Exodus 18:15
in Exodus 18“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:
KJV
And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
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This verse in Exodus 18
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
people come to me to inquire
on Exodus 18:15-16
Moses names two tasks, judging and making known the statutes and laws of God. Clarke and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read that mention, with Deuteronomy 1:9 to 15, as evidence that the chapter belongs after Sinai. Others keep the order as written, since 15:25 already made a statute at Marah.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Wisdom is profitable to direct, that we may neither content ourselves with less than our duty nor over-task ourselves with that which is beyond our strength. He advised him to such a model of government as would better answer the intention, which was, (1.) That he should reserve to himself all applications to God (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And Moses said unto his father in law,....
They came to enquire of God; and happy it was for them that they had such an oracle to consult: we are ready to wish, many a time, that we had some such certain way of knowing God's mind when we are at a loss what to do. Moses was faithful both to him that appointed him and to those that consulted him, and made them know the statutes of God and his laws,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Moses sat to judge the people, &c.--We are here presented with a specimen of his daily morning occupations; and among the multifarious duties his divine legation imposed, it must be considered only a small portion of his official employments.
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.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֥אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| מֹשֶׁ֖ה | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| לְחֹתְנ֑וֹ | lechoteno | to father-in-law his | H2859 → | 33 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | thatr | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יָבֹ֥א | yavo' | it comes | H935 → | 2568 times |
| אֵלַ֛י | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הָעָ֖ם | haam | the people | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| לִדְרֹ֥שׁ | lidrosh | to consult | H1875 → | |
| אֱלֹהִֽים׃ | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
מֹשֶׁ֖הMoses
moshehH4872 →765 times
לְחֹתְנ֑וֹto father-in-law his
lechotenoH2859 →33 times
כִּֽי־thatr
ki-H3588 →4482 times
יָבֹ֥אit comes
yavo'H935 →2568 times
אֵלַ֛יto me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
הָעָ֖םthe people
haamH5971 →1873 times
לִדְרֹ֥שׁto consult
lidroshH1875 →
אֱלֹהִֽים׃God
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Numbers 15:34and because it had not been declared what should be done to him, they placed him in custody.
it leads to
- Leviticus 24:12
They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.
- Leviticus 24:12
Through
Numbers 27:5So Moses brought their case before the LORD,
it leads to
- Numbers 9:8
“Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you,” Moses replied.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Leviticus 24:12–13
They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.
- Job 23:4
I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- Numbers 9:8
Through
Numbers 9:8“Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you,” Moses replied.
it leads to
- Numbers 27:5
So Moses brought their case before the LORD,
- Psalms 85:8
I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.
- Ezekiel 3:17
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
- Numbers 27:5
Where this verse is studied
About Exodus
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.