Zipporah (from the Hebrew צִפּוֹר or tzippor) means “bird” or “sparrow.” According to the book of Exodus, she was the wife of Moses. She is celebrated in American pop culture especially in the animated film, “The Prince of Egypt,” voiced by Michelle Pfeiffer.
“16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?”19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”
Exodus 2:16-22
BIRD-WATCHER'S DIARY 