Meaning of the Name Jethro
From the Hebrew root y-t-r, 'to abound, to excel'; the name is usually explained as 'his abundance' or 'his excellence'. In one place the Hebrew text also gives the short form Yeter. Because Moses' father-in-law is also called Reuel, and the name Hobab appears in a similar setting, it is debated how these names relate: whether they are alternative names, a title, or different members of the family.
Origin
The name Jethro is of Hebrew origin.
Who is Jethro in the Bible?
Jethro is the priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law, who gives him his daughter Zipporah as a wife. After the exodus he visits Moses in the wilderness, praises the LORD on hearing what God has done, and offers sacrifices. He advises Moses to share the burden of judging the people with trustworthy leaders.
The story of Jethro in the Bible
Jethro is one of the quiet yet decisive figures in Moses' life. When Moses flees Egypt and takes refuge in Midian, it is this priest of Midian who welcomes him into his home and gives him his daughter Zipporah as a wife. Moses tends his flocks for years, and while leading them he reaches Horeb, the mountain of God, and hears the call from the burning bush. Before returning to Egypt Moses asks his leave, and Jethro sends him off in peace. After the exodus, Jethro brings Moses' wife and sons to the camp in the wilderness near the mountain of God. As he listens to Moses' account he rejoices, declares that he now knows the LORD is greater than all gods, offers a burnt offering, and eats before God with Aaron and the elders of Israel. The next day, seeing Moses judge the people alone from morning till evening, he gives wise counsel: capable, trustworthy men who fear God and hate bribes should handle the smaller cases, while Moses takes only the great ones. Moses follows the advice, and Jethro returns to his own land. Israel's first system of delegated justice thus grows from a foreign priest's counsel.
Is Jethro mentioned in the Quran?
The name Jethro does not appear in the Quran. The Quran does not name the elderly man of Midian who offered Moses his daughter in marriage; Islamic tradition often identifies him with the prophet Shuayb, who was sent to Midian, but this identification is debated among scholars. In the Bible, Jethro is the priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law.
Verses where Jethro appears
- Exodus 3:1 —
Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb.
- Exodus 18:1 —
Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.
- Exodus 18:24 —
So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.