Who is…
Zipporah

also known as: Tzipporah or Zippora

Hebrew: צִפֹּרָ֥ה —transliteration: Tsipporah —meaning: a female bird (feminine of tsippor)

She is Reuel's daughter, who became the first wife of Moses (Exodus 2:21). Their marriage occurred sometime during his 40 years in Midian after his fleeing Egypt upon killing a violent Egyptian taskmaster attacking a Hebrew slave (Exodus 2:11, 12).

Zipporah was a Midianite. Moses first met her and her 6 sisters when he found them tending their family’s flocks at a well and drove away bully shepherds who drove them from the watering troughs (Exodus 2:16, 17).

As a result of the event recorded in Exodus 4:24-26, she and their 2 sons, Gershom and Eliezer, when so far on the way with Moses toward Egypt, were sent back by him to her own kinsfolk, the Midianites (in the Midian), with whom they lived till Moses afterwards rejoined them (Exodus 18:2-6).

Zipporah’s family descended from the man Midian (son of Abraham and Keturah, Genesis 25:1-4), making them distant Abrahamic kin to the Israelites. This connection influenced Moses’ time in exile and Jethro’s positive role (e.g., recognizing Yahweh and offering counsel).

Zipporah famously circumcised their son during a mysterious encounter on the way to Egypt (Exodus 4:24-26), saving Moses from Divine judgment.

Moses’ descendants through these sons appear in Levite genealogies but did not hold prominent leadership roles like Aaron’s line (the priests).

Zipporah’s story highlights themes of hospitality, intercultural marriage, courage (the circumcision), and God’s providence through outsiders. Moses’ line did not dominate leadership, emphasizing merit and Divine calling over dynasty.

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Article Version: April 29, 2026