{"id":44376,"date":"2021-06-02T21:10:46","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T18:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44376"},"modified":"2025-05-06T14:56:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T11:56:16","slug":"who-was-moses-father-in-law-reuel-or-jethro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/06\/02\/who-was-moses-father-in-law-reuel-or-jethro\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Was Moses\u2019 Father-in-Law\u2014Reuel or Jethro?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Understanding Biblical Names and Cultural Context<\/em><\/p>\n

When reading the book of Exodus<\/em>, some readers notice what appears to be a contradiction concerning the name of Moses\u2019 father-in-law. In Exodus 2:18<\/strong>, he is called Reuel<\/em>, but in Exodus 3:1<\/strong> and Exodus 4:18<\/strong>, he is referred to as Jethro<\/em>. This raises an important question: Was Moses\u2019 father-in-law Reuel or Jethro?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s explore what the Bible says and how we can understand this using both Scripture and cultural context.<\/p>\n

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1. The Two Names: Reuel and Jethro<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In Exodus 2:16\u201318<\/strong>, after fleeing Egypt, Moses arrives in the land of Midian and helps the daughters of a Midianite priest:<\/p>\n

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\u201cNow the priest of Midian had seven daughters… When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, \u2018Why have you returned so early today?\u2019\u201d<\/em>
(Exodus 2:16\u201318<\/strong>, NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Later, in Exodus 3:1<\/strong>, it says:<\/p>\n

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\u201cNow Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian…\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And again in Exodus 4:18<\/strong>, Jethro is mentioned by name:<\/p>\n

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\u201cThen Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, \u2018Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

At first glance, this may seem like a contradiction\u2014but it isn\u2019t. It\u2019s a reflection of ancient Near Eastern naming customs.<\/p>\n

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2. Biblical Pattern: One Person, Multiple Names<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the Bible, it was common for individuals to have more than one name or title. This could include a birth name, a spiritual name, a title, or a name given by others. A clear example is Jacob<\/strong>, who was later renamed Israel<\/strong> by God:<\/p>\n

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\u201cYour name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.\u201d<\/em>
(Genesis 32:28<\/strong>, NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Both names are used throughout Scripture depending on the context. Similarly, Saul of Tarsus later became known as Paul (Acts 13:9).<\/p>\n

This same principle applies to Moses\u2019 father-in-law. Reuel<\/em> (meaning \u201cfriend of God\u201d in Hebrew) may have been his given name or clan\/family name, while Jethro<\/em> (possibly meaning \u201cexcellence\u201d or \u201cabundance\u201d) could have been his personal or priestly title.<\/p>\n

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3. Who Was Reuel? Who Was Jethro?<\/strong><\/h3>\n