Exodus 2:16-20 Meaning: The Priest, the Stranger, and God’s Welcome
16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?”
19They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.”
20He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”
16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
19And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
20And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?
19And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.
20And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
16And to a priest of Midian are seven daughters, and they come and draw, and fill the troughs, to water the flock of their father,
17and the shepherds come and drive them away, and Moses ariseth, and saveth them, and watereth their flock.
18And they come in to Reuel their father, and he saith, `Wherefore have ye hastened to come in to-day?'
19and they say, `A man, an Egyptian, hath delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also hath diligently drawn for us, and watereth the flock;'
20and he saith unto his daughters, `And where is he? why is this? --ye left the man! call for him, and he doth eat bread.'
16And the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew [water], and filled the troughs, to water their father's flock.
17And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses rose and helped them, and watered their flock.
18And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, Why are ye come so soon to-day?
19And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew [water] abundantly for us, and watered the flock.
20And he said to his daughters, And where is he? why then have ye left the man behind? Call him, that he may eat bread.
Meaning in one sentence
Who was the priest of Midian? This passage shows God’s care for Moses in exile and hints at His presence beyond Israel.
Context
Moses has run for his life. After killing an Egyptian and being rejected by the very people he tried to defend, he flees to Midian and sits down by a well. It is the sort of place where travelers and shepherds gather, and where God often sets the scene for what comes next.
Seven sisters arrive to water their father’s flock. Hard shepherds push them aside. Moses, a stranger with no standing here, gets up and helps them. The whole scene echoes Jacob meeting Rachel at a well generations earlier, and it will lead, in time, to Moses standing before a burning bush. The father of these women is Reuel, a priest of Midian. His title is not empty ceremony. In a region where most had turned to other gods, he appears to serve the true God. This dusty well is where God begins to build Moses a new life.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight of this passage. The first is priest, kohen in Hebrew. It can mean a priest in the temple sense, but also a prince or leader. Reuel is both a spiritual and a community figure. He is not a pagan priest; the name Reuel means “friend of God,” and his welcome points toward the God his family serves.
The second word is delivered, natsal. The daughters say, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds.” This is the same root word often used for God rescuing Israel from Egypt. Moses is already acting out a pattern he will later see God use on a far larger scale.
The third word is drew, dalah. The daughters say he “drew water enough for us.” The verb is repeated for emphasis. Moses did not just help a little; he labored until the job was done. Small actions done thoroughly can open doors we never expected.
How Christians Read This Verse
John Calvin saw the hand of God in what looked like luck. “The profane would attribute this meeting to good fortune,” he wrote, “whereas God affords us in it a striking picture of his providence.” Moses sat down at the well, but God guided his steps there.
Other commentators point to Reuel’s title. The Cambridge Bible notes he was “the chief priest of the tribe” and “a person of some importance.” Barnes calls him a priest of the one true God, known to the patriarchs as El. Christians across traditions see this as evidence that knowledge of God was not confined to Israel, men like Melchizedek and Jethro also worshipped Him.
Reuel’s name itself matters. In the Geneva Bible notes, the name is rendered “friend of God.” Whether one sees him as a priest of the true God or a man still searching, his response to Moses is the same: he welcomes the stranger.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this story as pure chance, Moses just happened to sit by the right well at the right time. In fact, the passage is woven with echoes of earlier Scripture and later events. The well scene mirrors Jacob’s meeting with Rachel (Genesis 29:10). The same verb for “deliver” will appear when God rescues Israel from Egypt. What looks like luck is God working through ordinary choices to guide His servant where he needs to be.
Living This Out
Moses was a fugitive with no plan. He did not know that helping seven sisters water sheep would lead to a home, a wife, and eventually a calling. He simply saw someone being treated unfairly and acted.
You may be in a place that feels like exile right now, a new city, a hard job, a season of waiting. You do not need to have the whole future mapped out. What if today’s small act of help is God’s way of leading you to where you need to be? Trust that He is already at work in the next ordinary moment.
Main takeaway: God uses ordinary kindness to guide His people to safety and purpose, even when they feel far from home.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Moses ran away to a new land. He was tired and scared. But God brought him to a well where he met seven sisters who needed help. Moses helped them water their sheep, and their dad invited him for dinner. God took care of Moses, and He will take care of you too.
For ages 9, 12
Moses had made a big mistake and had to leave everything behind. He probably wondered if God had forgotten him. But at the well, he saw some women being treated badly, and he chose to help them. That one choice led to a new home, a new family, and eventually to God’s big plan for his life. God often works through the small, kind things we do, even when we don’t see the whole picture yet.
Questions People Ask
Why is the priest of Midian called Reuel here and Jethro elsewhere?
The two names may refer to the same man. Reuel might be his personal name, meaning 'friend of God,' while Jethro could be an official title meaning 'his excellency' or 'preeminence.' Ancient cultures often used both a given name and a title for leaders.
What does it mean that Reuel was a 'priest of Midian'?
The Hebrew word can mean either a priest who serves God or a prince who leads the people. Many early commentators believed Reuel was a priest of the true God, like Melchizedek in Genesis 14. He offered hospitality and later made sacrifices to God, suggesting he was not a pagan priest but a worshiper of the one God.
Why did the shepherds drive the daughters away?
The shepherds were likely from the area and wanted to water their own flocks first. It was a selfish and rude act. Moses stepped in to defend the women, showing his character as someone who protects the weak even before he becomes Israel's deliverer.
How is this well scene connected to Jacob and Rachel?
The Bible often repeats patterns to show God's faithfulness. Jacob met Rachel at a well and watered her sheep; Moses meets the daughters of Reuel at a well and waters their sheep. Both encounters lead to marriage and a new chapter in God's plan. It is a quiet sign that God is still guiding His people.
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