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יִתְרוֹ

𐤉𐤕𐤓𐤅

Yitero

H3503 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יתר to remain over, be left, be abundant, surpass

Definition

Personal name 'Yitro'—Moses' father-in-law, a prominent priest and leader of Midian—appearing in the Pentateuch. The name carries an association of excellence, abundance, or superiority, likely reflecting a positive personal or honorific attribute. In narrative, 'Yitro' designates the Midianite priest who gave counsel to Moses and participated in the Israelite saga during their time at Sinai.

Semantic Range

personal name ('Yitro', Moses' Midianite father-in-law); possible sense of 'his excellence' or 'his abundance'; honorific designation; by extension, a leader or prominent figure among the Midianites

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root יתר (y-t-r), meaning 'to remain over, be left, be abundant'; formed with a pronominal suffix, denoting 'his excellence' or 'his abundance.' The name is a theophoric or honorific construction, reflecting a common naming convention emphasizing positive attributes.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Yitro/Yithro is a Midianite priest, described as the father-in-law of Moses, encountered in the books of Exodus (notably ch. 2, 3, 4, 18), Numbers, and Judges. His non-Israelite identity is significant—he is called a priest of Midian, indicating a status of religious authority among a related Northwest Semitic people. The Hebrew text presents several variant names for Moses' father-in-law (Yitro, Reuel, Hobab), leading to historical-critical debates about source traditions and narrative development. The English term 'Jethro' is a later rendering from the Septuagint and Vulgate but does not carry the full nuance of the Hebrew naming. While often referenced as 'Moses' father-in-law,' Yitro is also depicted as counselor and religious leader. Term usage is confined to narrative contexts; no later Israelite or Judahite identity should be inferred. Translation tradition, particularly in the King James Version ('Jethro'), narrows the name to a personal designation but misses the possible broader meaning of honorific titling present in the Hebrew form.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יֶתֶר with pron. suffix; his excellence; Jethro, Moses' father-in-law; Jethro. Compare יֶתֶר.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יתר (y-t-r) — remain over, be left, be abundant, surpass, excellence

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1956 הוֹתִיר Hothir
H3148 יוֹתֵר and surplus
H3491 יָתוּר leftover gleaning
H3492 יַתִּיר in Yattir
H3493 יַתִּיר Exceeding-One

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3503-01 יִתְר֥וֹ yitero HNp Jethro His Excellence 9

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3503-01 Exodus 3:1 יִתְר֥וֹ yitero HNp of Jethro His Excellence
H3503-01 Exodus 4:18 יִתְר֛וֹ yitero HNp Jethro His Excellence
H3503-01 Exodus 18:1 יִתְר֨וֹ yitero HNp Jethro His Excellence
H3503-01 Exodus 18:2 יִתְרוֹ֙ yitero HNp Jethro His Excellence
H3503-01 Exodus 18:5 יִתְר֨וֹ yitero HNp Jethro His Excellence
H3503-01 Exodus 18:6 יִתְר֖וֹ yitero HNp Jethro His Excellence
H3503-01 Exodus 18:9 יִתְר֔וֹ yitero HNp Jethro His Excellence
H3503-01 Exodus 18:10 יִתְרוֹ֒ yitero HNp Jethro His Excellence
H3503-01 Exodus 18:12 יִתְר֨וֹ yitero HNp Jethro His Excellence
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