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 they came to their father Reuel, he said, “Why have you come back so soon today?” 19They said, “An Egyptian saved us from the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew water for us and watered the flock.” So he said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.” 21And Moses was willing to live with the man. And he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses. 22Then she gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger 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 he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to his daughtersבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• Whereאַי'ay · where?H335
• is he then? Whyמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• is it that you have leftעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
• the manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• Inviteקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• to have somethingלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
• to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398

Cross-references for Exodus 2:20

• Genesis 24:31And he said, “Come in, blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside, since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?”
• Genesis 18:5and I will bring a piece of bread, so that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do as you have said.”
• Genesis 19:2And he said, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we shall spend the night in the public square.”
• Genesis 29:13So when 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. Then he told Laban all these things.
• Genesis 31:54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his relatives to the meal; and they ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain.
• Genesis 43:25So they prepared the gift for Joseph’s arrival at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat a meal there.
• Job 31:32The stranger has not spent the night outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler.
• Job 42:11Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they sympathized with him and comforted him for all the adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold.
• 1 Timothy 5:10having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
• Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some 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