Bible Strands
Exodus 18:7
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses acts toward his father-in-law Jethro immediately after Jethro announces his arrival with Zipporah and their two sons. The encounter occurs at the camp boundary before both men retreat into Jethro’s tent.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּשְׁתַּחֲוָה (va/i.yish.Ta.chu) literally means "and he bowed down," denoting a posture of reverence, while וַ/יִּשַּׁק (va/i.yi.shak) translates as "and he kissed," functioning as a formal cultural greeting.
The thread — This pattern of going out to meet a relative or leader appears in Genesis 29:13 when Laban greets Jacob, Genesis 14:17 when the king of Sodom meets Abram, and Genesis 18:2 when Abraham approaches the three visitors.
Why it lands — The text records a physical greeting before any theological discussion occurs, requiring the reader to recognize that relational restoration precedes instructional exchange. It demands acknowledgment that honor is demonstrated through concrete action rather than abstract declaration.
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
And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
Cross-references
- Genesis 29:13 When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
- Genesis 14:17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
- Genesis 18:2 And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
- Genesis 19:1 Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown,
- 2 Samuel 11:7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going.
- 1 Kings 2:19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.
- Genesis 31:28 But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.
- Genesis 33:3 But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
- Genesis 43:27 He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father you told me about? Is he still alive?”
- Genesis 45:15 Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.