Lectionary Calendar
the First Sunday, December 28th, 2025
the Sunday after Christmas
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

New Century Version

Exodus 18:15

Then Moses said to his father-in-law, "It is because the people come to me for God's help in solving their disagreements.

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 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;
King James Version (1611)
And Moses said vnto his father in law, Because the people come vnto me to enquire 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 The next day Moses solved disagreements among the people, and the people stood around him from morning until night. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What is all this you are doing for the people? Why are you the only one to solve disagreements? All the people are standing around you from morning until night!" 15 Then Moses said to his father-in-law, "It is because the people come to me for God's help in solving their disagreements. 16 When people have a disagreement, they come to me, and I decide who is right. I tell them God's laws and teachings." 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "You are not doing this right. 18 You and the people who come to you will get too tired. This is too much work for you; you can't do it by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, and I will give you some advice. I want God to be with you. You must speak to God for the people and tell him about their disagreements. 20 Warn them about the laws and teachings, and teach them the right way to live and what they should do. 21 But choose some capable men from among the people—men who respect God, who can be trusted, and who will not change their decisions for money. Make these men officers over the people, to rule over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 Let these officers solve the disagreements among the people all the time. They can bring the hard cases to you, but they can decide the simple cases themselves. That will make it easier for you, because they will share the work with you.

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
Later, the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" Cain answered, "I don't know. Is it my job to take care of my brother?"
Genesis 12:13
Tell them you are my sister so that things will go well with me and I may be allowed to live because of you."
Genesis 18:25
Surely you will not destroy the good people along with the evil ones; then they would be treated the same. You are the judge of all the earth. Won't you do what is right?"
Genesis 18:27
Then Abraham said, "Though I am only dust and ashes, I have been brave to speak to the Lord.
Job 2:10
Job answered, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Should we take only good things from God and not trouble?" In spite of all this Job did not sin in what he said.
Psalms 44:21
God would have known, because he knows what is in our hearts.
Proverbs 12:19
Truth will continue forever, but lies are only for a moment.
Proverbs 28:13
If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.
Mark 2:8
Jesus knew immediately what these teachers of the law were thinking. So he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?
John 2:25
He did not need anyone to tell him about people, because he knew what was in people's minds.

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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile