Revised Literal Translation

Exodus 18

1When Jethroיִתְר֨וֹyit.RoH3503,the priestכֹהֵ֤ןkho.HenH3548of Midianמִדְיָן֙mid.YanH4080,Moses’מֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872father in lawחֹתֵ֣ןcho.TenH2859,heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עvai.yish.Ma'H8085of all that Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430had doneעָשָׂ֤ה'a.SahH6213for Mosesלְמֹשֶׁ֔הle.mo.ShehH4872,and for Israelוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לu.le.Yis.ra.'ElH3478his peopleעַמּ֑וֹa.MoH5971, andthat Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068had broughtהוֹצִ֧יאho.Tzi'H3318Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478out of Egyptמִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714;

2Then Jethroיִתְרוֹ֙yit.RoH3503,Moses’מֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872father in lawחֹתֵ֣ןcho.TenH2859,tookוַיִּקַּ֗חvai.yi.KachH3947Zipporahצִפֹּרָ֖הtzi.po.RahH6855,Moses’מֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802,afterאַחַ֖ר'a.CharH310he had sent her backשִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃shi.lu.Chei.haH7964,

3And her twoשְׁנֵ֣יshe.NeiH8147sonsבָנֶ֑יהָva.Nei.haH1121;of which the nameשֵׁ֤םshemH8034of the oneהָֽאֶחָד֙ha.'e.ChadH259wasGershomגֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔םge.re.ShomH1647;for he saidאָמַ֔ר'a.MarH559,I have been an alienגֵּ֣רgerH1616in a strangeנָכְרִיָּֽה׃na.khe.ri.YahH5237landבְּאֶ֖רֶץbe.'E.retzH776:

4And the nameוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034of the otherהָאֶחָ֖דha.'e.ChadH259wasEliezerאֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר'e.li.'E.zerH461;for the Godאֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.HeiH430of my fatherאָבִי֙'a.ViH1, said he, wasmine helpבְּעֶזְרִ֔יbe.'ez.RiH5828,and deliveredוַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִיvai.ya.tzi.Le.niH5337me from the swordמֵחֶ֥רֶבme.Che.revH2719of Pharaohפַּרְעֹֽה׃par.'OhH6547:

5And Jethroיִתְר֨וֹyit.RoH3503,Moses’מֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872father in lawחֹתֵ֥ןcho.TenH2859,cameוַיָּבֹ֞אvai.ya.Vo'H935with his sonsוּבָנָ֥יוu.va.NavH1121and his wifeוְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹve.'ish.ToH802unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872into the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֗רha.mid.BarH4057,where he encampedחֹנֶ֥הcho.NehH2583at the mountהַ֥רharH2022of Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430:

6And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872,I thy father in lawחֹתֶנְךָ֥cho.ten.KhaH2859Jethroיִתְר֖וֹyit.RoH3503am comeבָּ֣אba'H935unto thee, and thy wifeוְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ve.'Ish.te.khaH802,and her twoוּשְׁנֵ֥יu.she.NeiH8147sonsבָנֶ֖יהָva.Nei.haH1121with her.

7And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הmo.ShehH4872went outוַיֵּצֵ֨אvai.ye.Tze'H3318to meetH7125his father in lawחֹֽתְנ֗וֹcho.te.NoH2859,and did obeisanceוַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙vai.yish.Ta.chuH7812,and kissedוַיִּשַּׁק־vai.yi.shak-H5401him; and they askedוַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּvai.yish.'a.LuH7592eachאִישׁ־'ish-H376otherלְרֵעֵ֖הוּle.re.'E.huH7453of theirwelfareלְשָׁל֑וֹםle.sha.LomH7965;and they cameוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935into the tentהָאֹֽהֱלָה׃ha.'O.he.lahH168.

8And Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872toldוַיְסַפֵּ֤רvay.sa.PerH5608his father in lawלְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹle.Cho.te.NoH2859all that Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068had doneעָשָׂ֤ה'a.SahH6213unto Pharaohלְפַרְעֹ֣הle.far.'OhH6547and to the Egyptiansוּלְמִצְרַ֔יִםu.le.mitz.Ra.yimH4714for Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478sakeאוֹדֹ֣ת'o.DotH182, andall the travailהַתְּלָאָה֙ha.te.la.'AhH8513that had comeמְצָאָ֣תַםme.tza.'A.tamH4672upon them by the wayבַּדֶּ֔רֶךְba.De.rekhH1870, and howYhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068deliveredוַיַּצִּלֵ֖םvai.ya.tzi.LemH5337them.

9And Jethroיִתְר֔וֹyit.RoH3503rejoicedוַיִּ֣חַדְּvai.Yi.chadH2302for all the goodnessהַטּוֹבָ֔הha.to.VahH2896which Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068had doneעָשָׂ֥ה'a.SahH6213to Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,whom he had deliveredהִצִּיל֖וֹhi.tzi.LoH5337out of the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of the Egyptiansמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

10And Jethroיִתְרוֹ֒yit.RoH3503saidוַיֹּאמֶר֮vai.yo.MerH559,Blessedבָּר֣וּךְba.RukhH1288beYhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,who hath deliveredהִצִּ֥ילhi.TzilH5337you out of the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֖יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714,and out of the handוּמִיַּ֣דu.mi.YadH3027of Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֑הpar.'OhH6547,who hath deliveredהִצִּיל֙hi.TzilH5337the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971from under the handיַד־yad-H3027of the Egyptiansמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

11Now I knowיָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045that Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068isgreaterגָד֥וֹלga.DolH1419than all godsהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430:for in the thingבַדָּבָ֔רva.da.VarH1697wherein they dealt proudlyזָד֖וּza.DuH2102he was above them.

12And Jethroיִתְר֨וֹyit.RoH3503,Moses’מֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872father in lawחֹתֵ֥ןcho.TenH2859,tookוַיִּקַּ֞חvai.yi.KachH3947a burnt offeringעֹלָ֥ה'o.LahH5930and sacrificesוּזְבָחִ֖יםu.ze.va.ChimH2077for Godלֵֽאלֹהִ֑יםle.lo.HimH430:and Aaronאַהֲרֹ֜ן'a.ha.RonH175cameוַיָּבֹ֨אvai.ya.Vo'H935,and all the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478,to eatלֶאֱכָל־le.'e.khol-H398breadלֶ֛חֶםLe.chemH3899with Moses’מֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872father in lawחֹתֵ֥ןcho.TenH2859beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430.

13And it came to pass on the morrowמִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmi.mo.cho.RatH4283,that Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872satוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427to judgeלִשְׁפֹּ֣טlish.PotH8199the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971:and the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971stoodוַיַּעֲמֹ֤דvai.ya.'a.ModH5975by Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872from the morningהַבֹּ֖קֶרha.Bo.kerH1242unto the eveningהָעָֽרֶב׃ha.'A.revH6153.

14And when Moses’מֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872father in lawחֹתֵ֣ןcho.TenH2859sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200all that he didעֹשֶׂ֖ה'o.SehH6213to the peopleלָעָ֑םla.'AmH5971,he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, What isthis thingהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697that thou doestעֹשֶׂה֙'o.SehH6213to the peopleלָעָ֔םla.'AmH5971?why sittestיוֹשֵׁב֙yo.ShevH3427thou thyself alone, and all the peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971standנִצָּ֥בni.TzavH5324by thee from morningבֹּ֥קֶרBo.kerH1242unto evenעָֽרֶב׃'A.revH6153?

15And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto his father in lawלְחֹתְנ֑וֹle.cho.te.NoH2859,Because the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971comeיָבֹ֥אya.Vo'H935unto me to enquireלִדְרֹ֥שׁlid.RoshH1875of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430:

16When they have a matterדָּבָר֙da.VarH1697,they comeבָּ֣אba'H935unto me; and I judgeוְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔יve.Sha.fa.TiH8199between oneאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376and anotherרֵעֵ֑הוּre.'E.huH7453, and I do make themknowוְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛יve.ho.da'.TiH3045the statutesחֻקֵּ֥יchu.KeiH2706of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,and his lawsתּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃to.ro.TavH8451.

17And Moses’מֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872father in lawחֹתֵ֥ןcho.TenH2859saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, The thingהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697that thou doestעֹשֶֽׂה׃'o.SehH6213isnot goodטוֹב֙tOvH2896.

18Thou wilt surelyנָבֹ֣לna.VolH5034wear awayתִּבֹּ֔לti.BolH5034,both thou, and this peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971that iswith thee: for this thingהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697istoo heavyכָבֵ֤דkha.VedH3515for thee; thou art not ableתוּכַ֥לtu.KhalH3201to performעֲשֹׂ֖הוּ'a.So.huH6213it thyself alone.

19Hearkenשְׁמַ֤עshe.Ma'H8085now unto my voiceבְּקֹלִי֙be.ko.LiH6963,I will give thee counselאִיעָ֣צְךָ֔'i.'A.tze.khaH3289,and Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430shall beH1961with thee: Be thou for the peopleלָעָ֗םla.'AmH5971to God-wardמ֚וּל הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםmul ha.'E.lo.HimH430 H4136,that thou mayest bringוְהֵבֵאתָ֥ve.he.ve.TaH935the causesהַדְּבָרִ֖יםha.de.va.RimH1697unto Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430:

20And thou shalt teachוְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣הve.hiz.har.TahH853 H2094them ordinancesהַחֻקִּ֖יםha.chu.KimH2706and lawsהַתּוֹרֹ֑תha.to.RotH8451,and shalt shewוְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ve.ho.da'.TaH3045them the wayהַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ha.De.rekhH1870wherein they must walkH3212,and the workהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖הha.ma.'a.SehH4639that they must doיַעֲשֽׂוּן׃ya.'a.SunH6213.

21Moreover thou shalt provideתֶחֱזֶ֣הte.che.ZehH2372out of all the peopleהָ֠עָםHa.'omH5971ableחַ֜יִלCha.yilH2428menאַנְשֵׁי־'an.shei-H582,such as fearיִרְאֵ֧יyir.'EiH3373Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430,menאַנְשֵׁ֥י'an.SheiH582of truthאֱמֶ֖ת'e.MetH571,hatingשֹׂ֣נְאֵיSo.ne.'eiH8130covetousnessבָ֑צַעVa.tza'H1215;and placeוְשַׂמְתָּ֣ve.sam.TaH7760such over them, to berulersשָׂרֵ֤יsa.ReiH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִים֙'a.la.FimH505, andrulersשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269of hundredsמֵא֔וֹתme.'otH3967,rulersשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁ֖יםcha.mi.ShimH2572,and rulersוְשָׂרֵ֥יve.sa.ReiH8269of tensעֲשָׂרֹֽת׃'a.sa.RotH6235:

22And let them judgeוְשָׁפְט֣וּve.sha.fe.TuH8199the peopleהָעָם֮ha.'AmH5971at all seasonsעֵת֒'etH6256: and it shall be, thatevery greatהַגָּדֹל֙ha.ga.DolH1419matterהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697they shall bringיָבִ֣יאוּya.Vi.'uH935unto thee, but every smallהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996matterהַדָּבָ֥רha.da.VarH1697they shall judgeיִשְׁפְּטוּ־yish.pe.tu-H8199:so shall it be easierוְהָקֵל֙ve.ha.KelH7043for thyself, and they shall bearוְנָשְׂא֖וּve.na.se.'UH5375the burden with thee.

23If thou shalt doתַּעֲשֶׂ֔הta.'a.SehH6213this thingהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697,and Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430commandוְצִוְּךָ֣ve.tzi.ve.KhaH6680thee so,then thou shalt be ableוְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖ve.ya.khal.TaH3201to endureעֲמֹ֑ד'a.ModH5975,and all this peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971shall also goיָבֹ֥אya.Vo'H935to their placeמְקֹמ֖וֹme.ko.MoH4725in peaceבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ve.sha.LomH7965.

24So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872hearkenedוַיִּשְׁמַ֥עvai.yish.Ma'H8085to the voiceלְק֣וֹלle.KolH6963of his father in lawחֹתְנ֑וֹcho.te.NoH2859,and didוַיַּ֕עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213all that he had saidאָמָֽר׃'a.MarH559.

25And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֤הmo.ShehH4872choseוַיִּבְחַ֨רvai.yiv.CharH977ableחַ֙יִל֙cha.yilH2428menאַנְשֵׁי־'an.shei-H582out of all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and madeוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414them headsרָאשִׁ֖יםra.ShimH7218over the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,rulersשָׂרֵ֤יsa.ReiH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִים֙'a.la.FimH505,rulersשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269of hundredsמֵא֔וֹתme.'otH3967,rulersשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁ֖יםcha.mi.ShimH2572,and rulersוְשָׂרֵ֥יve.sa.ReiH8269of tensעֲשָׂרֹֽת׃'a.sa.RotH6235.

26And they judgedוְשָׁפְט֥וּve.sha.fe.TuH8199the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971at all seasonsעֵ֑ת'EtH6256:the hardהַקָּשֶׁה֙ha.ka.ShehH7186causesהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697they broughtיְבִיא֣וּןye.vi.'UnH935unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872,but every smallהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996matterהַדָּבָ֥ר הֵֽם׃ha.da.Var HemH1992 H1697they judgedיִשְׁפּוּט֥וּyish.pu.TuH8199themselves.

27And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872let his father in lawחֹתְנ֑וֹcho.te.NoH2859departוַיְשַׁלַּ֥חvay.sha.LachH7971;and he wentH3212his way into his own landאַרְצֽוֹ׃ פ'ar.TzoH776.

Commentaries on Exodus 18