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Monday, August 11th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

Exodus 18:15

Moshe answered his father-in-law, "It's because the people come to me seeking God's guidance.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Government;   Moses;   Thompson Chain Reference - Courts;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Courts of Justice;   Desert, Journey of Israel through the;   Kenites, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jethro;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Moses;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elder;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Appeal;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Exodus, Book of;   Rephidim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Government;   Judges;   Justice;   Moses;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Appeal;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Government of the Hebrews;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Sinai;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Decision;   Jethro;   Judge;   Judging;   Moses;   Pentateuch;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Appeal;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Jethro;   Judge;   Samuel;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Moshe said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
King James Version
And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
Lexham English Bible
And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God.
New Century Version
Then Moses said to his father-in-law, "It is because the people come to me for God's help in solving their disagreements.
New English Translation
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
Amplified Bible
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God.
New American Standard Bible
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Moses sayd vnto his father in law, Because the people come vnto me to seeke God.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
Contemporary English Version
Moses answered, "Because they come here to find out what God wants them to do.
Darby Translation
And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to enquire of God.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Moses said to his father-in-law, "The people come to me and ask me to ask for God's decision for their problem.
English Standard Version
And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God;
George Lamsa Translation
And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire of God;
Good News Translation
Moses answered, "I must do this because the people come to me to learn God's will.
Christian Standard Bible®
Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
Literal Translation
And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to seek God.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Moses answered him: The people come to me, & axe councell at God:
American Standard Version
And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:
Bible in Basic English
And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to get directions from God:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Moyses sayde to his father in lawe: because the people come vnto me to seeke counsayle of God.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Moses said unto his father-in-law: 'Because the people come unto me to inquire of God;
King James Version (1611)
And Moses said vnto his father in law, Because the people come vnto me to enquire of God.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Moses says to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to seek judgment from God.
English Revised Version
And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:
Berean Standard Bible
"Because the people come to me to inquire of God," Moses replied.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
To whom Moises answeride, The puple cometh to me, and axith the sentence of God;
Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith to his father-in-law, `Because the people come unto me to seek God;
Update Bible Version
And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire of God:
Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire of God:
World English Bible
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
New King James Version
And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
New Living Translation
Moses replied, "Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God.
New Life Bible
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to learn God's will.
New Revised Standard
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Moses said to his father-in-law, - Because the people come in unto me to seek God:
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Moses answered him: The people come to me to seek the judgment of God?
Revised Standard Version
And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God;
THE MESSAGE
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me with questions about God. When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God's laws and instructions."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Contextual Overview

13 (ii) The following day Moshe sat to settle disputes for the people, while the people stood around Moshe from morning till evening. 14 When Moshe's father-in-law saw all that he was doing to the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing to the people? Why do you sit there alone, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?" 15 Moshe answered his father-in-law, "It's because the people come to me seeking God's guidance. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me; I judge between one person and another, and I explain to them God's laws and teachings." 17 Moshe's father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing isn't good. 18 You will certainly wear yourself out — and not only yourself, but these people here with you as well. It's too much for you — you can't do it alone, by yourself. 19 So listen now to what I have to say. I will give you some advice, and God will be with you. You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases to God. 20 You should also teach them the laws and the teachings, and show them how to live their lives and what work they should do. 21 But you should choose from among all the people competent men who are God-fearing, honest and incorruptible to be their leaders, in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Normally, they will settle the people's disputes. They should bring you the difficult cases; but ordinary matters they should decide themselves. In this way, they will make it easier for you and share the load with you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to inquire: Exodus 18:19, Exodus 18:20, Leviticus 24:12-14, Numbers 15:34, Numbers 27:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:26 - the hard causes Numbers 9:6 - they came 2 Chronicles 34:21 - inquire

Cross-References

Genesis 4:9
Adonai said to Kayin, "Where is Hevel your brother?" And he replied, "I don't know; am I my brother's guardian?"
Genesis 12:13
Please say that you are my sister, so that it will go well with me for your sake, and so that I will stay alive because of you."
Genesis 18:25
Far be it from you to do such a thing — to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Shouldn't the judge of all the earth do what is just?"
Genesis 18:27
Avraham answered, "Here now, I, who am but dust and ashes, have taken it upon myself to speak to A donai.
Job 2:10
But he answered her, "You're talking like a low-class woman! Are we to receive the good at God's hands but reject the bad?" In all this Iyov did not say one sinful word.
Psalms 44:21
If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
Proverbs 12:19
Truthful words will stand forever, lying speech but a moment.
Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins will not succeed; he who confesses and abandons them will gain mercy.
Mark 2:8
But immediately Yeshua, perceiving in his spirit what they were thinking, said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?
John 2:25
that is, he didn't need anyone to inform him about a person, because he knew what was in the person's heart.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Moses said unto his father in law,.... In answer to his question; and there were two things, as Aben Ezra observes, he did to the people, and for which they came to him; the one is observed in this verse, and the other in the next:

because the people come unto me to inquire of God; of his mind and will in certain cases, and of his statutes and laws, as the following verse shows; what they should observe, and according to which they should conduct themselves: they came to inquire what God would have them to do; and, in doubtful cases, what was his will and pleasure, and to desire Moses to inform them; and if the things were of such a nature that he could not easily and readily do it, then to inquire of God for them, which in later times was done by Urim and Thummim.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To enquire of God - The decisions of Moses were doubtless accepted by the people as oracles. The internal prompting of the Spirit was a sufficient guidance for him, and a sufficient authority for the people.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 18:15. The people come unto me to inquire of God — To know the mind and will of God on the subject of their inquiries. Moses was the mediator between God and the people; and as they believed that all justice and judgment must come from him, therefore they came to Moses to know what God had spoken.


 
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