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Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Exodus 18:23

If you follow this advice and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

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

Dictionaries:

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

Encyclopedias:

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

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in shalom."
King James Version
If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
Lexham English Bible
If you will do this thing and God will command you, then you will be able to endure, and also each of the people will go to his home in peace."
New Century Version
If you do this as God commands you, then you will be able to do your job, and all the people will go home with their disagreements solved."
New English Translation
If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied."
Amplified Bible
"If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace."
New American Standard Bible
"If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their places in peace."
Geneva Bible (1587)
If thou do this thing, (& God so command thee) both thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shal also go quietly to their place.
Legacy Standard Bible
If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace."
Contemporary English Version
This is the way God wants it done. You won't be under nearly as much stress, and everyone else will return home feeling satisfied.
Complete Jewish Bible
If you do this — and God is directing you to do it — you will be able to endure; and all these people too will arrive at their destination peacefully."
Darby Translation
If thou do this thing, and God command thee [so], thou wilt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
Easy-to-Read Version
If you do this as God directs you, then you will be able to do your job without tiring yourself out. And the people can still have all their problems solved before they return home."
English Standard Version
If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace."
George Lamsa Translation
If you shall do this thing, and God commands you so, then you shall be able to endure, and all this people shall also go each one to his own house in peace.
Good News Translation
If you do this, as God commands, you will not wear yourself out, and all these people can go home with their disputes settled."
Christian Standard Bible®
If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”
Literal Translation
If you do this thing, and God command you, you will be able to stand; and also this people will go in peace to their place.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf thou shalt do this, then mayest thou endure the thinge that God chargeth the withall, and all this people maie go peaceably vnto their place.
American Standard Version
If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.
Bible in Basic English
If you do this, and God gives approval, then you will be able to go on without weariness, and all this people will go to their tents in peace.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
If thou shalt do this thing, and God charge thee withall, thou shalt be able to endure, and yet the people shall come to their place in peace.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.'
King James Version (1611)
If thou shalt doe this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt bee able to endure, and all this people shall also goe to their place in peace.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
If thou wilt do this thing, God shall strengthen thee, and thou shalt be able to attend, and all this people shall come with peace into their own place.
English Revised Version
If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If thou schalt do this, thou schalt fille the comaundement of God, and thou schalt mowe bere hise comaundementis; and al this puple schal turne ayen with pees to her places.
Young's Literal Translation
If thou dost this thing, and God hath commanded thee, then thou hast been able to stand, and all this people also goeth in unto its place in peace.'
Update Bible Version
If you shall do this thing, and God commands you so, then you shall be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.
Webster's Bible Translation
If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee [so], then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
World English Bible
If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace."
New King James Version
If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace."
New Living Translation
If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."
New Life Bible
If you do this and God tells you to do it, then you will be able to keep your strength. And all these people will go to their place in peace."
New Revised Standard
If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, this thing, thou wilt do, and God shall command thee, then shalt thou be able to endure, - yea, moreover, all this people, shall go in, unto their dwellings, contented.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If thou dost this, thou shalt fulfil the commandment of God, and shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to their places with peace.
Revised Standard Version
If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace."

Contextual Overview

13The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening. 14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?" 15"Because the people come to me to inquire of God," Moses replied. 16"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." 17But Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. 18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. 19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their causes to Him. 20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do. 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

God: Exodus 18:18, Genesis 21:10-12, 1 Samuel 8:6, 1 Samuel 8:7, 1 Samuel 8:22, Acts 15:2, Galatians 2:2

and all this: Exodus 16:29, Genesis 18:33, Genesis 30:25, 2 Samuel 18:3, 2 Samuel 19:39, 2 Samuel 21:17, Philippians 1:24, Philippians 1:25

Reciprocal: Leviticus 24:12 - that the mind of the Lord might be showed them 1 Chronicles 13:2 - and that it be Matthew 23:3 - whatsoever 2 Peter 3:9 - not willing

Cross-References

Genesis 18:4
Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
Genesis 18:5
And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant's way. After that, you may continue on your way." "Yes," they replied, "you may do as you have said."
Genesis 18:6
So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread."
Genesis 18:7
Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
Genesis 18:25
Far be it from You to do such a thing-to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?"
Genesis 20:4
Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, "Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
2 Samuel 24:17
When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, "Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father's house."
Job 8:3
Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Job 34:17
Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
Psalms 73:28
But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If thou shall do this thing,.... Hearken to the advice given, and put it in execution, by choosing out of the people, and placing over them, judges qualified, as directed: and God command thee so; for he did not desire him to follow his advice any further than it appeared to be according to the will of God, which he doubted not he would inquire about; and if he found it was agreeable to it, and should pursue it:

then thou shall be able to endure; to continue in his office and post, and hold on for years to come, God granting him life and health; whereas otherwise, in all human probability, he must waste and wear away apace:

and all this people shall also go to their place in peace; having had their cases heard and tried, and their differences adjusted to satisfaction; and quick dispatch being made, they would return to their tents or places of abode in much peace of mind, and sit down contented with the determination made, and pleased that the lawsuit was not protracted to any unreasonable length of time. Jarchi interprets all this people, of Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and the seventy elders that came with him, as if they by this means would be eased, and so pleased with it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To their place - i. e. to Canaan, which is thus recognized by Jethro as the appointed and true home of Israel. Compare Numbers 10:29-30.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 18:23. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee — Though the measure was obviously of the utmost importance, and plainly recommended itself by its expediency and necessity; yet Jethro very modestly leaves it to the wisdom of Moses to choose or reject it; and, knowing that in all things his relative was now acting under the immediate direction of God, intimates that no measure can be safely adopted without a positive injunction from God himself. As the counsel was doubtless inspired by the Divine Spirit, we find that it was sanctioned by the same, for Moses acted in every respect according to the advice he had received.


 
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