Exodus 18 שְׁמוֹת פרק י״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Exodus 18 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיִּשְׁמַעvay/yish/MAand heardיִתְרוֹYit/ROJethroכֹהֵןkho/HENthe priest ofמִדְיָןMid/YANMidianחֹתֵןcho/TENthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרet-kol-a/SHERall thatעָשָׂהa/SAhad doneאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodלְמֹשֶׁהle/Mo/SHEfor Mosesוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵלu/Le/yis/ra/ELand for Israelעַמּוֹam/MOHis peopleכִּי־הוֹצִיאki-ho/TSIthat had brought outיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵלet-Yis/ra/ELIsraelמִמִּצְרָיִם׃mim/Mits/RA/yimout of Egypt

   When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

2. 2

   וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookיִתְרוֹYit/ROJethroחֹתֵןcho/TENthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאֶת־צִפֹּרָהet-Tsip/po/RAZipporahאֵשֶׁתE/shetthe wife ofמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאַחַרa/CHARafterשִׁלּוּחֶיהָ׃shil/lu/CHE/hahe had sent her away

   Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

3. 3

   וְאֵתve/ETandשְׁנֵיshe/NEtwoבָנֶיהָva/NE/haher sonsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERof whomשֵׁםshemthe name ofהָאֶחָדha/e/CHADthe oneגֵּרְשֹׁםGer/SHOMGershomכִּיkiforאָמַרa/MARsaidגֵּרgera strangerהָיִיתִיha/YI/tiI have beenבְּאֶרֶץbe/E/retsin a landנׇכְרִיָּה׃nokh/riy/YAstrange

   And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

4. 4

   וְשֵׁםve/SHEMand the name ofהָאֶחָדha/e/CHADthe otherאֱלִיעֶזֶרE/li/E/zerEliezerכִּי־אֱלֹהֵיki-e/lo/HEfor the God ofאָבִיa/VImy fatherבְּעֶזְרִיbe/ez/RIwas my helpוַיַּצִּלֵנִיvay/yats/tsi/LE/niand delivered meמֵחֶרֶבme/CHE/revfrom the sword ofפַּרְעֹה׃Par/OPharaoh

   And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

5. 5

   וַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameיִתְרוֹYit/ROJethroחֹתֵןcho/TENthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesוּבָנָיוu/va/NAYVand his sonsוְאִשְׁתּוֹve/ish/TOand his wifeאֶל־מֹשֶׁהel-Mo/SHEto Mosesאֶל־הַמִּדְבָּרel-ham/mid/BARto the wildernessאֲשֶׁר־הוּאa/SHER-huwhere heחֹנֶהcho/NEencampedשָׁםshamthereהַרharat the mount ofהָאֱלֹהִים׃ha/e/lo/HIMGod

   And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

6. 6

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֶל־מֹשֶׁהel-Mo/SHEto Mosesאֲנִיa/NIIחֹתֶנְךָcho/ten/KHAyour father-in-lawיִתְרוֹYit/ROJethroבָּאbaam comeאֵלֶיךָe/LE/khato youוְאִשְׁתְּךָve/ish/te/KHAand your wifeוּשְׁנֵיu/she/NEand the two ofבָנֶיהָva/NE/haher sonsעִמָּהּ׃im/MAwith her

   And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

7. 7

   וַיֵּצֵאvay/ye/TSEand went outמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesלִקְרַאתlik/RATto meetחֹתְנוֹchot/NOhis father-in-lawוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּvay/yish/TA/chuand bowedוַיִּשַּׁק־לוֹvay/yish/SHAK-loand kissed himוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּvay/yish/a/LUand they askedאִישׁ־לְרֵעֵהוּish-le/re/E/hueach otherלְשָׁלוֹםle/sha/LOMof their welfareוַיָּבֹאוּvay/ya/VO/uand they came intoהָאֹהֱלָה׃ha/O/he/lato the tent

   And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

8. 8

   וַיְסַפֵּרvay/sap/PERand toldמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesלְחֹתְנוֹle/chot/NOto his father-in-lawאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרet-kol-a/SHERall thatעָשָׂהa/SAhad doneיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלְפַרְעֹהle/Far/Oto Pharaohוּלְמִצְרַיִםu/Le/mits/RA/yimand to the Egyptiansעַלalforאוֹדֹתo/DOTthe sake ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelאֵת־כׇּל־הַתְּלָאָהet-kol-hat/te/la/Aall the travailאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatמְצָאָתַםme/tsa/A/tamhad come upon themבַּדֶּרֶךְbad/DE/rekhin the wayוַיַּצִּלֵםvay/yats/tsi/LEMand how had delivered themיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

9. 9

   וַיִּחַדְּvay/YI/chaddand rejoicedיִתְרוֹYit/ROJethroעַלalforכׇּל־הַטּוֹבָהkol-hat/to/VAall the goodאֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂהa/SHER-a/SAwhich had doneיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלְיִשְׂרָאֵלle/Yis/ra/ELto Israelאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomהִצִּילוֹhits/tsi/LOHe had deliveredמִיַּדmiy/YADout of the hand ofמִצְרָיִם׃Mits/RA/yimthe Egyptians

   And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10. 10

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיִתְרוֹYit/ROJethroבָּרוּךְba/RUKHblessed beיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoהִצִּילhits/TSILhas deliveredאֶתְכֶםet/KHEMyouמִיַּדmiy/YADout of the hand ofמִצְרַיִםMits/RA/yimthe Egyptiansוּמִיַּדu/miy/YADand out of the hand ofפַּרְעֹהPar/OPharaohאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoהִצִּילhits/TSILhas deliveredאֶת־הָעָםet-ha/AMthe peopleמִתַּחַתmit/TA/chatfrom underיַד־מִצְרָיִם׃yad-Mits/RA/yimthe hand of the Egyptians

    And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11. 11

    עַתָּהat/TAnowיָדַעְתִּיya/DA/tiI knowכִּי־גָדוֹלki-ga/DOLthat is greaterיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDמִכׇּל־הָאֱלֹהִיםmik/KOL-ha/e/lo/HIMthan all godsכִּיkiforבַדָּבָרvad/da/VARin the thingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhereinזָדוּza/DUthey dealt proudlyעֲלֵיהֶם׃a/le/HEMagainst them

    Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

12. 12

    וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookיִתְרוֹYit/ROJethroחֹתֵןcho/TENthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesעֹלָהo/LAa burnt offeringוּזְבָחִיםu/ze/va/CHIMand sacrificesלֵאלֹהִיםle/lo/HIMfor Godוַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameאַהֲרֹןA/ha/RONAaronוְכֹלve/KHOLand allזִקְנֵיzik/NEthe elders ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelלֶאֱכׇל־לֶחֶםle/e/KHOL-LE/chemto eat breadעִם־חֹתֵןim-cho/TENwith the father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeהָאֱלֹהִים׃ha/e/lo/HIMGod

    And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

13. 13

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passמִמׇּחֳרָתmim/mo/cho/RATon the morrowוַיֵּשֶׁבvay/YE/shevthat satמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesלִשְׁפֹּטlish/POTto judgeאֶת־הָעָםet-ha/AMthe peopleוַיַּעֲמֹדvay/ya/a/MODand stoodהָעָםha/AMthe peopleעַל־מֹשֶׁהal-Mo/SHEby Mosesמִן־הַבֹּקֶרmin-hab/BO/kerfrom the morningעַד־הָעָרֶב׃ad-ha/A/revuntil the evening

    And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

14. 14

    וַיַּרְאvay/YARand sawחֹתֵןcho/TENthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־הוּאet-kol-a/SHER-huall that heעֹשֶׂהo/SEdidלָעָםla/AMto the peopleוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמָה־הַדָּבָרma-had/da/VARwhat is the thingהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatאַתָּהat/TAyouעֹשֶׂהo/SEdoלָעָםla/AMto the peopleמַדּוּעַmad/DU/awhyאַתָּהat/TAyouיוֹשֵׁבyo/SHEVsitלְבַדֶּךָle/vad/DE/khaaloneוְכׇל־הָעָםve/KHOL-ha/AMand all the peopleנִצָּבnits/TSAVstandעָלֶיךָa/LE/khaby youמִן־בֹּקֶרmin-BO/kerfrom morningעַד־עָרֶב׃ad-A/revuntil evening

    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 thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

15. 15

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesלְחֹתְנוֹle/chot/NOto his father-in-lawכִּי־יָבֹאki-ya/VObecause comeאֵלַיe/LAYto meהָעָםha/AMthe peopleלִדְרֹשׁlid/ROSHto inquire ofאֱלֹהִים׃e/lo/HIMGod

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

16. 16

    כִּי־יִהְיֶהki-yih/YEwhen haveלָהֶםla/HEMtheyדָּבָרda/VARa matterבָּאbathey comeאֵלַיe/LAYto meוְשָׁפַטְתִּיve/sha/fat/TIand I judgeבֵּיןbenbetweenאִישׁisha manוּבֵיןu/VENand betweenרֵעֵהוּre/E/huhis neighborוְהוֹדַעְתִּיve/ho/da/TIand I make them knowאֶת־חֻקֵּיet-chuk/KEthe statutes ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodוְאֶת־תּוֹרֹתָיו׃ve/ET-to/ro/TAYVand His laws

    When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17. 17

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidחֹתֵןcho/TENthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himלֹא־טוֹבlo-tovis not goodהַדָּבָרhad/da/VARthe thingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichאַתָּהat/TAyouעֹשֶׂה׃o/SEdo

    And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

18. 18

    נָבֹלna/VOLwear awayתִּבֹּלtib/BOLyou will wear awayגַּם־אַתָּהgam-at/TAboth youגַּם־הָעָםgam-ha/AMand the peopleהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat isעִמָּךְim/MAKHwith youכִּי־כָבֵדki-kha/VEDfor is too heavyמִמְּךָmim/me/KHAfor youהַדָּבָרhad/da/VARthe thingלֹא־תוּכַלlo-tu/KHALyou are not ableעֲשֹׂהוּa/SO/huto perform itלְבַדֶּךָ׃le/vad/DE/khaalone

    Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19. 19

    עַתָּהat/TAnowשְׁמַעshe/MAhearkenבְּקֹלִיbe/ko/LIto my voiceאִיעָצְךָi/a/tse/KHAI will give you counselוִיהִיvi/HIand shall beאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodעִמָּךְim/MAKHwith youהֱיֵהhe/YEbeאַתָּהat/TAyouלָעָםla/AMfor the peopleמוּלmulbeforeהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodוְהֵבֵאתָve/he/ve/TAand bringאַתָּהat/TAyouאֶת־הַדְּבָרִיםet-had/de/va/RIMthe wordsאֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים׃el-ha/e/lo/HIMunto God

    Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

20. 20

    וְהִזְהַרְתָּהve/hiz/har/TAand you shall teachאֶתְהֶםet/HEMthemאֶת־הַחֻקִּיםet-ha/chuk/KIMthe statutesוְאֶת־הַתּוֹרֹתve/ET-hat/to/ROTand the lawsוְהוֹדַעְתָּve/ho/da/TAand shall showלָהֶםla/HEMto themאֶת־הַדֶּרֶךְet-had/DE/rekhthe wayיֵלְכוּyel/KHUwherein they must walkבָהּvain itוְאֶת־הַמַּעֲשֶׂהve/ET-ham/ma/a/SEand the workאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatיַעֲשׂוּן׃ya/a/SUNthey must do

    And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21. 21

    וְאַתָּהve/at/TAmoreover youתֶחֱזֶהte/che/ZEshall provideמִכׇּל־הָעָםmik/KOL-ha/AMfrom all the peopleאַנְשֵׁי־חַיִלan/SHE-CHA/yilable menיִרְאֵיyir/Esuch as fearאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodאַנְשֵׁיan/SHEmen ofאֱמֶתe/METtruthשֹׂנְאֵיSON/ehatingבָצַעVA/tsacovetousnessוְשַׂמְתָּve/sam/TAand placeעֲלֵהֶםa/le/HEMover themשָׂרֵיsa/RErulers ofאֲלָפִיםa/la/FIMthousandsשָׂרֵיsa/RErulers ofמֵאוֹתme/OThundredsשָׂרֵיsa/RErulers ofחֲמִשִּׁיםcha/mish/SHIMfiftiesוְשָׂרֵיve/sa/REand rulers ofעֲשָׂרֹת׃a/sa/ROTtens

    Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

22. 22

    וְשָׁפְטוּve/sha/fe/TUand let them judgeאֶת־הָעָםet-ha/AMthe peopleבְּכׇל־עֵתbe/KHOL-etat all seasonsוְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall beכׇּל־הַדָּבָרkol-had/da/VARevery matterהַגָּדֹלhag/ga/DOLgreatיָבִיאוּya/VI/uthey shall bringאֵלֶיךָe/LE/khato youוְכׇל־הַדָּבָרve/KHOL-had/da/VARbut every matterהַקָּטֹןhak/ka/TONsmallיִשְׁפְּטוּ־הֵםyish/pe/TU-hemthey shall judgeוְהָקֵלve/ha/KELso shall it be easierמֵעָלֶיךָme/a/LE/khafor yourselfוְנָשְׂאוּve/na/se/Uand they shall bear the burdenאִתָּךְ׃it/TAKHwith you

    And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

23. 23

    אִםimifאֶת־הַדָּבָרet-had/da/VARthe thingהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisתַּעֲשֶׂהta/a/SEyou will doוְצִוְּךָve/tsiv/ve/KHAand so command youאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodוְיָכׇלְתָּve/ya/khol/TAthen you shall be ableעֲמֹדa/MODto endureוְגַםve/GAMand alsoכׇּל־הָעָםkol-ha/AMall the peopleהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisעַל־מְקֹמוֹal-me/ko/MOto their placeיָבֹאya/VOshall goבְשָׁלוֹם׃ve/sha/LOMin peace

    If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

24. 24

    וַיִּשְׁמַעvay/yish/MAso hearkenedמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesלְקוֹלle/KOLto the voice ofחֹתְנוֹchot/NOhis father-in-lawוַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand didכֹּלkolallאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatאָמָר׃a/MARhe had said

    So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

25. 25

    וַיִּבְחַרvay/yiv/CHARand choseמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאַנְשֵׁי־חַיִלan/SHE-CHA/yilable menמִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵלmik/KOL-yis/ra/ELfrom all Israelוַיִּתֵּןvay/yit/TENand madeאֹתָםo/TAMthemרָאשִׁיםra/SHIMheadsעַל־הָעָםal-ha/AMover the peopleשָׂרֵיsa/RErulers ofאֲלָפִיםa/la/FIMthousandsשָׂרֵיsa/RErulers ofמֵאוֹתme/OThundredsשָׂרֵיsa/RErulers ofחֲמִשִּׁיםcha/mish/SHIMfiftiesוְשָׂרֵיve/sa/REand rulers ofעֲשָׂרֹת׃a/sa/ROTtens

    And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

26. 26

    וְשָׁפְטוּve/sha/fe/TUand they judgedאֶת־הָעָםet-ha/AMthe peopleבְּכׇל־עֵתbe/KHOL-etat all seasonsאֶת־הַדָּבָרet-had/da/VARthe matterהַקָּשֶׁהhak/ka/SHEhardיְבִיאוּןye/vi/UNthey broughtאֶל־מֹשֶׁהel-Mo/SHEto Mosesוְכׇל־הַדָּבָרve/KHOL-had/da/VARbut every matterהַקָּטֹןhak/ka/TONsmallיִשְׁפּוּטוּyish/pu/TUjudgedהֵם׃hemthey themselves

    And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

27. 27

    וַיְשַׁלַּחvay/shal/LACHand let departמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאֶת־חֹתְנוֹet-chot/NOhis father-in-lawוַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand he wentלוֹlohis wayאֶל־אַרְצוֹ׃el-ar/TSOinto his own land

    And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.