Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

King James Version (1611 Edition)

Exodus 18:15

And Moses said vnto his father in law, Because the people come vnto me to enquire of God.

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.
Complete Jewish Bible
Moshe answered his father-in-law, "It's because the people come to me seeking God's guidance.
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;
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 And it came to passe on the morrow, that Moses sate to iudge the people: and the people stood by Moses, from the morning vnto the euening. 14 And when Moses father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou thy selfe alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning vnto euen? 15 And Moses said vnto his father in law, Because the people come vnto me to enquire of God. 16 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. 17 And Moses father in law saide vnto him, The thing that thou doest, is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely weare away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heauy for thee; thou art not able to performe it thy selfe alone. 19 Hearken now vnto my voyce, I will giue thee counsell, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to Godward, that thou mayest bring the causes vnto God: 20 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. 21 Moreouer thou shalt prouide out of all the people able men, such as feare God, men of trueth, hating couetousnesse, and place such ouer them, to bee rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tennes. 22 And let them iudge the people at all seasons: and it shall bee that euery great matter they shall bring vnto thee, but euery small matter they shal iudge: so shall it be easier for thy selfe, and they shall beare the burden with thee.

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
And the LORD said vnto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And hee said, I know not: Am I my brothers keeper?
Genesis 12:13
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be wel with me, for thy sake; and my soule shall liue, because of thee.
Genesis 18:25
That be farre from thee, to do after this maner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be farre from thee: Shall not the Iudge of all the earth doe right?
Genesis 18:27
And Abraham answered, and said, Behold now, I haue taken vpon me to speake vnto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes.
Job 2:10
But he said vnto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh; what? shall wee receiue good at the hand of God, and shall wee not receiue euill? In all this did not Iob sinne with his lippes.
Psalms 44:21
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Proverbs 12:19
The lippe of trueth shall bee established for euer: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Proverbs 28:13
He that couereth his sinnes, shall not prosper: but who so confesseth and forsaketh them, shall haue mercie.
Mark 2:8
And immediatly, when Iesus perceiued in his Spirit, that they so reasoned within themselues, he said vnto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
John 2:25
And needed not that any should testifie of man: for hee knew what was in man.

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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