Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, August 23rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

Exodus 18:15

Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to learn God's will.

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;
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 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 sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone and judge 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 learn God's will. 16 When they argue, they come to me. And I judge between a man and his neighbor. I teach them the Laws of God." 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will become tired and weak. For the work is too much for you. You cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to me. I will tell you what you should do, and God be with you. You speak for the people before God. Bring the troubles to God. 20 Then teach them the Laws. Make them know the way they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Also, you should choose from the people able men who fear God, men of truth who hate to get things by doing wrong. Have these men rule over the people, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times. Have all the big troubles brought to you. But have them judge the small troubles. So it will be easier for you. 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
Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
Genesis 12:13
Say that you are my sister. Then it may go well with me because of you. And because of you they will not kill me."
Genesis 18:25
May You never do such a thing as to destroy the good with the bad! May the good never be punished like the bad! You would never do such a thing! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?"
Genesis 18:27
Abraham said, "Now see, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am only dust and ashes.
Job 2:10
But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Should we receive good from God and not receive trouble?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Psalms 44:21
would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
Proverbs 12:19
Lips that tell the truth will last forever, but a lying tongue lasts only for a little while.
Proverbs 28:13
It will not go well for the man who hides his sins, but he who tells his sins and turns from them will be given loving-pity.
Mark 2:8
At once Jesus knew the teachers of the Law were thinking this. He said to them, "Why do you think this in your hearts?
John 2:25
He did not need anyone to tell Him about man. 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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