Exodus 18:17

Exodus 18:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
• New International Version (NIV)Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.

Context of Exodus 18:17

15“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. 16“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.” But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. 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.

Exodus 18:17 word by word

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֵלָ֑יו לֹא־טוֹב֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃Read the interlinear

• But Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• father-in-lawחֹתֵןchâthan · relativeH2859
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to himאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• Whatדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• ·אֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• you areאַתָּ֫ה'attâh 'attâ 'ath 'attîy 'attem 'atten 'attênâh 'attênnâh · you(m.s.)H859
• doingעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• is notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896

Commentaries on Exodus 18:17

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-27Verses 13-27 Here is the great zeal and the toil of Moses as a magistrate. Having been employed to redeem Israel out of the house of bondage, he is a further type of Christ, that he is employed as a lawgiver and a judge among them. If the people were as quarrelsome one with another as they were with God, no doubt Moses had many causes brought before him. This business Moses was called to; it appears that he did it with great care and kindness. The meanest…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18This kind of approach focuses too much on one leader. That is not good for the leader or for the people (see also 18:23).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-2613-26. on the morrow ... 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. He appears in this attitude as a type of Christ in His legislative and judicial characters. the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening, &c.--Governors in the East seat…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 18:17

• Government
• Moses
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Moses
• Father-in-Law
• Appeal
• Goodness
• Hard
• Heavy
• Jethro
• Matter
• Wear
• Blindness, Judicial

Commentaries on Exodus 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings