Exodus 18 שְׁמוֹת פרק י״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Exodus 18 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיִּשְׁמַעand heardיִתְרוֹJethroכֹהֵןpriest ofמִדְיָןMidianחֹתֵןthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMosesאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרall thatעָשָׂהhad doneאֱלֹהִיםGodלְמֹשֶׁהfor Mosesוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵלand for Israelעַמּוֹhis peopleכִּי־הוֹצִיאhow had brought outיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelמִמִּצְרָיִם׃from 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

   וַיִּקַּחand tookיִתְרוֹJethroחֹתֵןthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMosesאֶת־צִפֹּרָהZipporahאֵשֶׁתthe wife ofמֹשֶׁהMosesאַחַרafterשִׁלּוּחֶיהָ׃he had sent her back

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

3. 3

   וְאֵתandשְׁנֵיtwoבָנֶיהָher sonsאֲשֶׁרwhichשֵׁםthe name ofהָאֶחָדthe oneגֵּרְשֹׁםGershomכִּיforאָמַרsaidגֵּרa sojournerהָיִיתִיI have beenבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofנׇכְרִיָּה׃a strange

   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

   וְשֵׁםand the name ofהָאֶחָדthe oneאֱלִיעֶזֶרEliezerכִּי־אֱלֹהֵיfor the God ofאָבִיmy fatherבְּעֶזְרִיwas my helpוַיַּצִּלֵנִיand delivered meמֵחֶרֶבfrom the sword ofפַּרְעֹה׃Pharaoh

   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

   וַיָּבֹאand cameיִתְרוֹJethroחֹתֵןthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMosesוּבָנָיוand his sonsוְאִשְׁתּוֹand his wifeאֶל־מֹשֶׁהto Mosesאֶל־הַמִּדְבָּרto the wildernessאֲשֶׁר־הוּאwhere heחֹנֶהencampedשָׁםthereהַרat the mount ofהָאֱלֹהִים׃the God

   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

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֶל־מֹשֶׁהto MosesאֲנִיIחֹתֶנְךָyour-father-in-lawיִתְרוֹJethroבָּאcameאֵלֶיךָto youוְאִשְׁתְּךָand your wifeוּשְׁנֵיand the twoבָנֶיהָher sonsעִמָּהּ׃with 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

   וַיֵּצֵאand went outמֹשֶׁהMosesלִקְרַאתto meetחֹתְנוֹhis-father-in-lawוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּand did obeisanceוַיִּשַּׁק־לוֹand he kissed himוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּand they askedאִישׁ־לְרֵעֵהוּeach otherלְשָׁלוֹםof their welfareוַיָּבֹאוּand they cameהָאֹהֱלָה׃to 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

   וַיְסַפֵּרand toldמֹשֶׁהMosesלְחֹתְנוֹto-his-father-in-lawאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרall thatעָשָׂהhad doneיְהֹוָהthe LORDלְפַרְעֹהfor Pharaohוּלְמִצְרַיִםand to Egyptעַלforאוֹדֹתthe sake ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאֵת־כׇּל־הַתְּלָאָהall the travailאֲשֶׁרwhichמְצָאָתַםhad come upon themבַּדֶּרֶךְin the wayוַיַּצִּלֵםand had delivered themיְהֹוָה׃the 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

   וַיִּחַדְּand rejoicedיִתְרוֹJethroעַלforכׇּל־הַטּוֹבָהall the goodאֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂהwhich had doneיְהֹוָהthe LORDלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto IsraelאֲשֶׁרwhichהִצִּילוֹHe had delivered themמִיַּדfrom the hand ofמִצְרָיִם׃Egypt

   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

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיִתְרוֹJethroבָּרוּךְblessedיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֲשֶׁרwhichהִצִּילhe deliveredאֶתְכֶםyouמִיַּדfrom the hand ofמִצְרַיִםEgyptוּמִיַּדand out of the hand ofפַּרְעֹהPharaohאֲשֶׁרwhichהִצִּילhe deliveredאֶת־הָעָםthe peopleמִתַּחַתfrom beneathיַד־מִצְרָיִם׃the hand of Egypt

    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

    עַתָּהnowיָדַעְתִּיI knowכִּי־גָדוֹלthat great isיְהֹוָהthe LORDמִכׇּל־הָאֱלֹהִיםthan all godsכִּיforבַדָּבָרin the thingאֲשֶׁרwhichזָדוּthey dealt proudlyעֲלֵיהֶם׃upon 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

    וַיִּקַּחand tookיִתְרוֹJethroחֹתֵןthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMosesעֹלָהa burnt offeringוּזְבָחִיםand sacrificesלֵאלֹהִיםfor Godוַיָּבֹאand cameאַהֲרֹןAaronוְכֹלand allזִקְנֵיthe elders ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelלֶאֱכׇל־לֶחֶםto eat breadעִם־חֹתֵןwith the father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMosesלִפְנֵיbeforeהָאֱלֹהִים׃the God

    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

    וַיְהִיand it came to passמִמׇּחֳרָתon the morrowוַיֵּשֶׁבand satמֹשֶׁהMosesלִשְׁפֹּטto judgeאֶת־הָעָםthe peopleוַיַּעֲמֹדand stoodהָעָםthe peopleעַל־מֹשֶׁהby Mosesמִן־הַבֹּקֶרfrom the morningעַד־הָעָרֶב׃until 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

    וַיַּרְאand sawחֹתֵןthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMosesאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־הוּאall that heעֹשֶׂהdidלָעָםto the peopleוַיֹּאמֶרand saidמָה־הַדָּבָרwhat is the thingהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichאַתָּהyouעֹשֶׂהdidלָעָםto the peopleמַדּוּעַwhyאַתָּהyouיוֹשֵׁבsitלְבַדֶּךָaloneוְכׇל־הָעָםand all the peopleנִצָּבstandsעָלֶיךָupon youמִן־בֹּקֶרfrom morningעַד־עָרֶב׃until 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

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidמֹשֶׁהMosesלְחֹתְנוֹto-his-father-in-lawכִּי־יָבֹאbecause comeאֵלַיto meהָעָםthe peopleלִדְרֹשׁto enquire ofאֱלֹהִים׃God

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

16. 16

    כִּי־יִהְיֶהwhen haveלָהֶםto themדָּבָרa matterבָּאthey comeאֵלַיto meוְשָׁפַטְתִּיand I judgeבֵּיןbetweenאִישׁa manוּבֵיןand betweenרֵעֵהוּhis neighborוְהוֹדַעְתִּיand I make knownאֶת־חֻקֵּיthe statutes ofהָאֱלֹהִיםthe Godוְאֶת־תּוֹרֹתָיו׃and 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

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidחֹתֵןthe father-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMosesאֵלָיוto himלֹא־טוֹבnot goodהַדָּבָרthe thingאֲשֶׁרwhichאַתָּהyouעֹשֶׂה׃do

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

18. 18

    נָבֹלsurelyתִּבֹּלyou will wear awayגַּם־אַתָּהboth youגַּם־הָעָםalso the peopleהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichעִמָּךְwith youכִּי־כָבֵדfor is too heavyמִמְּךָfor youהַדָּבָרthe thingלֹא־תוּכַלnot canעֲשֹׂהוּto do itלְבַדֶּךָ׃alone

    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

    עַתָּהnowשְׁמַעhearkenבְּקֹלִיto my voiceאִיעָצְךָlet me advise youוִיהִיand shall beאֱלֹהִיםGodעִמָּךְwith youהֱיֵהbeאַתָּהyouלָעָםto the peopleמוּלbeforeהָאֱלֹהִיםthe Godוְהֵבֵאתָand bringאַתָּהyouאֶת־הַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsאֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים׃unto 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

    וְהִזְהַרְתָּהand you shall teachאֶתְהֶםthemאֶת־הַחֻקִּיםthe statutesוְאֶת־הַתּוֹרֹתand the Lawsוְהוֹדַעְתָּand you will make knownלָהֶםto themאֶת־הַדֶּרֶךְthe wayיֵלְכוּthey must walkבָהּin itוְאֶת־הַמַּעֲשֶׂהand the workאֲשֶׁרwhichיַעֲשׂוּן׃they 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

    וְאַתָּהmoreover youתֶחֱזֶהshall provideמִכׇּל־הָעָםfrom all the peopleאַנְשֵׁי־חַיִלable menיִרְאֵיsuch as fearאֱלֹהִיםGodאַנְשֵׁיmen ofאֱמֶתtruthשֹׂנְאֵיhatingבָצַעcovetousnessוְשַׂמְתָּand you will putעֲלֵהֶםover themשָׂרֵיrulers ofאֲלָפִיםthousandsשָׂרֵיrulers ofמֵאוֹתhundredsשָׂרֵיrulers ofחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyוְשָׂרֵיand rulers ofעֲשָׂרֹת׃tens

    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

    וְשָׁפְטוּand they will judgeאֶת־הָעָםthe peopleבְּכׇל־עֵתat all seasonsוְהָיָהand beכׇּל־הַדָּבָרevery matterהַגָּדֹלgreatיָבִיאוּthey shall bringאֵלֶיךָto youוְכׇל־הַדָּבָרand all the matterהַקָּטֹןsmallיִשְׁפְּטוּ־הֵםthey shall judgeוְהָקֵלso shall it be easierמֵעָלֶיךָfor yourselfוְנָשְׂאוּand they shall bear the burdenאִתָּךְ׃with 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

    אִםifאֶת־הַדָּבָרthe thingהַזֶּהthisתַּעֲשֶׂהyou shall doוְצִוְּךָand command youאֱלֹהִיםGodוְיָכׇלְתָּand you will be ableעֲמֹדto endureוְגַםand alsoכׇּל־הָעָםall the peopleהַזֶּהthisעַל־מְקֹמוֹto their placeיָבֹאshall goבְשָׁלוֹם׃in 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

    וַיִּשְׁמַעand hearkenedמֹשֶׁהMosesלְקוֹלthe voice ofחֹתְנוֹhis-father-in-lawוַיַּעַשׂand didכֹּלallאֲשֶׁרwhichאָמָר׃he had said

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

25. 25

    וַיִּבְחַרand choseמֹשֶׁהMosesאַנְשֵׁי־חַיִלable menמִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵלfrom all Israelוַיִּתֵּןand gaveאֹתָםthemרָאשִׁיםheadsעַל־הָעָםover the peopleשָׂרֵיrulers ofאֲלָפִיםthousandsשָׂרֵיrulers ofמֵאוֹתhundredsשָׂרֵיrulers ofחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyוְשָׂרֵיand rulers ofעֲשָׂרֹת׃tens

    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

    וְשָׁפְטוּand they will judgeאֶת־הָעָםthe peopleבְּכׇל־עֵתat all seasonsאֶת־הַדָּבָרthe wordהַקָּשֶׁהthe hardיְבִיאוּןthey broughtאֶל־מֹשֶׁהto Mosesוְכׇל־הַדָּבָרand all the matterהַקָּטֹןsmallיִשְׁפּוּטוּjudgedהֵם׃they

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

27. 27

    וַיְשַׁלַּחand let departמֹשֶׁהMosesאֶת־חֹתְנוֹhis-father-in-lawוַיֵּלֶךְand wentלוֹhis wayאֶל־אַרְצוֹ׃into his own land

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