the 7 names of Yitro

 

Yisro was a man of many names suiting his colorful life.  Rashi in the beginning of Yisro gives a list of the names and various scattered Medrashim including the Mechilta and the Zohar explain what they represent.

1.  Reu'el - Rei'a Kel - He became a friend of Hashem (Mechilta).  Some say that Reu'el who took Moshe in when he came to Midyan was actually a grandfather of Tziporah and not her father Yisro.
2.  Yeser - Literally "added".   The Mechilta says that because of good advice he gave Moshe in setting up a court system, an extra parsha was added in the Torah.  Others says that this was his name before he was Migayer.
3.  Yisro -  Because of his abundance of good deeds (Mechilta).  Rashi says the "Vav" was added when he was Migayer.
4.  Chovav - Chovav Es HaTorah - we don't find other geirim who were "Michavev", loved the Torah as much as Yisro (Shemos Rabba).  He was beloved to Hashem (Mechilta).
5.  Chever - Chaver Kel - He was friend of Hashem (Mechilta).
6.  Keini - The Zohar says because he separated himself from Kayin.  The Arizal explains that he was Gilgul of Kayin.  The Mechilta says because he sold himself (Knei) to Hashem in Shamayim and to the torah by dedicating his life to acquiring torah.
7.  Putiel - He was Niftar (moved on) from Avodah Zara (Mechilta).  The Gemara in Sotah (43a) says that he fattened (Piteim) calves for Avoda Zara. 

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