Zipporah was the Midianite wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro (Reuel), the priest of Midian. Her name means “Bird,” reflecting grace and freedom. Though she is mentioned only briefly in Scripture, Zipporah played a crucial role in Moses’ life — as his helper, the mother of his sons, and the one who saved his life in a mysterious act of obedience. Her story reveals themes of faith, courage, and intercultural unity within God’s redemptive plan.
Name: Zipporah (Hebrew: Ṣippōrāh, meaning “Bird”)
Tribe/Nation: Midianite
Era: Exodus Period (~15th–13th century BCE)
Father: Jethro (Reuel), priest of Midian
Husband: Moses
Children: Gershom and Eliezer
Home: Midian → Egypt → Wilderness
Book: Exodus (Chapters 2–4; 18)
Key Virtues: Courage, obedience, discernment
Legacy: Wife of Moses; saved his life through an act of covenant faithfulness
Symbol: Bird or flint knife — representing swiftness, obedience, and covenant faith
Name Meaning
Zipporah means “bird” in Hebrew, suggesting beauty, alertness, and grace. Her name evokes swiftness of action — a fitting image for a woman who acted decisively in a critical moment of Moses’ life.
Lineage / Family Background
Zipporah was one of the seven daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian, a descendant of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1–2). She came from a God-fearing household that worshiped the Lord and later blessed Moses’ mission.
- Father: Jethro (also called Reuel), priest of Midian
- Husband: Moses
- Children: Gershom (“I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) and Eliezer (“My God is my help”)
Major Roles / Identity
- Daughter of a Midianite priest
- Wife and companion of Moses
- Mother of two sons
- Protector and covenant-keeper
Key Character Traits
- Courageous: Acted quickly and bravely in a moment of divine danger.
- Wise: Understood spiritual obligation and covenantal duty.
- Faithful: Supported Moses in his calling.
- Discerning: Recognized God’s requirements when others hesitated.
Main Life Events
- Meeting Moses: When Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian, he came to Midian and defended Jethro’s daughters at a well. Grateful, Jethro invited him home and gave Zipporah to him as his wife (Exodus 2:15–21).
- Motherhood: She bore Moses two sons — Gershom and Eliezer (Exodus 2:22; 18:4).
- Saving Moses’ Life: On the journey back to Egypt, God sought to kill Moses because his son had not been circumcised. Zipporah quickly took a flint knife, circumcised her son, and touched Moses’ feet, saying, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me” (Exodus 4:24–26). Her obedience averted divine judgment.
- Reunion in the Wilderness: After Moses led Israel out of Egypt, Jethro brought Zipporah and her sons to reunite with him in the wilderness (Exodus 18:2–6). She witnessed Jethro’s worship of the true God and his wise counsel to Moses.
Major Relationships
- Moses: Her husband and the great leader of Israel; their marriage reflected unity across cultural and spiritual boundaries.
- Jethro: Her father, a priest and advisor who blessed God for Israel’s deliverance.
- Sons: Gershom and Eliezer, whose names testified to God’s faithfulness in exile and deliverance.
- God: The unseen but direct force in her story, whose covenant Zipporah upheld through decisive faith.
Notable Passages
- Exodus 2:21–22: “Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.”
- Exodus 4:24–26: “Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it, and said, ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.’”
- Exodus 18:2–4: Zipporah is reunited with Moses along with her two sons.
Legacy & Impact
Zipporah’s faith and courage saved Moses’ life, allowing him to fulfill God’s mission to deliver Israel. Her act of obedience preserved the covenantal sign of circumcision — linking her, a Midianite woman, to the continuity of God’s promise to Abraham.
- Instrumental in preserving Moses’ calling
- Example of quick faith and decisive obedience
- Bridge between Israel and the nations
- Her descendants shared in the blessings of the covenant
Symbolism / Typology
- Bird (her name): Symbol of watchfulness and swift obedience.
- Flint Knife: Represents covenant loyalty and sacrificial faith.
- Marriage to Moses: Foreshadows Gentile inclusion in God’s redemptive plan — unity through faith, not birth.
Extra-Biblical References
- Jewish tradition honors Zipporah as a righteous woman of courage and discernment.
- Rabbinic writings note her understanding of covenant law and her crucial role in Moses’ protection.
- Christian commentators often see Zipporah as a type of the faithful Gentile — one who acts in covenant loyalty and helps bring about God’s redemptive purpose.
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