Exodus 2:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Moshe was glad to stay on with the man, and he gave Moshe his daughter Tzipporah in marriage.

Berean Standard Bible:

Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.

American Standard Version:

And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses^{H4872} was content^{H2974} to dwell^{H3427} with the man^{H376}: and he gave^{H5414} Moses^{H4872} Zipporah^{H6855} his daughter^{H1323}.

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Commentary for Exodus 2:21

Exodus 2:21 is part of the narrative that describes Moses' life after he fled from Egypt to Midian. The verse is set in the historical context of the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, where Moses, a Hebrew, was raised in Pharaoh's palace but later became a fugitive after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave.

Themes in this verse include:

1. **Hospitality and Integration**: Moses is welcomed by Jethro (also known as Reuel), a Midianite priest, who offers him refuge. This act of kindness allows Moses to find a new home and community among the Midianites.

2. **Divine Providence**: The verse suggests that Moses' meeting with Jethro and his family is part of God's plan for his life. It is during his time in Midian that Moses encounters the burning bush and receives his call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

3. **Marriage and Family**: The giving of Zipporah to Moses as a wife establishes a family connection that roots Moses in Midianite society and provides a personal stake in the community's well-being.

4. **Transition and Preparation**: Moses' time in Midian serves as a period of preparation for his future role as a leader and deliverer. It is a transitional phase where he shifts from being a member of the Egyptian elite to a shepherd in a foreign land, learning skills and gaining experiences that will be crucial in his leadership of the Israelites.

5. **Cultural Assimilation**: The verse hints at the assimilation of Moses into Midianite culture, which is further emphasized when he names his first son Gershom, meaning "stranger" or "sojourner," reflecting his sense of being an alien in a foreign land.

In summary, Exodus 2:21 reflects a period of refuge and integration for Moses in Midian, where he finds a new family and prepares for his future role as the leader of the Israelites, all under the providential guidance of God.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2974
   There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָאַל
   Transliteration: yâʼal
   Pronunciation: yaw-al'
   Description: a primitive root (probably rather the same as יָאַל through the idea of mental weakness); properly, to yield, especially assent; hence (pos.) to undertake as an act of volition; assay, begin, be content, please, take upon, [idiom] willingly, would.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3427
   There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָשַׁב
   Transliteration: yâshab
   Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6855
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צִפֹּרָה
   Transliteration: Tsippôrâh
   Pronunciation: tsip-po-raw'
   Description: feminine of צִפּוֹר; bird; Tsipporah, Moses' wife; Zipporah.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1323
   There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּת
   Transliteration: bath
   Pronunciation: bath
   Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village.