance and demonstrated God's wisdom coming through an outsider.

Jethro

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMalePriestFather

Jethro, also known as Reuel, was Moses' father-in-law and a priest of Midian (Exo.3.1; 18.1).

Jethro

Biography

Jethro, bearing the alternate name Reuel (Exod. 2:18) and possibly also called Hobab (Num. 10:29), was a priest of Midian and the father of Zipporah, who became Moses' wife (Exod. 2:16-21; 3:1). When Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian overseer, he found refuge with Jethro's household, remaining there for approximately forty years as a shepherd. It was while tending Jethro's flocks that Moses encountered the burning bush and received his divine commission (Exod. 3:1-10). After the Exodus, Jethro visited Moses in the wilderness, bringing Zipporah and Moses' sons (Exod. 18:1-6). There he offered sacrifices to Israel's God and, witnessing the overwhelming burden on Moses as sole judge, advised him to delegate judicial authority, counsel Moses accepted and implemented (Exod. 18:13-27).

Significance

Jethro's theological significance is multifaceted. His exclamation upon hearing of the Exodus: 'Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods' (Exod. 18:11), suggests either a genuine personal faith or a significant moment of acknowledgment from an outsider, reinforcing the universal scope of God's redemptive acts. His practical wisdom in organizational delegation demonstrates that God's purposes are advanced through discernment and counsel, not only direct divine revelation. As a non-Israelite whose advice shaped Israelite governance, Jethro prefigures the inclusion of the nations in God's redemptive work. His relationship with Moses also underscores the formative importance of the Midianite sojourn in preparing Israel's deliverer.

Authority Records

Wikidata VIAF Library of Congress

ChildZipporahChildHobab

Verse Appearances (11)

Exod

Exod 2:18 Exod 3:1 Exod 4:18 Exod 18:1 Exod 18:2 Exod 18:5 Exod 18:6 Exod 18:9 Exod 18:10 Exod 18:12

Numbers

Numbers 10:29

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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