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Saturday, July 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

Exodus 18:15

Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire 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.
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 On the next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?" 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws." 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good! 18 You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, I will give you advice, and may God be with you: You be a representative for the people to God, and you bring their disputes to God; 20 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. 21 But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 They will judge the people under normal circumstances, and every difficult case they will bring to you, but every small case they themselves will judge, so that you may make it easier for yourself, and they will bear the burden 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
Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" And he replied, "I don't know! Am I my brother's guardian?"
Genesis 12:13
So tell them you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you and my life will be spared on account of you."
Genesis 18:25
Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?"
Genesis 18:27
Then Abraham asked, "Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord (although I am but dust and ashes),
Job 2:10
But he replied, "You're talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?" In all this Job did not sin by what he said.
Psalms 44:21
would not God discover it, for he knows one's thoughts?
Proverbs 12:19
The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment.
Proverbs 28:13
The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.
Mark 2:8
Now immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts, he said to them, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
John 2:25
He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he 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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