Boy Old Testament Known
Jethro
his excellence; his posterity
יִתְרוֹ yit.ro
Jethro (Hebrew: יִתְרוֹ, yit.ro) means “his excellence; his posterity”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 11 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 245 children in the United States, ranking 952. Use is rising. Around 4,325 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears in the same passages as Abidan.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Jethro
father of Hobab
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 11 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Exodus
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 245 | Rising |
| All-time total | 4,325 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 245 in 2025 | Its highest year on record |
| Ten-year trend | +146% | Change in share of births |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Exodus 2:18 |
| Last appears | Numbers 10:29 |
| Cross-references | 220 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Reuel co-occurrence Appears with Reuel in Exodus 18.
- Zipporah co-occurrence Appears with Zipporah in Exodus 18.
- Hobab co-occurrence Appears with Hobab in Numbers 10.
- Gershom co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Gershom.
- Eliezer co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Eliezer.
- Abidan co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Abidan.
- Ahiezer co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Ahiezer.
- Ahira co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Ahira.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.2.18;
father of: Zipporah (H6855) and Hobab (H2246); also called Reuel (KJV: Raguel) at Num.10.29;
§ Jethro = "his abundance"
father-in-law of Moses; also 'Jether'
Jethro, also known as Reuel, was Moses' father-in-law and a priest of Midian.
The biblical story
Jethro, also referred to as Reuel, was Moses' father-in-law and a priest of Midian. He is first mentioned in Exo.2.18, where his daughters tell him about Moses defending them at a well. Later, in Exo.3.1, Moses is described as tending Jethro's flock when he encounters the burning bush.
After the Exodus, Jethro visits Moses in the wilderness, bringing along Moses' wife Zipporah and their two sons (Exo.18.1-6). Jethro praises God for the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt (Exo.18.9-10) and offers sacrifices to God (Exo.18.12).
Observing Moses' heavy workload in judging the people, Jethro advises him to appoint capable men to share the burden (Exo.18.13-23). Moses follows this advice and bids farewell to Jethro, who returns to his own land (Exo.18.24-27). In Num.10.29, Moses invites Hobab, identified as Reuel's son, to join the Israelites on their journey, suggesting a continued relationship between Moses and Jethro's family.
Key verses
Jethro appears in 11 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
Exodus 2:18 -
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 3:1 -
And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.
Exodus 4:18 -
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 18:1 -
Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
Exodus 18:2
Show all 11 references
Exodus (10)
- Exodus 2:18
- Exodus 3:1
- Exodus 4:18
- Exodus 18:1
- Exodus 18:2
- Exodus 18:5
- Exodus 18:6
- Exodus 18:9
- Exodus 18:10
- Exodus 18:12
Numbers (1)
- Numbers 10:29