Exodus 2:22

Translations

Modern

And she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”

Traditional

And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

Literal

And she bore a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have become a sojourner in a foreign land.”

Latin

…quæ peperit ei filium, quem vocavit Gersam, dicens: Advena fui in terra aliena. Alterum vero peperit, quem vocavit Eliezer, dicens: Deus enim patris mei adjutor meus eripuit me de manu Pharaonis.

Original

Hebrew

English

And she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”

Notes

Exodus 2:16–25

This passage shows the concern Moses felt for the oppressed. It describes his move to a new land (2:18–22). He married, had a child, and lived there for 40 years (Acts 7:30).

From a human perspective, rescuing the Israelites through Moses seemed impossible. But what God's perspective is what matters. The end of this section tells us that God had not forgotten his people (Exodus 2:23–25). He was only waiting for the right time to act (2:25).

Exodus 2:1–25

Chapter 1 explained why Israel needed rescue. Chapter 2 shows how God prepared Moses, the rescuer. God used the threat to Hebrew baby boys to ensure that Moses was ready for his mission (see study note on 2:10).

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Jethro (Reuel) Moses

Related verses

Hebrews 11:13–14
All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Acts 7:29
At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.
Exodus 22:21
You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
1 Chronicles 29:15
For we are foreigners and strangers in Your presence, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
1 Chronicles 16:20
…they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
Psalm 119:19
I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.
Psalm 39:12
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.
1 Chronicles 23:14–17
As for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
Exodus 18:3–4
…along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
Exodus 2:10
When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”

Parallels

Acts 7:23–29

People

Gershom: Son of Moses; father of Jonathan, a renegade priest

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Foreigner Gershom Messiah Midian, Midianite Moses

Topics

Gershom: Son of Moses Jethro: Moses Spent Forty Years of Exile With, and Married his Daughter Moses: Joins Himself to Jethro, Priest of Midian Moses: Takes the Life of an Egyptian Taskmaster Zipporah: Wife of Moses

Exodus 2:22

Translations?

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