Bible Word Study
חֹבָב
Chôbâb · Chobab, father-in-law of Moses
חֹבָב
Chobab, father-in-law of Moses
Definition
Chobab is the name of a Midianite man, identified as the son of Reuel (also called Jethro) and thus the brother-in-law of Moses (Numbers 10:29). The biblical text presents him as a guide for the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings, due to his knowledge of the desert terrain. While some interpreters suggest Chobab and Jethro may refer to the same person, the text in Numbers 10:29 clearly addresses Chobab as the 'son of Reuel,' distinguishing him from his father, who is Moses' father-in-law. His legacy continues as his descendants, the Kenites, are later found living among the Israelites in the time of the Judges (Judges 4:11).
Biblical Usage
The name Chobab appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times as a proper noun referring to this specific individual. In Numbers 10:29, Moses directly appeals to Chobab to travel with Israel and serve as their 'eyes' in the wilderness. In Judges 4:11, the text notes that Heber the Kenite was a descendant of Chobab, showing the lasting connection of his lineage with Israel.
Etymology
The name Chobab (חֹבָב) derives from the Hebrew root חָבַב (H2245, chabab), meaning 'to hide' or 'to cherish.' It is a passive participle form, which can be understood as 'beloved' or 'cherished one.' This root is relatively rare, giving the name a sense of endearment.
Semantic Range
Chobab's story highlights God's use of outsiders and foreigners within His redemptive plan. As a Midianite, Chobab's willing assistance to Israel demonstrates that God's blessing and purpose can extend beyond the covenant people. His role as a guide emphasizes practical wisdom and the importance of human cooperation in fulfilling God's journey for His people, showing that leadership and crucial aid can come from unexpected sources. In the ancient Near East, nomadic tribes like the Midianites possessed invaluable, specialized knowledge of desert survival, routes, and resources. Moses' request for Chobab's guidance was a pragmatic recognition of this expertise. The offer for Chobab to share in Israel's blessings (Numbers 10:32) reflects a cultural practice of forming alliances through mutual benefit and hospitality. Yitro (Jethro, H3503) — Moses' father-in-law and a priest of Midian, possibly Chobab's father. Reuel (H7467) — Another name for Jethro, meaning 'friend of God,' identifying Chobab's lineage.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]