Lexical Definition
רְעוּאֵל Rᵉʻûwʼêl (reh-oo-ale') Reuel N:N-M-P
from the same as רְעוּ and אֵל; friend of God
Raguel, Reuel.
- § Reuel or Raguel = "friend of God"
- Reuel, the name of Moses' father-in-law, also of an Edomite and an Israelite
1) a son of Esau by his wife Bashemath, the sister of Ishmael
2) the father-in-law of Moses
2a) also 'Jethro'
3) father of Eliasaph, the leader of the tribe of Gad at the time of the census at Sinai
4) a Benjamite, ancestor of Elah
Extended Information
- A man of the Edomites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.4
- son of: Esau (עֵשָׂו) and Mahalath (מַחֲלַת)
- half-brother of: Eliphaz (אֱלִיפַז), Jeush (יְעוּשׁ), Jalam (יַעְלָם) and Korah (קֹרַח)
- father of: Nahath (נַחַת), Zerah (זֶרַח), Shammah (שַׁמָּה) and Mizzah (מִזָּה)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
רְעוּאֵל proper name, masculine Ραγουηλ:
1. Moses' father-in-law Exod 2:18 (J; ᵐ5L Ιοθορ), Num 10:29 (JE); elsewhere יִתְרוֺ q. v.
2. Edomite Gen 36:4; Gen 36:10; Gen 36:13; Gen 36:17 (twice in verse) (P), || 1Chr 1:35; 1Chr 1:37.
3. Gadite Num 2:14, see דְּעוּאל p. 396.
4. Benjamite 1Chr 9:8.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 36:4 · 36:10 · 36:13 · 36:17 |
| Exodus | 2:18 |
| Numbers | 2:14 · 10:29 |
| 1 Chronicles | 1:35 · 1:37 · 9:8 |
Profile
Male • Son of Esau • Son of Esau and Basemath, a chief of Edom
Edomite living at the time of the Patriarchs
Reuel was a son of Esau and Basemath, and he became a chief in the land of Edom.
- A man of the Edomites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.4;
- only referred to as Reuel רְעוּאֵל;
- a son of Esau עֵשָׂו and Mahalath מַחֲלַת;
- half-brother of: Eliphaz אֱלִיפַז, Jeush יְעוּשׁ, Jalam יַעְלָם and Korah קֹרַח;
- father of Nahath נַחַת, Zerah זֶרַח, Shammah שַׁמָּה and Mizzah מִזָּה.
Reuel was one of the sons of Esau, Jacob's brother, and Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 36:4, 10, 13, 17; 1 Chronicles 1:35, 37). He was born in Canaan before Esau moved his family to the hill country of Seir, which later became known as Edom (Genesis 36:8-9). Reuel became one of the chiefs of Edom, indicating that he held a position of authority and influence among the Edomites (Genesis 36:17; 1 Chronicles 1:37). His sons were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah (Genesis 36:13, 17; 1 Chronicles 1:37). The Edomites, descendants of Esau, lived in the region south of the Dead Sea and were often in conflict with the Israelites throughout their history. The mention of Reuel and his descendants in the genealogies of Esau demonstrates the fulfillment of God's promise to make Esau into a nation (Genesis 25:23) and provides insight into the early history and leadership of the Edomites.
All entries for Reuel: רְעוּאֵל