And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

EXODUS 18:10KJV
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Exodus 18:10 (KJV)

What does Exodus 18:10 mean?

Exodus 18:10 records Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, praising the LORD for rescuing the Israelites from the power of the Egyptians and Pharaoh. Jethro recognizes that it was the LORD who delivered the people from oppression, giving thanks for their freedom.

Jethro is speaking to Moses after hearing about everything God did to save Israel from slavery in Egypt. This moment comes right after Moses recounts the story of the Exodus. Jethro’s words show an outsider’s acknowledgment of God’s power and goodness, highlighting the significance of Israel’s deliverance as something remarkable and worthy of public blessing.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 18:10

  • "Blessed" (בָּרוּךְ, barukh): This word is often used to praise or speak well of God, marking Jethro’s statement as a formal declaration of gratitude and honor toward the LORD.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, showing that Jethro is specifically recognizing Israel’s God, not just any deity.
  • "Delivered" (נָצַל, natsal): This verb means to rescue or snatch away from danger, emphasizing that God’s action was a powerful intervention to save the Israelites from harm.
  • "Hand" (יָד, yad): The phrase “out of the hand of the Egyptians” uses “hand” to symbolize power or control, making clear that God broke the Egyptians’ grip over Israel.

Why Exodus 18:10 matters

  • Jethro’s blessing highlights that the rescue from Egypt was not just a military or political event, but a direct act of God’s intervention.
  • The verse shows that even those outside Israel, like Jethro, can recognize and honor the LORD’s actions, pointing to a wider impact of God’s deeds.
  • This moment sets the stage for Jethro’s advice to Moses in the following verses, showing respect and understanding between Moses and his non-Israelite family.

Where else these words appear

“Jethro” Hebrew H3503 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
  • Exodus 18:1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
  • Exodus 18:6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.