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Thursday, July 10th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

Amplified Bible

Exodus 18:16

"When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Government;   Moses;   Rulers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Courts;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Courts of Justice;   Desert, Journey of Israel through the;   Kenites, the;   Law of Moses, 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;   Judge (Office);   Rephidim;   Torah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Judges;   Justice;   Law;   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;   Make;   Moses;   Pentateuch;   Teach;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Appeal;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Jethro;   Priest;   Samuel;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws."
King James Version
When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
Lexham English Bible
When they have an issue, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make known God's rule and his instructions."
New Century Version
When people have a disagreement, they come to me, and I decide who is right. I tell them God's laws and teachings."
New English Translation
When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws."
New American Standard Bible
"When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws."
Geneva Bible (1587)
When they haue a matter, they come vnto me, and I iudge betweene one and another, and declare the ordinances of God, and his lawes.
Legacy Standard Bible
When they have a matter, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws."
Contemporary English Version
They bring their complaints to me, and I make decisions on the basis of God's laws."
Complete Jewish Bible
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."
Darby Translation
When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known [to them] the statutes of God, and his laws.
Easy-to-Read Version
If people have an argument, they come to me, and I decide which person is right. In this way I teach the people God's laws and teachings."
English Standard Version
when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws."
George Lamsa Translation
And when they have a controversy, they come to me; and I judge between one and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.
Good News Translation
When two people have a dispute, they come to me, and I decide which one of them is right, and I tell them God's commands and laws."
Christian Standard Bible®
Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”
Literal Translation
When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor. And I make known the statutes of God, and His laws.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
for whan they haue eny thinge to do, they come vnto me, that I maye iudge betwixte euery one & his neghboure, and shewe them the statutes of God, and his lawes.
American Standard Version
when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
Bible in Basic English
And if they have any question between themselves, they come to me, and I am judge between a man and his neighbour, and I give them the orders and laws of God.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
When they haue a matter, they come vnto me, and I iudge betweene euery man & his neyghbour, & shew them the ordinaunces of God and his lawes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
when they have a matter, it cometh unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbour, and I make them know the statutes of God, and His laws.'
King James Version (1611)
When they haue a matter, they come vnto mee, and I iudge betweene one and another, and I doe make them know the statutes of God and his Lawes.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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.
English Revised Version
when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbour, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
Berean Standard Bible
"Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and whanne ony strijf bifallith to hem, thei comen to me, that Y deme bitwixe hem, and schewe `the comaundementis of God, and hise lawis.
Young's Literal Translation
when they have a matter, it hath come unto me, and I have judged between a man and his neighbour, and made known the statutes of God, and His laws.'
Update Bible Version
when they have a matter, it comes to me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
Webster's Bible Translation
When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between one and another, and I make [them] know the statutes of God, and his laws.
World English Bible
When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws."
New King James Version
When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws."
New Living Translation
When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God's decrees and give them his instructions."
New Life Bible
When they argue, they come to me. And I judge between a man and his neighbor. I teach them the Laws of God."
New Revised Standard
When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
When they have a matter, they come in unto me, then do I judge between a man and his neighbour, - and make known the statutes of God and his laws.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to shew the precepts of God, and his laws.
Revised Standard Version
when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God and his decisions."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws."

Contextual Overview

13Now the next day Moses sat to judge [the disputes] the people [had with one another], and the people stood around Moses from dawn to dusk. 14When Moses' father-in-law saw everything that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone [as a judge] with all the people standing around you from dawn to dusk?" 15Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God. 16"When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws."17Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you are doing is not good. 18"You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone. 19"Now listen to me; I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him. 20"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. 21"Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22"They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a matter: Exodus 23:7, Exodus 24:14, Deuteronomy 17:8-12, 2 Samuel 15:3, Job 31:13, Acts 18:14, Acts 18:15, 1 Corinthians 6:1

one and another: Heb. a man and his fellow, Exodus 2:13

make: Leviticus 24:15, Numbers 15:35, Numbers 27:6-11, Numbers 36:6-9, Deuteronomy 4:5, Deuteronomy 5:1, Deuteronomy 6:1, 1 Samuel 12:23, Matthew 28:20, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:2

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:20 - teach Leviticus 24:12 - that the mind of the Lord might be showed them Deuteronomy 33:5 - king Judges 4:5 - came up 2 Samuel 15:2 - came 1 Kings 3:16 - stood Psalms 19:8 - statutes

Cross-References

Acts 15:3
So, after being supplied and sent on their way by the church, they went through both Phoenicia and Samaria telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the believers.
Acts 20:38
grieving and distressed especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see him again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Acts 21:5
When our days there came to an end, we left and proceeded on our journey, while all of the disciples, with their wives and children, escorted us on our way until we were outside the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we told one another goodbye.
Romans 15:24
whenever I go [on my trip] to Spain—I hope to see you as I pass through [Rome], and to be helped on my journey there by you, after I have first enjoyed your company for a little while.
3 John 1:6
and they have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to [assist them and] send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

When they have a matter, they come unto me,.... This is the other thing he did for them, as the above writer observes; which being last mentioned, he speaks of first, as follows, meaning that when there was a matter in difference between two persons or more, and they could not agree upon it among themselves, then they brought it to him to be heard and decided:

and I judge between one and another; hear what they have to say on both sides, and then judge which is in the right and which is in the wrong, and determine what is to be done, according to the laws of God or according to the rules of justice and equity:

and I do make them know the statutes of God and his laws; this relates to the first thing, their coming to him to inquire of God, what is his mind and will, or what he would have them do; and in order to this, and in answer to their request, he instructed them in the laws of God, both civil and religious: this is made use of by some, to prove that Jethro's coming to Moses was after the law was given: but this does not necessarily follow, because Moses, by a divine impulse, might be directed immediately to make known to the people what was the will and mind of God, with respect to any particular case they inquired about; and rather this seems to furnish out an argument to the contrary, since, if the laws and statutes of God had yet been given on Mount Sinai, the people could not have been ignorant of them, and so needed not such daily information and instruction from Moses.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 18:16. I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. — These words are so very particular that they leave little room for doubt that the law had been given. Such words would scarcely have been used had not the statutes and laws been then in existence. And this is one of the proofs that the transaction mentioned here stands out of its due chronological order; Exodus 18:5.


 
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