Exodus 2:18 (KJV)

What does Exodus 2:18 mean?

Exodus 2:18 describes how the daughters of Reuel returned home earlier than usual, and their father, Reuel, asked them why they had come back so soon that day. The verse highlights Reuel’s surprise at their early return, which sets up the explanation of Moses’s help at the well.

The scene takes place in Midian, where Reuel’s daughters had gone to water their flock. Reuel (also known as Jethro) is speaking to his daughters, noticing that they have come home faster than expected. His question opens the way for them to tell how Moses defended them from other shepherds and helped them water their sheep.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 2:18

• רְעוּאֵל (Reuel, transliterated "Reʿuʾel"): This is the name of the father, meaning “friend of God.” Knowing his name helps connect this story to later chapters, where he is also called Jethro.
• מַה (mah, “How”): This word expresses surprise or curiosity. Reuel’s question is not just routine; it signals that something unusual has happened.
• מִהַרְתֶּן (miharten, “so soon”): This word carries the idea of haste or being quicker than normal. Reuel is noticing that their return is out of the ordinary, which sets up the importance of what happened at the well.

Why Exodus 2:18 matters

• This verse shows the everyday life and routines of Reuel’s family, making the interruption by Moses stand out more clearly.
• Reuel’s question draws attention to the unusual speed of his daughters’ return, highlighting Moses’s intervention as significant.
• The verse connects to the larger story by introducing Reuel, who will become an important figure in Moses’s life and in the unfolding events of Exodus.