Exodus 18:20

Brenton's Septuagint

And thou shalt testify to them the ordinances of God and his law, and thou shalt shew to them the ways in which they shall walk, and the works which they shall do.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

King James Version
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Lexham English Bible
And you warn them of the rules and the instructions, and you make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work that they must do.

New Century Version
Warn them about the laws and teachings, and teach them the right way to live and what they should do.

New English Translation
warn them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.

Amplified Bible
"You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do.

New American Standard Bible
then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And admonish them of the ordinances, & of the lawes, & shew them the way, wherein they must walke, and the worke that they must do.

Legacy Standard Bible
then warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they shall go and the work they shall do.

Contemporary English Version
and you should teach them God's laws and show them what they must do to live right.

Complete Jewish Bible
You should also teach them the laws and the teachings, and show them how to live their lives and what work they should do.

Darby Translation
and teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Easy-to-Read Version
You should explain God's laws and teachings to the people. Warn them not to break the laws. Tell them the right way to live and what they should do.

English Standard Version
and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.

George Lamsa Translation
And you shall warn them to keep the ordinances and laws that you may show them how to conduct themselves and the works that they must do.

Good News Translation
You should teach them God's commands and explain to them how they should live and what they should do.

Christian Standard Bible®
Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do.

Literal Translation
And you warn them as to the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they should walk, and the work which they should do.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and prouide them with statutes and lawes, that thou mayest shewe the the waie wherin they shulde walke, and the workes that they shulde do.

American Standard Version
and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Bible in Basic English
Teaching them his rules and his laws, guiding them in the way they have to go, and making clear to them the work they have to do.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And thou shalt teache them ordinaunces and lawes, and shew them the way wherein they must walke, & the worke that they must do.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

King James Version (1611)
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and lawes, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walke, and the worke that they must doe.

English Revised Version
and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Berean Standard Bible
Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and schewe to the puple the cerymonyes, and custom of worschipyng, and the weie bi which `thei owen to go, and the werk which `thei owen to do.

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast warned them [concerning] the statutes and the laws, and hast made known to them the way in which they go, and the work which they do.

Update Bible Version
and you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

World English Bible
You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

New King James Version
And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.

New Living Translation
Teach them God's decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.

New Life Bible
Then teach them the Laws. Make them know the way they must walk and the work they must do.

New Revised Standard
teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and shalt cause to shine upon them, the statutes and the laws, - and make known to them the way wherein they should go, and the work they should do.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And to shew the people the ceremonies, and the manner of worshipping; and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that they ought to do.

Revised Standard Version
and you shall teach them the statutes and the decisions, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.

Contextual Overview

¹³ And it came to pass after the morrow that Moses sat to judge the people, and all the people stood by Moses from morning till evening. ¹⁴ And Jothor having seen all that Moses did to the people, says, What is this that thou doest to the people? wherefore sittest thou alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning till evening? ¹⁵ And Moses says to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to seek judgment from God. ¹⁶ For whenever there is a dispute among them, and they come to me, I give judgment upon each, and I teach them the ordinances of God and his law. ¹⁷ And the father-in-law of Moses said to him, Thou dost not this thing rightly, ¹⁸ thou wilt wear away with intolerable weariness, both those and all this people which is with thee: this thing is hard, thou wilt not be able to endure it thyself alone. ¹⁹ Now then hearken to me, and I will advise thee, and God shall be with thee: be thou to the people in the things pertaining to God, and thou shalt bring their matters to God. ²⁰ And thou shalt testify to them the ordinances of God and his law, and thou shalt shew to them the ways in which they shall walk, and the works which they shall do. ²¹ And do thou look out for thyself out of all the people able men, fearing God, righteous men, hating pride, and thou shalt set over the people captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens. ²² And they shall judge the people at all times, and the too burdensome matter they shall bring to thee, but they shall judge the smaller cases; so they shall relieve thee and help thee.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

teach: Exodus 18:16, Deuteronomy 4:1, Deuteronomy 4:5, Deuteronomy 5:1, Deuteronomy 6:1, Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 7:11, Nehemiah 9:13, Nehemiah 9:14

the way: 1 Samuel 12:23, Psalms 32:8, Psalms 143:8, Isaiah 30:21, Jeremiah 6:16, Jeremiah 42:3, Micah 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:1

work: Deuteronomy 1:18, Ezekiel 3:17, Matthew 28:20, Mark 13:34, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:48 - led me Exodus 18:15 - to inquire Deuteronomy 8:6 - walk Matthew 23:3 - whatsoever

Cross-References

Genesis 4:10
And the Lord said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood cries to me out of the ground.

Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were evil, and exceedingly sinful before God.

Genesis 19:13
For we are going to destroy this place; for their cry has been raised up before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.

Isaiah 3:9
Wherefore now their glory has been brought low, and the shame of their countenance has withstood them, and they have proclaimed their sin as Sodom, and made it manifest.

Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Juda his beloved plant: I expected it to bring forth judgement, and it brought forth iniquity; and not righteousness, but a cry.

Jeremiah 14:7
Our sins have risen up against us: O Lord, do thou for us for thine own sake; for our sins are many before thee; for we have sinned against thee.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws,.... Both with respect to things civil and religious, which he should receive from God:

and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk; the path of faith and duty, the way of truth, holiness, and righteousness:

and the work that they must do; both with respect to God, and one another, the various duties and exercises of religion, everything relating to their moral, religious, and civil conduct.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Teach them - The Hebrew word is emphatic, and signifies “enlightenment.” The text gives four distinct points:

(a) the “ordinances,” or specific enactments,

(b) “the laws,” or general regulations,

(c) “the way,” the general course of duty,

(d) “the works,” each specific act.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 18:20. Thou shalt teach them ordinances — חקים chukkim, all such precepts as relate to the ceremonies of religion and political economy. And laws, התורת hattoroth, the instructions relative to the whole system of morality.

And shalt show them the way — אה הדרך eth hadderech, THAT very WAY, that only way, which God himself has revealed, and in which they should walk in order to please him, and get their souls everlastingly saved.

And the work that they must do. — For it was not sufficient that they should know their duty both to God and man, but they must DO it too; יעשון yaasun, they must do it diligently, fervently, effectually; for the paragogic nun deepens and extends the meaning of the verb.

What a very comprehensive form of a preacher's duty does this verse exhibit!

1. He must instruct the people in the nature, use, and importance of the ordinances of religion.

2. He must lay before them the whole moral law, and their obligations to fulfill all its precepts.

3. He must point out to each his particular duty, and what is expected of him in his situation, connections, c. And,

4. He must set them all their work, and see that they do it.

On such a plan as this he will have full opportunity to show the people,

1. Their sin, ignorance, and folly

2. The pure and holy law which they have broken, and by which they are condemned;

3. The grace of God that bringeth salvation, by which they are to be justified and finally saved; and,

4. The necessity of showing their faith by their works; not only denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, but living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.