Etymology and Biblical Significance
Reuel is a Hebrew name that carries a dual meaning. Traditionally, it is interpreted as "friend of God" (from Hebrew reaʿ meaning "friend" and ʾel meaning "God"). However, some scholars suggest an alternative translation of "God shall pasture" or "El shall pasture," drawing on the root rʿh (to shepherd) rather than reaʿ. This ambiguity reflects the name's deep roots in ancient Hebrew linguistics and religious traditions.
Reuel appears several times in the Hebrew Bible. It is notably the birth name of Jethro, the Midianite priest and father-in-law of Moses. According to Exodus 2:18 and 3:1, Jethro is sometimes called Reuel, though the relationship between these names is debated; they may be alternate designations or refer to two different individuals. Reuel is also the name of a son of Esau (Genesis 36:4, 10), a Gadite leader (Numbers 2:14, originally called Deuel), a Benjamite (1 Chronicles 9:7-8), and the father-in-law of Tobias in the apocryphal Book of Tobit (Tobit 7:1-15).
Notable Bearers
The most famous bearer of Reuel is John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892–1973), the author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. His surname Reuel was originally an additional middle name passed down from his paternal side; according to his family lore, a female ancestor bear the name. Tolkien, a devout Catholic, likely appreciated the theeophoric meaning "friend of God," though he generally used the name informally among intimates. His colleague and fellow Inkling, Charles Williams, included a character named Mr. Reuel in one of his novels.
Other notable bearers include Reuel Abraham (born 1924), a Nazi Luftwaffe pilot who later converted to Judaism, and Reuel Denney (1913–1995), an American poet and academic. In popular culture, the name Reuel appears in Frank Herbertâ s sci-fi novels Destination: Void and The Jesus Incident as the name of an artificial intelligence entity.
Variants and Forms
Related forms include the biblical Greek Rhagouel and the Latin Raguhel and Rauhel, the latter used in the Vulgate. In Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend, the name appears as Raguel, a reference to one of the seven angels in the book of Enoch. The same etymology appears in the Edomite inscription r‘’l, confirming its earliest use in the region.
Key Facts
- Meaning: Friend of God; also interpreted as "God shall pasture"
- Origin: Hebrew
- Type: First name (masculine)
- Usage Regions: Hebrew Bible, English-speaking contexts via biblical usage
- Alternate Biblical Connections: Alternative name for Jethro; names of several biblical figures