God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 1:15
15So I took the heads of your tribes who were wise and experienced men and made them officers for each of your tribes. I put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people.
Deuteronomy 1:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.
- New International Version (NIV)So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes.
Context of Deuteronomy 1:15
13From each of your tribes, choose some men who are wise, intelligent, and experienced, and I’ll appoint them to be your leaders.” 14You agreed that this was a good idea. So I took the heads of your tribes who were wise and experienced men and made them officers for each of your tribes. I put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. 16Also at that time I gave these instructions to your judges: “Hear the cases that your people bring. Judge each case fairly, no matter whether it is ⌞a dispute⌟ between two Israelites or ⌞a dispute⌟ between an Israelite and a non-Israelite. 17Be impartial in your decisions. Listen to the least important people the same way you listen to the most important people. Never be afraid of anyone, since your decisions come from God. You may bring me any case that’s too hard for you, and I will hear it.”
Read all of Deuteronomy 1Deuteronomy 1:15 word by word
וָאֶקַּ֞ח אֶת־רָאשֵׁ֣י שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֗ם אֲנָשִׁ֤ים חֲכָמִים֙ וִֽידֻעִ֔ים וָאֶתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם שָׂרֵ֨י אֲלָפִ֜ים וְשָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֗וֹת וְשָׂרֵ֤י חֲמִשִּׁים֙ וְשָׂרֵ֣י עֲשָׂרֹ֔ת וְשֹׁטְרִ֖ים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- So I tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- the chiefרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218
- of your tribesשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribeH7626
- wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- and knownיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- and madeנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
- over you, captainsשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- over thousandsאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- over hundredsמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
- over fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
- over tensעֶשֶׂר‛eώer ‛ăώârâh · tenH6235
- and officersשֹׁטֵרshôţêr · officialH7860
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 1:15
- Deuteronomy 16:18Appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every city that the Lord your God is giving you. They are to judge the people fairly.
- Exodus 18:25Moses chose capable men from all the Israelites and put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people.
- Ephesians 4:11He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts ⌞to his church⌟.
- Numbers 31:14Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of the companies and battalions, who were returning from battle.
- 1 Samuel 8:12He will appoint them to be his officers over 1,000 or over 50 soldiers, to plow his ground and harvest his crops, and to make weapons and equipment for his chariots.
- 1 Samuel 17:18And take these ten cheeses to the captain of the regiment. See how your brothers are doing, and bring back some news about them.
- 1 Samuel 22:7He said to his officials, “Listen here, men of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all officers over a regiment or a battalion of soldiers?
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 1:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Captains over thousands, etc. - What a curious and well-regulated economy was that of the Israelites! See its order and arrangement: God, the King and Supreme Judge; Moses, God's prime minister; The priests, consulting him by Urim and Thummim; The chiefs or princes of the twelve tribes; Chilliarchs, or captains over thousands; Centurions, or captains over hundreds; Tribunes, or captains over fifty men; Decurions, or captains over ten men; and, Officers…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 This appointment of the “captains” (compare Exodus 18:21 ff) must not be confounded with that of the elders in Numbers 11:16 ff. The former would number 78,600; the latter were 70 only. A comparison between this passage and that in Exodus makes it obvious that Moses is only touching on certain parts of the whole history, without regard to order of time, but with a special purpose. This important arrangement for the good government of the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-18Verses 9-18 Moses reminds the people of the happy constitution of their government, which might make them all safe and easy, if it was not their own fault. He owns the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham, and prays for the further accomplishment of it. We are not straitened in the power and goodness of God; why should we be straitened in our own faith and hope? Good laws were given to the Israelites, and good men were to see to the execution of them…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15thousands … hundreds … fifties … tens: These numbers describe a common way to organize an army. Soldiers were grouped under leaders of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. Because this was a normal military system, some of these officials were likely military officers (see 1 Samuel 8:12; 22:7; 2 Samuel 18:1).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-189-18. I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone--a little before their arrival in Horeb. Moses addresses that new generation as the representatives of their fathers, in whose sight and hearing all the transactions he recounts took place. A reference is here made to the suggestion of Jethro (Ex 18:18). In noticing his practical adoption of a plan by which the administration of justice was committed to a select number of…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 1:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 1
- 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
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