Exodus 2:20

Exodus 2:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
• New International Version (NIV)“And where is he?” Reuel asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)He said to his daughters, "Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”

Context of Exodus 2:20

18When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?” 19“An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they replied. “He even drew water for us and watered the flock.” “So where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.” 21Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. 22And she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”

Exodus 2:20 word by word

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֶל־בְּנֹתָ֖יו וְאַיּ֑וֹ לָ֤מָּה זֶּה֙ עֲזַבְתֶּ֣ן אֶת־הָאִ֔ישׁ קִרְאֶ֥ן ל֖וֹ וְיֹ֥אכַל לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear

• So where is heאַי'ay · where?H335
• askedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• askedאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• askedבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• Whyמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• Whyזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• did you leave the manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• behindעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• Inviteקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• to have something to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• to have something to eatלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899

Cross-references for Exodus 2:20

• Genesis 24:31“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
• Genesis 18:5And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”
• Genesis 19:2and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
• Genesis 29:13When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
• Genesis 31:54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
• Genesis 43:25Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph’s arrival at noon.
• Job 31:32but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
• Job 42:11All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
• 1 Timothy 5:10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
• Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Commentaries on Exodus 2:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20That he may eat bread - That he may be entertained, and receive refreshment to proceed on his journey. Bread, among the Hebrews, was used to signify all kinds of food commonly used for the support of man's life.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 Moses found shelter in Midian. He was ready to help Reuel's daughters to water their flocks, although bred in learning and at court. Moses loved to be doing justice, and to act in defence of such as he saw injured, which every man ought to do, as far as it is in his power. He loved to be doing good; wherever the providence of God casts us, we should desire and try to be useful; and when we cannot do the good we would, we must be ready to do…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-20The father of seven daughters did not want to miss meeting a generous and brave man, who would make an excellent husband. We see here the famous hospitality of the region's residents, which continues today (see also Genesis 18:1–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2216-22. the priest of Midian--or, "prince of Midian." As the officers were usually conjoined, he was the ruler also of the people called Cushites or Ethiopians, and like many other chiefs of pastoral people in that early age, he still retained the faith and worship of the true God. seven daughters--were shepherdesses to whom Moses was favorably introduced by an act of courtesy and courage in protecting them from the rude shepherds of some neighboring tribe…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 2:20

• Hospitality
• Jethro
• Moses
• Zipporah

In the dictionaries

• Herself
• Midianite
• Son
• Soon
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• Hospitality; Host
• Jethro
• Leviticus
• Moses

Commentaries on Exodus 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings