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Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Bishop's Bible

Exodus 18:16

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.

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."
Amplified Bible
"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."
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.
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

13 And on the morowe Moyses sate to iudge the people: and the people stoode about Moyses from morning vnto eue. 14 And when Moyses father in lawe sawe all that he dyd vnto the people, he sayd: what is this that thou doest vnto the people? Why sittest thou thy selfe alone, and all the people stande about thee from morning vnto euen? 15 And Moyses sayde to his father in lawe: because the people come vnto me to seeke counsayle of God. 16 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. 17 And Moyses father in lawe sayde vnto hym: It is not well that thou doest. 18 Thou both weryest thy selfe, and this people that is with thee: For this thing is of more wayght, then thou art able to perfourme thy selfe alone. 19 Heare therfore nowe my voyce, and I wyll geue thee councell, and God shalbe with thee: Be thou vnto the people to Godwarde, that thou mayest bring the causes vnto God: 20 And thou shalt teache them ordinaunces and lawes, and shew them the way wherein they must walke, & the worke that they must do. 21 Moreouer, thou shalt seeke out among all the people, men of actiuitie [and] such as feare God, true men hating couetousnes, and place [of these] ouer the [people] rulers of thousandes, rulers of hundrethes, rulers of fiftithes, and rulers of tennes, 22 And let them iudge the people at all seasons: and euery great matter that commeth, let them bryng vnto thee, but let them iudge all small causes them selues, and so shall it be easier for thy selfe, and they shall beare a [burthen] with thee.

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
And after they were brought on their way by ye Churche, they passed through Phenices and Samaria, declaryng the conuersation of the gentiles, and they brought great ioy vnto all the brethen.
Acts 20:38
Sorowyng most of all for the wordes whiche he spake, that they shoulde see his face no more. And they accompanied hym vnto the shippe.
Acts 21:5
And when the dayes were ended, we departed, and went our way, and they all brought vs on our way, with wyues and chyldren, tyll we were come out of the citie. And we kneeled downe in the shore, and prayed.
Romans 15:24
Whensoeuer I take my iourney into Spayne, I wyll come to you: For I trust to see you in my iourney, and to be brought on my waye thytherwarde by you, after that I be somewhat fylled with you.
3 John 1:6
Which beare witnesse of thy loue before the Churche. Which brethren, yf thou bryng forwardes of their iourney after a godly sorte, thou shalt do well.

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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