Bible Strands
Exodus 18:2
After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator recounts a past event following the Exodus, stating that Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, received Zipporah after Moses initially sent her away.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּקַּ֗ח (va/i.yi.Kach) translates literally as "and he had taken," denoting Jethro's formal acceptance of Zipporah back into his household.
The thread — This event follows the circumcision incident in Exodus 4:25 and reverses the separation that occurred after Moses fled to Midian, where Jethro originally gave Zipporah to him in Exodus 2:21.
Why it lands — The text records the physical restoration of Moses’s family unit before the narrative shifts to Jethro’s arrival and counsel. The reader must note the completed return of Zipporah prior to evaluating the theological or political implications of their reunion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
Cross-references
- Exodus 2:21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.
- Exodus 4:25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.