and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”).
English Standard Version (ESV)
The name "Eliezer," meaning "My God is help," is more than just a name; it's a profound declaration rooted in Moses' personal history of being rescued from Pharaoh's wrath. This wasn't just about escaping an immediate threat, but about acknowledging God's hand in his deliverance from a life-threatening situation that ultimately propelled him toward his divine calling.
and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”).
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses has just reunited with his father-in-law, Jethro, who has brought Moses' wife and two sons to him in the wilderness. Jethro has heard all about God's mighty deliverance of Israel from Egypt and is overwhelmed with praise. Moses then recounts the entire journey, detailing every hardship and God's miraculous intervention.
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, hears the incredible story of Israel's deliverance. Moses' son, Eliezer, carries a name that echoes this divine faithfulness.
The name Eliezer literally means 'My God is help' or 'My God is my helper.' This wasn't just a hopeful wish; it was a declaration rooted in a past experience. Moses had fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster. Pharaoh, seeking to arrest Moses, likely intended to execute him – a 'sword of Pharaoh.'
God's Intervention
When Moses recounts these events to Jethro, the naming of Eliezer serves as a powerful reminder. It points back to a moment when God intervened, saving Moses from mortal danger. This act wasn't arbitrary; it was God acting as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the God who made promises and remained faithful, even when His people were enslaved.
The names Moses gave his sons carried profound meaning. Eliezer’s name wasn't just about Moses' escape; it looked to a future of divine help.
While the immediate context for Eliezer's name is Moses' personal escape from Pharaoh's wrath, the commentary suggests deeper layers. Some scholars believe the name also looked forward to the ongoing need for God's help. If Eliezer was indeed the son Zipporah circumcised (Exodus 4:24), that event itself involved a divine rescue, as Moses feared for his life before God intervened.
A Legacy of Trust
Furthermore, the lineage of Eliezer shows the lasting impact of this faith. His descendants, like Rehabiah, were known for their numerousness and prominence in later Israelite history (1 Chronicles 23:17). The name Eliezer, therefore, became more than just a personal memorial; it represented a legacy of reliance on God's powerful help, passed down through generations.
Ask a follow-up
Naming his second son Eliezer ('My God is help'), Moses is not just remembering his own narrow escape from Pharaoh's sword years earlier, but also celebrating God's recent, monumental deliverance of the entire nation from Egyptian oppression.
c. 1446 BC
Moses Slays Egyptian
Moses, living in Midian after fleeing Egypt, strikes and kills an Egyptian taskmaster who was abusing an Israelite slave. This act forces Moses to flee Midian and escape Pharaoh's wrath.
c. 1445 BC
Moses Circumcises Son
While at an inn, fleeing from the Egyptians, Zipporah circumcises their son, Gershom, likely due to Moses' initial reluctance or delay. This event, though contentious, links their family to God's covenant.
c. 1445 BC
Moses Returns to Egypt
After his encounter with God at the burning bush, Moses, with his wife and sons, journeys back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites to freedom.
c. 1445 BC
The Ten Plagues and Exodus
God unleashes ten devastating plagues upon Egypt, culminating in the death of the firstborn. Pharaoh finally relents, allowing the Israelites to leave Egypt after 430 years of bondage.
c. 1445 BC
Crossing the Red Sea
As the Israelites flee Egypt, Pharaoh's army pursues them. God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground, but then drowns the pursuing Egyptian forces.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
Jethro Visits Moses
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, hears about God's mighty acts in delivering Israel and travels to meet Moses in the wilderness, bringing Moses' wife and two sons with him.
This verse directly connects to the reason behind the name Eliezer, as it recounts how Pharaoh sought to kill Moses, highlighting the 'sword' from which God delivered him.
Exodus 3:6This passage establishes the 'God of my father' as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, reinforcing the lineage and covenant faithfulness that Moses recognized as the source of his help.
Genesis 15:1This verse shows God's initial declaration to Abraham, 'I am your shield, your very great reward,' which parallels Moses' deep reliance on God as his protector and deliverer.
Psalm 56:3This psalm expresses a similar sentiment of trust in God for deliverance during times of fear and pursuit, echoing Moses' confession of God as his help and deliverer from danger.
Philippians 4:6-7This New Testament passage speaks to overcoming anxiety through prayer and God's peace, offering a spiritual parallel to the practical deliverance Moses experienced and named.
calvinExodus 18:1-12: "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;"
And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians, for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.
Et narravit Moses socero suo quaecunque fecerat Jehova Pharaoni et AEgyptiis propter Israel,…
cambridgeExodus 18:4: "And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:"
4 . the God of my father ] Exodus 3:6 (E), Exodus 15:2 (the Song). from the sword of Pharaoh ] cf. Exodus 2:15 .
The name "Eliezer," meaning "My God is help," is more than just a name; it's a profound declaration rooted in Moses' personal history of being rescued from Pharaoh's wrath. This wasn't just about escaping an immediate threat, but about acknowledging God's hand in his deliverance from a life-threatening situation that ultimately propelled him toward his divine calling.
Moses has just reunited with his father-in-law, Jethro, who has brought Moses' wife and two sons to him in the wilderness. Jethro has heard all about God's mighty deliverance of Israel from Egypt and is overwhelmed with praise. Moses then recounts the entire journey, detailing every hardship and God's miraculous intervention.
Moses has just reunited with his father-in-law, Jethro, who has brought Moses' wife and two sons to him in the wilderness. Jethro has heard all about God's mighty deliverance of Israel from Egypt and is overwhelmed with praise. Moses then recounts the entire journey, detailing every hardship and God's miraculous intervention.
"and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”)." — The name "Eliezer," meaning "My God is help," is more than just a name; it's a profound declaration rooted in Moses' personal history of being rescued from Pharaoh's wrath. This wasn't just about esc…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026