English Standard Version
Exodus 2:20
20He said to his daughters, "Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread."
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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Then where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.”
Context of Exodus 2:20
18When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, "How is it that you have come home so soon today?" 19They said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock." He said to his daughters, "Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread." 21And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land."
Read all of Exodus 2Exodus 2:20 word by word
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֶל־בְּנֹתָ֖יו וְאַיּ֑וֹ לָ֤מָּה זֶּה֙ עֲזַבְתֶּ֣ן אֶת־הָאִ֔ישׁ קִרְאֶ֥ן ל֖וֹ וְיֹ֥אכַל לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 2:20
- Genesis 24:31He said, "Come in, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."
- Genesis 18:5while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said."
- Genesis 19:2and said, "My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way." They said, "No; we will spend the night in the town square."
- Genesis 29:13As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things,
- Genesis 31:54and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country.
- Genesis 43:25they prepared the present for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.
- Job 31:32(the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),
- Job 42:11Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold.
- 1 Timothy 5:10and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.
- Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries