Exodus 18:24
in Exodus 18Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
KJV
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
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This verse in Exodus 18
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Moses listened to his father-in-law
on Exodus 18:24-25
Moses takes the advice, and the text reports it in one line with no word from God on either side of it. Israel's judiciary begins from counsel given by a Midianite priest, and the chapter lets that stand without comment.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
For nothing was ever more humble than he; who, being leader of so great a people, and having overwhelmed in the sea the king and the host of all the Egyptians, as if they had been flies; and having wrought so many wonders both in Egypt and by the Red Sea and in the wilderness, and received such high testimony, yet felt exactly as if he had been an ordinary person, and as a son-in-law was humbler than his father-in-law, and took advice from him, and was not indignant, nor did he say, "What is this? After such and so great achievements, art thou come to us with thy counsel?" This is what most people feel; though a man bring the best advice, despising it, because of the lowliness of the person. But not so did he: rather through lowliness of mind he wrought all things well.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Those are not so wise as they would be thought to be, who think themselves too wise to be counselled; for a wise man will hear, and will increase learning, and not slight good counsel, though given by an inferior.
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law,.... Considered what he said, weighed it well in his mind, and judged it good advice, and determined to follow it: and did all that he had said; by choosing such men as he directed to, and committing the judgment of the people to them, as follows:
We have reason to value government as a very great mercy, and to thank God for laws and magistrates, so that we are not like the fishes of the sea, where the greater devour the less.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
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.
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
Hearkened - Nothing can be more characteristic of Moses, who combines on all occasions distrust of himself and singular openness to impressions, with the wisdom and sound judgment which chooses the best course when pointed out.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע | vaiyishma' | and he listened | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| מֹשֶׁ֖ה | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| לְק֣וֹל | lekol | to [the] voice | H6963 → | 506 times |
| חֹתְנ֑וֹ | choteno | father-in-law his | H2859 → | 33 times |
| וַיַּ֕עַשׂ | vaiyaas | and he did | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| כֹּ֖ל | kol | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אָמָֽר׃ | ʾamar | he had said | H559 → | 5305 times |
וַיִּשְׁמַ֥עand he listened
vaiyishma'H8085 →1159 times
מֹשֶׁ֖הMoses
moshehH4872 →765 times
לְק֣וֹלto [the] voice
lekolH6963 →506 times
חֹתְנ֑וֹfather-in-law his
chotenoH2859 →33 times
וַיַּ֕עַשׂand he did
vaiyaasH6213 →2628 times
כֹּ֖לall
kolH3605 →5413 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רthat
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
אָמָֽר׃he had said
ʾamarH559 →5305 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
Proverbs 1:5let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
it leads to
- Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
- Proverbs 9:9
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
- 1 Corinthians 10:15
I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
- Job 34:10
Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
- Job 34:16
If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
- Proverbs 12:1
Through
Exodus 18:19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.
it leads to
- Numbers 27:5
So Moses brought their case before the LORD,
- Exodus 3:12
“I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will…
- Numbers 27:5
Through
Ezra 10:2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is…
it leads to
- Nehemiah 13:27
Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”
- Nehemiah 13:27
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Exodus
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 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 Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON 1 CORINTHIANS 1.4; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.