Exodus 2:17
And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
Original Language Analysis
הָֽרֹעִ֖ים
And the shepherds
H7462
הָֽרֹעִ֖ים
And the shepherds
Strong's:
H7462
Word #:
2 of 9
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
וַיְגָֽרְשׁ֑וּם
and drove them away
H1644
וַיְגָֽרְשׁ֑וּם
and drove them away
Strong's:
H1644
Word #:
3 of 9
to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce
וַיָּ֤קָם
stood up
H6965
וַיָּ֤קָם
stood up
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
4 of 9
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
וַיּ֣וֹשִׁעָ֔ן
and helped
H3467
וַיּ֣וֹשִׁעָ֔ן
and helped
Strong's:
H3467
Word #:
6 of 9
properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ
them and watered
H8248
וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ
them and watered
Strong's:
H8248
Word #:
7 of 9
to quaff, i.e., (causatively) to irrigate or furnish a potion to
Cross References
Genesis 29:10And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.Genesis 21:25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.Exodus 2:12And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
Historical Context
Water rights disputes were serious in arid regions, often leading to violence (Genesis 21:25). Male shepherds typically had priority over women at wells. Moses' intervention against multiple shepherds shows courage and physical strength developed in Egypt. This episode demonstrates Moses' character to Jethro, leading to marriage and adoption into Midian.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Moses' pattern of defending the oppressed (Hebrew, v. 12; Hebrew, v. 13; Midianite women, v. 17) reveal consistent godly character despite his flaws?
- In what situations is God calling you to 'stand up' and deliver the vulnerable from oppression?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock (וַיָּבֹאוּ הָרֹעִים וַיְגָרְשׁוּם וַיָּקָם מֹשֶׁה וַיּוֹשִׁעָן, vayavo'u haro'im vaygareshum vayakom Mosheh vayoshi'an)—Shepherds... drove them away—bullies exploiting the vulnerable, a pattern Moses consistently opposes (cf. v. 12). Moses stood up (וַיָּקָם, vayakom, "arose/stood") implies decisive action. Helped them (וַיּוֹשִׁעָן, vayoshi'an)—significantly, this is from the root ישׁע (yasha, "save/deliver"), the same root as "salvation" and "Jesus/Yeshua." Moses' character shows through: defender of the oppressed, rescuer of the helpless. God is shaping His deliverer through these wilderness experiences.