Exodus 18:20

Christian Standard Bible ®

Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must 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.

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.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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.

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

¹³The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. ¹⁴When Moses’s father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this thing you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” ¹⁵Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. ¹⁶Whenever 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.” ¹⁷“What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’s father-in-law said to him. ¹⁸“You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone. ¹⁹Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to him. ²⁰Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. ²¹But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating dishonest profit. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. ²²They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every major case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you.

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
Then he said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!

Genesis 13:13
(Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely against the Lord.)

Genesis 19:13
for we are about to destroy this place because the outcry against its people is so great before the Lord, that the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”

Isaiah 3:9
The look on their faces testifies against them,and like Sodom, they flaunt their sin;they do not conceal it.Woe to them,for they have brought disaster on themselves.

Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of the Lord of Armiesis the house of Israel,and the men of Judah,the plant he delighted in.He expected justicebut saw injustice;he expected righteousness,but heard cries of despair.

Jeremiah 14:7
Though our iniquities testify against us,Lord, act for your name’s sake.Indeed, our rebellions are many;we have sinned against you.

James 5:4
Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who mowed your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

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.