IETHRO (Hebr. Jithro'; Ex. 4, 18 Iether). - Priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moses (Ex. 2, 16; 3, 1; 4, 18; 18, 1. 5. 8. 12. 14. 27). A worshipper of the true God (Ex. 18, 11 sg.; Iudc. 1, 16; 4, 11), he is called a Kenite (cineaus).
In Ex. 2, 18 and Num. 10, 29 he is called Raguel (Rè'ù'ël). It seems that I. is a nickname or title of honour (“excellence”), like watar (Hebr. jether) in the Sabaean inscriptions and the title of imām among Muslims; whereas Rè'ù'ël (“friend of 'El”) is a proper name. The Greek version of the Septuagint already attests the identity I.-Raguel, for in Ex. 2, 16 it has 'Iobép twice. Given the uncertainty concerning the meaning of Hebrew terms expressing kinship, it may well be that Raguel was the grandfather of Sephora and the father of I., just as Hobab (Num. 10, 29) was merely Moses’ brother-in-law or kinsman.
I. received Moses, a fugitive from Egypt, and gave him his daughter Sephora in marriage. Sephora remained with I., together with her sons, when Moses returned to Egypt to fulfil the mission given him by Jahweh. I. brought them back to him when, victorious, Moses was leading the people of Israel, now free, towards Canaan; and he advised him to entrust the handling of less important matters to a select number of elders (Ex. 18).