Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.
Parallel translations
- KJV And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
- BSB Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.
- NKJV Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.
- NASB Then Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went his way to his own land.
- NLT Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Moses sent Jethro home, and he returned to his own land. The visit ends warmly, marking a peaceful parting between Israel and a friendly Midianite.
Overview
Jethro departs after blessing Israel with counsel and worship (ch. 18). The brief notice closes this episode before the great events at Sinai. The respectful farewell shows that God's covenant people can honor and bless those outside the covenant, anticipating the gospel's reach to the nations.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Num 10:29–30Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place of which Yahweh said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for Yahweh has spoken good concerning Israel.”
- Judg 19:9When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night. Behold, the day is ending. Stay here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home.”
- Gen 31:55Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place.
- Gen 24:59They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men.
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 18:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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