King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ 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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Moshe went out to meet his father-in-law, prostrated himself and kissed him. Then, after inquiring of each other's welfare, they entered the tent.
Berean Standard Bible:
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.
American Standard 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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Moses{H4872} went out{H3318} to meet{H7125} his father in law{H2859}, and did obeisance{H7812}, and kissed{H5401} him; and they asked{H7592} each{H376} other{H7453} of their welfare{H7965}; and they came{H935} into the tent{H168}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 29:13
- And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
Genesis 19:1
- ¶ And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
Genesis 14:17
- ¶ And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that [were] with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which [is] the king's dale.
1 Kings 2:19
- Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
2 Samuel 11:7
- And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded [of him] how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
Genesis 18:2
- And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
Numbers 22:36
- ¶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which [is] in the border of Arnon, which [is] in the utmost coast.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 18:7
**Exodus 18:7 Themes:**
- **Hospitality and Respect:** The verse emphasizes the cultural importance of showing respect and hospitality to family, particularly to elders such as one's father-in-law. Moses' actions of going out to meet Jethro, bowing, and kissing him reflect the honor and affection due to family members.
- **Family Relationships:** The warm reception and inquiry about each other's well-being highlight the value of maintaining strong family bonds, even amid significant life events or divine callings.
- **Cultural Customs:** The greeting ritual described, including the act of obeisance (a sign of respect or submission), reflects the social customs of the time regarding how one should greet and honor esteemed guests or relatives.
**Historical Context:**
- **Moses' Situation:** By this point in the narrative, Moses has led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, and they are camped at the base of Mount Sinai. Moses is serving as the leader and judge for the entire Israelite community.
- **Jethro's Visit:** Jethro, also known as Reuel or Yitro, is Moses' father-in-law and a Midianite priest. His visit to Moses in the wilderness occurs after hearing about the great things God had done for Moses and the Israelites.
- **Time Period:** The events of Exodus, including this meeting, are traditionally dated to the late 2nd millennium BCE, around the time of the New Kingdom period in Egypt.
- **Leadership and Advice:** Shortly after this verse, Jethro observes Moses' method of administering justice to the people and advises him to delegate responsibilities to reliable men, which becomes a foundational principle for shared leadership and governance in the Israelite community.
In summary, Exodus 18:7 reflects themes of familial respect and hospitality within the historical context of Moses' leadership of the Israelites, shortly after their exodus from Egypt, and underscores the importance of maintaining family connections and cultural customs despite the demands of leadership.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4872
There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
Transliteration: Môsheh
Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H7125
There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִרְאָה
Transliteration: qirʼâh
Pronunciation: keer-aw'
Description: from קָרָא; an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite); [idiom] against (he come), help, meet, seek, [idiom] to, [idiom] in the way. - Strong's Number: H2859
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָתַן
Transliteration: châthan
Pronunciation: khaw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage; join in affinity, father in law, make marriages, mother in law, son in law. - Strong's Number: H7812
There are 166 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁחָה
Transliteration: shâchâh
Pronunciation: shaw-khaw'
Description: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God); bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. - Strong's Number: H5401
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשַׁק
Transliteration: nâshaq
Pronunciation: naw-shak'
Description: a primitive root (identical with נָשַׂק, through the idea of fastening up; compare חָזַק, חָשַׁק); to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons; armed (men), rule, kiss, that touched. - Strong's Number: H7592
There are 157 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁאַל
Transliteration: shâʼal
Pronunciation: shaw-al'
Description: or שָׁאֵל; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand; ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, [idiom] earnestly, enquire, [phrase] greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, [phrase] salute, [idiom] straitly, [idiom] surely, wish. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H7453
There are 173 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֵעַ
Transliteration: rêaʻ
Pronunciation: ray'-ah
Description: or רֵיעַ; from רָעָה; an associate (more or less close); brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, [idiom] (an-) other. - Strong's Number: H7965
There are 208 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלוֹם
Transliteration: shâlôwm
Pronunciation: shaw-lome'
Description: or שָׁלֹם; from שָׁלַם; safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace; [idiom] do, familiar, [idiom] fare, favour, [phrase] friend, [idiom] great, (good) health, ([idiom] perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, ([idiom] all is, be) well, [idiom] wholly. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H168
There are 369 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹהֶל
Transliteration: ʼôhel
Pronunciation: o'-hel
Description: from אָהַל; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance); covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.