Exodus

Exodus 18:17–23

17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. 20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people — God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

22Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

23If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”

Read all of Exodus 18

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Exodus 18:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But Moses’מֹשֶׁ֖הmō·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses
father-in-lawחֹתֵ֥ןḥō·ṯênNoun - masculine singular constructH2859 wife's father
saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
to himאֵלָ֑יו’ê·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
Whatהַדָּבָ֔רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
you areאַתָּ֖ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
doingעֹשֶֽׂה׃‘ō·śehVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH6213 do, make
is notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
goodטוֹב֙ṭō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good

Exodus 18:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Surelyגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
youאַתָּ֕ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
andגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
theseהַזֶּ֖הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
peopleהָעָ֥םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
with youעִמָּ֑ךְ‘im·māḵPreposition; second person masculine singularH5973 with
will wear yourselves outנָבֹ֣לnā·ḇōlVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteH5034 be senseless, foolish
becauseכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the taskהַדָּבָ֔רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
is too heavyכָבֵ֤דḵā·ḇêḏAdjective - masculine singularH3515 heavy
for youמִמְּךָ֙mim·mə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
You cannotלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
handleעֲשֹׂ֖הוּ‘ă·śō·hūVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH6213 do, make
it aloneלְבַדֶּֽךָ׃lə·ḇad·de·ḵāPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH905 separation

Exodus 18:19

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Nowעַתָּ֞ה‘at·tāhAdverbH6258 now
listen to meשְׁמַ֤עšə·ma‘Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH8085 hear
I will give you some adviceאִיעָ֣צְךָ֔’î·‘ā·ṣə·ḵāVerb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular; second person masculine singularH3289 advise, counsel
and may Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
beוִיהִ֥יwî·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
with youעִמָּ֑ךְ‘im·māḵPreposition; second person masculine singularH5973 with
Youאַתָּ֣ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
must beהֱיֵ֧הhĕ·yêhVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the people’s representativeלָעָ֗םlā·‘āmPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
beforeמ֚וּלmūlPrepositionH4136 front, in front of
Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
and bringוְהֵבֵאתָ֥wə·hê·ḇê·ṯāConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
their causesהַדְּבָרִ֖יםhad·də·ḇā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1697 speech, word
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Himהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃hā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God

Exodus 18:20

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Teachוְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣הwə·hiz·har·tāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularH2094 be light, shining
themאֶת־’eṯ-Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
the statutesהַחֻקִּ֖יםha·ḥuq·qîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH2706 something prescribed, a statute or due
and lawsהַתּוֹרֹ֑תhat·tō·w·rōṯArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH8451 direction, instruction, law
and showוְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣wə·hō·w·ḏa‘·tāConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularH3045 know
themלָהֶ֗םlā·hemPreposition; third person masculine plural
the wayהַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙had·de·reḵArticle; Noun - common singularH1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
to liveיֵ֣לְכוּyê·lə·ḵūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1980 go, come, walk
and the workהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖הham·ma·‘ă·śehArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4639 deed, work
they must doיַעֲשֽׂוּן׃ya·‘ă·śūnVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; Paragogic nunH6213 do, make

Exodus 18:21

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Furthermoreוְאַתָּ֣הwə·’at·tāhConjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
selectתֶחֱזֶ֣הṯe·ḥĕ·zehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH2372 see, behold
capableחַ֜יִלḥa·yilNoun - masculine singularH2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army
menאַנְשֵׁי־’an·šê-Noun - masculine plural constructH582 man, mankind
from amongמִכָּל־mik·kālPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the peopleהָ֠עָםhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
God-fearingיִרְאֵ֧יyir·’êAdjective - masculine plural constructH3373 fear
trustworthy menאֱמֶ֖ת’ĕ·meṯNoun - feminine singularH571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
who are averseשֹׂ֣נְאֵיśō·nə·’êVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructH8130 hate
to dishonest gainבָ֑צַעḇā·ṣa‘Noun - masculine singularH1215 gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit
Appoint themוְשַׂמְתָּ֣wə·śam·tāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularH7760 put, place, set
overעֲלֵהֶ֗ם‘ă·lê·hemPreposition; third person masculine pluralH5921 height
as leadersשָׂרֵ֤יśā·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of thousandsאֲלָפִים֙’ă·lā·p̄îmNumber - masculine pluralH505 thousand
of hundredsמֵא֔וֹתmê·’ō·wṯNumber - feminine pluralH3967 hundred
of fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁ֖יםḥă·miš·šîmNumber - common pluralH2572 fifty
and of tensעֲשָׂרֹֽת׃‘ă·śā·rōṯNumber - masculine pluralH6235 ten

Exodus 18:22

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Haveוְשָׁפְט֣וּwə·šā·p̄ə·ṭūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH8199 judge, govern
the peopleהָעָם֮hā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
at allבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
timesעֵת֒‘êṯNoun - common singularH6256 time
Thenוְהָיָ֞הwə·hā·yāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
they can bringיָבִ֣יאוּyā·ḇî·’ūVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
youאֵלֶ֔יךָ’ê·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH413 motion to
anyכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
majorהַגָּדֹל֙hag·gā·ḏōlArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH1419 great
issueהַדָּבָ֤רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
but allוְכָל־wə·ḵālConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
minorהַקָּטֹ֖ןhaq·qā·ṭōnArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH6996 small, young, unimportant
casesהַדָּבָ֥רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
they can judgeיִשְׁפְּטוּ־yiš·pə·ṭū-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH8199 judge, govern
on their ownהֵ֑םhêmPronoun - third person masculine pluralH1992 they, them
so that your load may be lightenedוְהָקֵל֙wə·hā·qêlConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularH7043 be slight, swift, trifling
as they shareוְנָשְׂא֖וּwə·nā·śə·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH5375 lift, take, carry
it with youאִתָּֽךְ׃’it·tāḵPreposition; second person masculine singularH854 with

Exodus 18:23

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Ifאִ֣ם’imConjunctionH518 if
you followתַּעֲשֶׂ֔הta·‘ă·śehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH6213 do, make
thisהַזֶּה֙haz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
adviceהַדָּבָ֤רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
and Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
so directs youוְצִוְּךָ֣wə·ṣiw·wə·ḵāConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular; second person masculine singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
then you will be ableוְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖wə·yā·ḵā·lə·tāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularH3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
to endureעֲמֹ֑ד‘ă·mōḏVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5975 take one's stand, stand
andוְגַם֙wə·ḡamConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
theseהַזֶּ֔הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
peopleהָעָ֣םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
can goיָבֹ֥אyā·ḇōVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
homeמְקֹמ֖וֹmə·qō·mōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4725 standing, spot, condition
in peaceבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ḇə·šā·lō·wmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singularH7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Exodus 18:18 Numbers 11:14–17 · Acts 6:1–4 · Philippians 2:30 · 2 Corinthians 12:15

Exodus 18:19 Numbers 27:5 · Exodus 20:19 · Deuteronomy 5:5 · Exodus 3:12 · Genesis 39:2 · 2 Samuel 14:17 · Exodus 18:24 · Proverbs 9:9 · Exodus 4:16 · Joshua 1:9 · Exodus 4:12 · Matthew 28:20

Exodus 18:20 Deuteronomy 5:1 · Psalm 143:8 · Deuteronomy 1:18 · Deuteronomy 4:1 · Psalm 32:8 · Deuteronomy 4:5 · Exodus 18:16

Exodus 18:21 Acts 6:3 · 2 Chronicles 19:5–10 · Deuteronomy 1:13–17 · Deuteronomy 16:18–19 · 2 Samuel 23:3 · Exodus 23:2–9 · Job 29:16 · Proverbs 28:2 · Psalm 15:5 · Zechariah 7:9 · 1 Timothy 3:3 · Ecclesiastes 12:13

Exodus 18:22 Numbers 11:17 · Deuteronomy 1:17–18 · Numbers 27:2 · Numbers 36:1 · Exodus 18:26 · Numbers 15:33 · Leviticus 24:11

Exodus 18:23 Exodus 18:18 · 1 Samuel 8:6–7

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.