Exodus

Exodus 18:21–26

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.”

²⁴Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. ²⁵So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. ²⁶And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

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 18:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Furthermore	וְאַתָּ֣ה	wə·’at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
select	תֶחֱזֶ֣ה	ṯe·ḥĕ·zeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H2372 see, behold
capable	חַ֜יִל	ḥa·yil	Noun - masculine singular	H2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army
men	אַנְשֵׁי־	’an·šê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H582 man, mankind
from among	מִכָּל־	mik·kāl	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the people	הָ֠עָם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
God-fearing	יִרְאֵ֧י	yir·’ê	Adjective - masculine plural construct	H3373 fear
trustworthy men	אֱמֶ֖ת	’ĕ·meṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
who are averse	שֹׂ֣נְאֵי	śō·nə·’ê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H8130 hate
to dishonest gain	בָ֑צַע	ḇā·ṣa‘	Noun - masculine singular	H1215 gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit
Appoint them	וְשַׂמְתָּ֣	wə·śam·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H7760 put, place, set
over	עֲלֵהֶ֗ם	‘ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H5921 height
as leaders	שָׂרֵ֤י	śā·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of thousands	אֲלָפִים֙	’ă·lā·p̄îm	Number - masculine plural	H505 thousand
of hundreds	מֵא֔וֹת	mê·’ō·wṯ	Number - feminine plural	H3967 hundred
of fifties	חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים	ḥă·miš·šîm	Number - common plural	H2572 fifty
and of tens	עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃	‘ă·śā·rōṯ	Number - masculine plural	H6235 ten

Exodus 18:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Have	וְשָׁפְט֣וּ	wə·šā·p̄ə·ṭū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H8199 judge, govern
the people	הָעָם֮	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
at all	בְּכָל־	bə·ḵāl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
times	עֵת֒	‘êṯ	Noun - common singular	H6256 time
Then	וְהָיָ֞ה	wə·hā·yāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
they can bring	יָבִ֣יאוּ	yā·ḇî·’ū	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
you	אֵלֶ֔יךָ	’ê·le·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular	H413 motion to
any	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
major	הַגָּדֹל֙	hag·gā·ḏōl	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
issue	הַדָּבָ֤ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
but all	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
minor	הַקָּטֹ֖ן	haq·qā·ṭōn	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H6996 small, young, unimportant
cases	הַדָּבָ֥ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
they can judge	יִשְׁפְּטוּ־	yiš·pə·ṭū-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H8199 judge, govern
on their own	הֵ֑ם	hêm	Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
so that your load may be lightened	וְהָקֵל֙	wə·hā·qêl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular	H7043 be slight, swift, trifling
as they share	וְנָשְׂא֖וּ	wə·nā·śə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H5375 lift, take, carry
it with you	אִתָּֽךְ׃	’it·tāḵ	Preposition; second person masculine singular	H854 with

Exodus 18:23

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	אִ֣ם	’im	Conjunction	H518 if
you follow	תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה	ta·‘ă·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
this	הַזֶּה֙	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
advice	הַדָּבָ֤ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
and God	אֱלֹהִ֔ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
so directs you	וְצִוְּךָ֣	wə·ṣiw·wə·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular; second person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
then you will be able	וְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖	wə·yā·ḵā·lə·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
to endure	עֲמֹ֑ד	‘ă·mōḏ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5975 take one's stand, stand
and	וְגַם֙	wə·ḡam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
these	הַזֶּ֔ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
people	הָעָ֣ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
can go	יָבֹ֥א	yā·ḇō	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
home	מְקֹמ֖וֹ	mə·qō·mōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
in peace	בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃	ḇə·šā·lō·wm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

Exodus 18:24

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֖ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
listened	וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע	way·yiš·ma‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8085 hear
to his father-in-law	חֹתְנ֑וֹ	ḥō·ṯə·nōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H2859 wife's father
and did	וַיַּ֕עַשׂ	way·ya·‘aś	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
everything	כֹּ֖ל	kōl	Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
he said	אָמָֽר׃	’ā·mār	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say

Exodus 18:25

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Moses	מֹשֶׁ֤ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
chose	וַיִּבְחַ֨ר	way·yiḇ·ḥar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H977 choose
capable	חַ֙יִל֙	ḥa·yil	Noun - masculine singular	H2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army
men	אַנְשֵׁי־	’an·šê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H582 man, mankind
from all	מִכָּל־	mik·kāl	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
and made	וַיִּתֵּ֥ן	way·yit·tên	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
them	אֹתָ֛ם	’ō·ṯām	Direct object marker; third person masculine plural	H853 mark of the accusative
heads	רָאשִׁ֖ים	rā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H7218 head
over	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the people	הָעָ֑ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
as leaders	שָׂרֵ֤י	śā·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of thousands	אֲלָפִים֙	’ă·lā·p̄îm	Number - masculine plural	H505 thousand
of hundreds	מֵא֔וֹת	mê·’ō·wṯ	Number - feminine plural	H3967 hundred
of fifties	חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים	ḥă·miš·šîm	Number - common plural	H2572 fifty
and of tens	עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃	‘ă·śā·rōṯ	Number - masculine plural	H6235 ten

Exodus 18:26

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And they judged	וְשָׁפְט֥וּ	wə·šā·p̄ə·ṭū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H8199 judge, govern
the people	הָעָ֖ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
at all	בְּכָל־	bə·ḵāl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
times	עֵ֑ת	‘êṯ	Noun - common singular	H6256 time
they would bring	יְבִיא֣וּן	yə·ḇî·’ūn	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; Paragogic nun	H935 come in, come, go in, go
the difficult	הַקָּשֶׁה֙	haq·qā·šeh	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7186 hard, severe
cases	הַדָּבָ֤ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֔ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
but any	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
minor	הַקָּטֹ֖ן	haq·qā·ṭōn	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H6996 small, young, unimportant
issue	הַדָּבָ֥ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
they would judge	יִשְׁפּוּט֥וּ	yiš·pū·ṭū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H8199 judge, govern
themselves	הֵֽם׃	hêm	Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them