Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, April 7th, 2026
Tuesday in Easter Week
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Exodus 18:24

Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said. Moses picked competent men from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges. Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law who went home to his own country.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

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

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jethro;   Justice;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Judge;   Moses;   Ruler;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elder;   Moses;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Appeal;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Rephidim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Exodus, Book of;   Rephidim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jethro;   Judges;   Justice;   Moses;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Appeal;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Elders;   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
So Moshe listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
King James Version
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
Lexham English Bible
And Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and he did all that he had said.
New Century Version
So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
New English Translation
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he had said.
Amplified Bible
So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said.
New American Standard Bible
So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So Moses obeyed the voyce of his father in law, and did all that he had sayd:
Legacy Standard Bible
So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
Contemporary English Version
Moses followed Jethro's advice.
Complete Jewish Bible
(iii) Moshe paid attention to his father-in-law's counsel and did everything he said.
Darby Translation
And Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Moses did what Jethro told him.
English Standard Version
So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
George Lamsa Translation
So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had told him.
Good News Translation
Moses took Jethro's advice
Christian Standard Bible®
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
Literal Translation
And Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and he did all that he had said.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Moses herkened vnto the voyce of his father in lawe, and dyd all that he sayde.
American Standard Version
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
Bible in Basic English
So Moses took note of the words of his father-in-law, and did as he had said.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And so Moyses obeyed the voyce of his father in lawe, and dyd all that he had sayde.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
King James Version (1611)
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did whatsoever he said to him.
English Revised Version
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
Berean Standard Bible
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne these thingis weren herd, Moises dide alle thingis whiche Jetro counselide.
Young's Literal Translation
And Moses hearkeneth to the voice of his father-in-law, and doth all that he said,
Update Bible Version
So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
Webster's Bible Translation
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
World English Bible
So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
New King James Version
So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
New Living Translation
Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions.
New Life Bible
Moses listened to his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
New Revised Standard
So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when Moses heard this, he did all things that he had suggested unto him.
Revised Standard Version
So Moses gave heed to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

Contextual Overview

13The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night. When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What's going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?" 15Moses 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." 17Moses' father-in-law said, "This is no way to go about it. You'll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you—you can't do this alone. Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do. And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They'll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They'll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they'll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you'll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also." 24Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said. Moses picked competent men from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges. Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law who went home to his own country.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Exodus 18:2-5, Exodus 18:19, Ezra 10:2, Ezra 10:5, Proverbs 1:5, 1 Corinthians 12:21

Cross-References

Genesis 18:13
God said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh saying, ‘Me? Have a baby? An old woman like me?' Is anything too hard for God ? I'll be back about this time next year and Sarah will have a baby."
Genesis 18:32
He wouldn't quit, "Don't get angry, Master—this is the last time. What if you only come up with ten?" "For the sake of only ten, I won't destroy the city."
Jeremiah 5:1
"Patrol Jerusalem's streets. Look around. Take note. Search the market squares. See if you can find one man, one woman, A single soul who does what is right and tries to live a true life. I want to forgive that person." God 's Decree. "But if all they do is say, ‘As sure as God lives...' they're nothing but a bunch of liars."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law,.... Considered what he said, weighed it well in his mind, and judged it good advice, and determined to follow it:

and did all that he had said; by choosing such men as he directed to, and committing the judgment of the people to them, as follows:

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hearkened - Nothing can be more characteristic of Moses, who combines on all occasions distrust of himself and singular openness to impressions, with the wisdom and sound judgment which chooses the best course when pointed out.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile