Exodus 18:21 BSB — MannaFest

Exodus 18:21

Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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:

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Commentary

3 voices

Gregory the Dialogist

The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 2, Chapter 7 (604)

Hence Moses, who speaks with God, is judged by the reproof of Jethro, who was of alien race, because with ill-advised labour he devotes himself to the people's earthly affairs: and counsel too is presently given him, that he should appoint others in his stead for settling earthly strifes, and he himself should be more free to learn spiritual secrets for the instruction of the people.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)

Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people,.... Or look out (t) from among them; see Act 6:3, able men; or "men of power" (u); meaning not so much men of strong and robust constitutions, who, as Aben Ezra says, are able to bear labour; but men that have strength of heart, as Ben Gersom expresses it, men of spirit and courage, and are not afraid to do justice, to repress vice, and countenance virtue; or, as Maimonides says (w), have a strong heart, or courage and boldness to deliver the oppressed from the hands of the oppressor.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Able men - The qualifications are remarkably complete, ability, piety, truthfulness, and unselfishness. From Deu 1:13, it appears that Moses left the selection of the persons to the people, an example followed by the Apostles; see Act 6:3. Rulers of thousands ... - The numbers appear to be conventional, corresponding nearly, but not exactly, to the military, or civil divisions of the people: the largest division (1,000) is used as an equivalent of a gens under one head, Num 1:16; Num 10:4; Jos 22:14. The word “rulers,” sometimes rendered “princes,” is general, including all ranks of officials placed in command.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

22 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
וְאַתָּ֣ה	ve.'a.Tah	and you	H859 →
תֶחֱזֶ֣ה	te.che.Zeh	you will provide	H2372 →
מִכָּל־	mi.kol	from all	H3605 →
הָ֠עָם	Ha.'om	the people	H5971 →
אַנְשֵׁי־	'an.shei-	men of	H582 →
חַ֜יִל	Cha.yil	ability	H2428 →
יִרְאֵ֧י	yir.'Ei	[those] fearing	H3373 →
אֱלֹהִ֛ים	'E.lo.Him	<of> God	H430 →
אַנְשֵׁ֥י	'an.Shei	men of	H582 →
אֱמֶ֖ת	'e.Met	faithfulness	H571 →
שֹׂ֣נְאֵי	So.ne.'ei	[who] hate	H8130 →
בָ֑צַע	Va.tza'	<of> unjust gain	H1215 →
וְשַׂמְתָּ֣	ve.sam.Ta	and you will appoint	H7760 →
עֲלֵהֶ֗ם	'a.le.Hem	over them	H5921 →
שָׂרֵ֤י	sa.Rei	officials of	H8269 →
אֲלָפִים֙	'a.la.Fim	thousands	H505 →
שָׂרֵ֣י	sa.Rei	officials of	H8269 →
מֵא֔וֹת	me.'ot	hundreds	H3967 →
שָׂרֵ֥י	sa.Rei	officials of	H8269 →
חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים	cha.mi.Shim	fifties	H2572 →
וְשָׂרֵ֥י	ve.sa.Rei	and officials of	H8269 →
עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃	'a.sa.Rot	tens	H6235 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Acts 6:3
Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
leads to
- 1 Timothy 3:7–15
  Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
- Deuteronomy 1:13
  Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
- James 3:17–18
  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- 1 Timothy 5:10
  and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
- Numbers 27:18–19
  And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.
Through
2 Samuel 23:3
The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
leads to
- Deuteronomy 32:4
  He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
- 2 Samuel 22:32
  For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
- Psalms 72:2
  May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.

About Exodus

The Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

Exodus: the study guide →Read chapter 18 →The featured study →

Continue: Exodus 18 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About Exodus

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About Exodus