The Meaning of Exodus 18:2 Explained

Exodus 18:2

KJV: Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

YLT: and Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, taketh Zipporah, wife of Moses, besides her parents,

Darby: And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

ASV: And Jethro, Moses father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses wife, after he had sent her away,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then Jethro,  Moses'  father in law,  took  Zipporah,  Moses'  wife,  after  he had sent her back, 

What does Exodus 18:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 18:1-12 - Moses Tells Jethro Of God's Goodness
The names that Moses gave his two sons betray the drift of his thoughts during the forty years of his shepherd life. May we ever remember that we are strangers here, and our only help is in God. How humble Moses was in attributing to God all the glory of the Exodus! This is the sure cure of pride; and what are we but the axe that lies at the tree-foot, or the dry jaw-bone of an ass! Jethro belonged to another type of the religious life. He was not one of the chosen people, nor did he follow the methods of Jewish worship. But holy souls recognize their kinship the world over, and in loving embrace disregard the minor disagreements. "Grace be with all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Exodus 18:2 mean?

And took Jethro father-in-law Moses' - Zipporah wife Moses' after he had sent her back
וַיִּקַּ֗ח יִתְרוֹ֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־ צִפֹּרָ֖ה אֵ֣שֶׁת מֹשֶׁ֑ה אַחַ֖ר שִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ

וַיִּקַּ֗ח  And  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
יִתְרוֹ֙  Jethro 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִתְרֹו  
Sense: father-in-law of Moses; also ‘Jether’.
חֹתֵ֣ן  father-in-law 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חָתַן 
Sense: to become a son-in-law, make oneself a daughter’s husband.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  Moses' 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
צִפֹּרָ֖ה  Zipporah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִפֹּרָה  
Sense: daughter of Reuel or Jethro, wife of Moses, and mother of Gershom and Eliezer.
אֵ֣שֶׁת  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
מֹשֶׁ֑ה  Moses' 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
אַחַ֖ר  after 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
שִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ  he  had  sent  her  back 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שִׁלּוּחִים  
Sense: sending away, parting gift.

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 18:2?

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