Bible Strands
Exodus 2:19
“An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they replied. “He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The daughters of Reuel speak to their father after Moses intervenes to water their flock. They explain their early return by noting that an Egyptian man delivered them from hostile shepherds and provided water for their animals.
The words — The Hebrew term דָּלֹה (da.Loh) literally means to draw water, emphasizing the manual labor Moses performed. The phrase מִ/יַּ֣ד הָ/רֹעִ֑ים (mi./Yad ha./ro.'Im) denotes rescue from the hand or control of the shepherds.
The thread — This encounter parallels Jacob’s intervention for Rachel in Genesis 29:10, where he also rolls a stone to water a flock. The narrative structure mirrors ancient hospitality motifs where rescuing travelers leads to an invitation to share a meal.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize divine providence operating through unexpected human agents. It demands attention to how God’s deliverance often arrives through ordinary acts of service rather than dramatic displays of power.
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 they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
Cross-references
- Genesis 29:10 As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.
- Genesis 50:11 When the Canaanites of the land saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a solemn ceremony of mourning by the Egyptians.” Thus the place across the Jordan is called Abel-mizraim.