Exodus 18:4

And the name of the other [was] Eliezer; for the God of my father, [said he, was] mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

And the name {H8034} of the other {H259} was Eliezer {H461}; for the God {H430} of my father {H1}, said he, was mine help {H5828}, and delivered {H5337} me from the sword {H2719} of Pharaoh {H6547}:

The name of the other was Eli'ezer [my God helps], "because the God of my father helped me by rescuing me from Pharaoh's sword."

The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

and the name of the other was Eliezer; forhe said, The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

Commentary

Context of Exodus 18:4

This verse is part of the significant reunion narrative in Exodus chapter 18, where Moses is reunited with his father-in-law, Jethro (also known as Reuel), his wife Zipporah, and his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Jethro has heard of all that the LORD had done for Moses and for Israel, bringing them out of Egypt, and so he brings Moses' family to him in the wilderness. The naming of Moses' sons, Gershom (meaning "a stranger there") and Eliezer, reflects Moses' personal journey and his profound experiences of God's intervention during his time away from Egypt and during the Exodus.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Deliverance and Help: The central theme is God's active and personal intervention in Moses' life. The name "Eliezer" itself, meaning "My God is help," is a powerful testimony to Moses' conviction that the LORD was his constant aid and rescuer. This highlights God's character as a reliable deliverer from overwhelming threats.
  • Gratitude and Remembrance: By naming his son Eliezer, Moses publicly acknowledges and perpetually remembers God's specific act of saving him from the "sword of Pharaoh." This naming serves as a lasting memorial to God's faithfulness, encouraging a spirit of gratitude and a deep sense of dependence on divine providence.
  • God of Generations: The phrase "the God of my father" connects Moses' personal experience of deliverance to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This emphasizes the continuity of God's covenant faithfulness across generations, assuring Moses that the God who helped his ancestors was also his personal helper and protector. See Exodus 3:6 for God's self-identification to Moses.

Linguistic Insights

The name Eliezer (Hebrew: אֱלִיעֶזֶר, ʼĔlîʻezer) is a compound name meaning "My God is help" or "God of help." The verse explicitly explains the meaning, linking it directly to Moses' testimony: "for the God of my father... was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh." This makes the name a declarative statement of faith and a personal creed. It underscores how Hebrew names often carried significant meaning, reflecting circumstances, hopes, or theological truths.

Practical Application

Exodus 18:4 encourages us to reflect on God's specific acts of deliverance and help in our own lives. Just as Moses remembered God's protection from Pharaoh's wrath, we are called to acknowledge and express gratitude for God's interventions, whether big or small. This verse reminds us that God is not a distant deity but a present help in times of trouble, a truth echoed throughout Scripture. It challenges us to cultivate a memory of God's faithfulness, allowing past deliverances to build our trust for future challenges. Consider how you might name or remember significant moments where God was your help, strengthening your faith and personal testimony. For more on God as a deliverer, explore Psalm 46:1, which calls God "our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble".

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Cross-References

  • 2 Timothy 4:17 (3 votes)

    Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

  • Acts 12:11 (3 votes)

    And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and [from] all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:8 (3 votes)

    For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

  • 2 Corinthians 1:10 (3 votes)

    Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];

  • Hebrews 13:6 (3 votes)

    So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

  • Psalms 18:48 (2 votes)

    He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

  • Psalms 46:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.