If you’ve seen the movies The Ten Commandments (1956), The Prince of Egypt (1998), or Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014), you’ve seen Zipporah.
Who Was Zipporah in the Bible?
Then again, how much do you know about Zipporah? How would you begin to gauge Zipporah’s character and legacy?
Let’s begin with my very unofficial list of the five “most revered” men in the Bible by Christians, Muslims, and the Jewish people:
1. Abraham
2. Moses
3. Jesus
4. Elijah
5. Paul
Of these five men, the Bible says only two were married. Abraham was married to Sarah, who is featured or discussed in 16 chapters from Genesis to 1 Peter, near the end of the Bible. That’s why most of us have heard of her.
Conversely, Moses was married to Zipporah, who appears only three times between Exodus 2-18.
Thankfully, “most famous,” “most revered,” and “most respected” aren’t the ways the Lord God and the Bible judge someone’s character and legacy. That’s certainly true with Zipporah!
Zipporah was Moses' Midianite wife. There is some speculation as to whether Moses married a Cushite before Zipporah, but Zipporah is his most well-known wife. Let's explore her family, name, and story below!
Who Was Zipporah's Father?
A number of Bible men and women have two names, but Zipporah’s father went by three: first by Reuel, meaning “Friend of God” (Exodus 2:18-Numbers 10:29), second by Jethro (Exodus 3:1-Exodus 18:27), and third by Hobab (Judges 4:11).
He was a Kenite shepherd and Midianite prince and priest. He had seven daughters, including Zipporah, who possibly may have been the firstborn. After Moses marries Zipporah, he serves as a shepherd for several decades for Jethro, before he returns to Egypt to ask Pharaoh to free the Israelites.
What Does Zipporah's Name Mean?
In the Bible, Zipporah is called two things. In Hebrew, Zipporah (Tsìpporah) means “bird.” In Numbers 12:1, she also is called a Cushite (“black” or ancient “Ethiopian”) woman. Compare Jeremiah 13:23 (translated “Ethiopian”).
In the Samaritan Bible, which featured the first five books of Moses, Zipporah is called Kaashet (“the beautiful woman”) rather than Cushit (“black woman” or “Cushite woman”).
Many centuries later, the Vulgate Latin Bible calls her Aethiopissa (“black woman” or “Ethiopian woman”). Bottom line: Both Jewish and Samaritan sages considered Zipporah and the Cushite woman as the one and same wife of Moses.
Who Were Zipporah's Children?
Exodus 18:3-4 says that Moses and Zipporah had two sons. The first is Gershom (“a foreign [resident] there”), speaking of life outside Egypt.
Obviously, Moses picked this name! He also picked the name of their second son, Eliezer (“my God [and the God of my father] is a help”), which is much more faith-filled. Both sons were born during the many years Moses and Zipporah lived in Midian.
Zipporah Left in Midian
Zipporah lived in Midian for almost her whole life. She grew up there. She married Moses there. They had their two boys there.
Years later, Moses started his journey back to Egypt with Zipporah and their two sons (Exodus 4:20), but Moses changed his mind and sent her and them back to Jethro (Exodus 18:2). This was after the Lord almost killed Moses for not circumcising one of his sons, possibly the youngest.
Moses was stricken, and possibly paralyzed, so Zipporah circumcised the boy and shouted at Moses, the Lord saw her bold, wise, and obedient actions and relented from His threat to kill Moses, and the life of Moses was spared (Exodus 4:24-26).
Like David, Moses was not obeying God at this time. After all, he intentionally had left his son uncircumcised. Like Abigail, Zipporah acted wisely and swiftly to correct the wrong and save her husband’s life.
Yet what a dreadful action she had to take alone while her husband’s life was on the line. No wonder Zipporah had harsh words for Moses. His neglect of God’s command hurt her deeply.
Some months later, Jethro brought Zipporah and the boys with him when he went to see Moses (Exodus 18:5). Moses welcomed Jethro with open arms. The same cannot be said about welcoming Zipporah or the boys.
Moses insisted his biggest problem was too much to do and not enough time. After Jethro counsels Moses on how to solve this twin problem, it appears that Jethro returned to Midian with his daughter and grandsons (Exodus 18:27).
Zipporah and Moses’ Marriage
After Moses went to Egypt, he abandoned Zipporah and their marriage and abandoned their boys and family. Their grandfather, Jethro, must have become Gershom and Eliezer’s father figure.
Zipporah was left all but divorced. And not for a few months as Moses may have assumed. Instead, she was a married single for the rest of her life.
Unlike the human tendency to want or expect perfection in religious heroes, historic Judaism simply asked that its heroes do more good than evil. Such heroes were and are called “the righteous.”
Ultimately, the Lord God has to impart His righteousness to such otherwise flawed heroes. Among many others, this includes Adam and Eve, Noah and his wife, Abraham and Sarah, and of course Moses and Zipporah.
Where Aaron and Miriam Went Wrong
In part, this explains why Aaron and Miriam complained about Moses’ wife (a “Cushite woman,” Numbers 12:1). In all likelihood, Moses’ older brother and sister saw his ongoing abandonment of Zipporah as morally and ethically wrong. This is also where the debate comes in as to whether Moses had another wife, but Miriam and Aaron are likely referring to Zipporah in this case.
Much worse, they complained, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” (Numbers 12:2, NLT). The Lord heard that second complaint and sharply rebuked Aaron and especially Miriam (Numbers 12:4-15).
That said, the Lord didn’t rebuke Aaron and Miriam for their first complaint.
Yes, the Bible is full of flawed human beings. That is what makes it so authentic, believable, genuine, and true-to-life. The Bible repeatedly says all have sinned. So, how could the Bible’s men and women be anything but fallible, wrong, and sinful?
My Heart Goes Out to Zipporah
Whitney Govert in Portland, Oregon, named her firstborn daughter Zipporah and says, “Zipporah would have to be a strong woman to be married to Moses. When she is mentioned, she seems to make things happen.”
Whitney adds, “Zipporah was beautiful as a young woman but also into old age.”
I trust this article affirms Zipporah’s character (sinned against, not sinful) and her legacy (beautiful, strong, and wise).
A number of my friends, like Zipporah, have gone through the terrible grief of separation, abandonment, or divorce. Some say it’s worse grief than the death of a close family member. I believe them. They’ve been deeply wronged.
Thankfully, Zipporah has become one of their favorite heroes of the faith. And, if you’ve been deeply hurt, she can be one of your favorite Bible heroes as well.
For further reading:
Why Did Moses Remove His Shoes in Front of the Burning Bush?
How the Women in the Bible Were Revered, Respected, and Diverse
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/kieferpix
