Exodus 2:22

22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said , I have been a stranger in a strange land.

Exodus 2:22 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 2:22

And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom
Which signifies a "desolate stranger"; partly on his own account, he being in a foreign country, a stranger and sojourner; but not by way of complaint, but rather of thankfulness to God for providing so well for him in it; and partly on his son's account, that when he came to years of maturity and knowledge, he might learn, and in which Moses no doubt instructed him, that he was not to look upon Midian as his proper country, but that he was to be heir of the land of Canaan, and which he might be reminded of by his name:

for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land;
so Midian was to him, who was born in Egypt, and being an Hebrew, was entitled to the land of Canaan; this looks as if he had been at this time some years in Midian.

Exodus 2:22 In-Context

20 And 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.

21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said , I have been a stranger in a strange land.

23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died : and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried , and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gershom: that is, A stranger here