Focused Passage

Exodus 18:1-12

Jethro’s Counsel and Shared Leadership

Jethro hears of the LORD’s deliverance, reunites Moses with his family, praises the LORD as greater than all gods, offers worship, observes Moses’ unsustainable burden, and counsels him to appoint qualified leaders to judge smaller cases while Moses handles the most difficult matters before God.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,

3along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

4The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

6He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.

8Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.

9And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.

10Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”

12Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Now Moses’מֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֵת֩H853Direct object markerfather-in-lawחֹתֵ֣ןH2859Noun - masculine singular constructJethroיִתְר֨וֹH3503Noun - proper - masculine singularthe priestכֹהֵ֤ןH3548Noun - masculine singular constructof Midianמִדְיָן֙H4080Noun - proper - masculine singularheardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularabout allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativeGodאֱלֹהִים֙H430Noun - masculine pluralhad doneעָשָׂ֤הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularfor Mosesלְמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand His peopleעַמּ֑וֹH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularIsraelוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand howכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhad broughtהוֹצִ֧יאH3318Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularout of Egyptמִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃H4714Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was also called Reuel; see Exodus 2:18.
Verse 2

Original words

Afterאַחַ֖רH310AdverbMosesמֹשֶׁ֑הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularhad sent backשִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃H7964Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularhis wifeאֵ֣שֶׁתH802Noun - feminine singular constructZipporahצִפֹּרָ֖הH6855Noun - proper - feminine singular[his]מֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerfather-in-lawחֹתֵ֣ןH2859Noun - masculine singular constructJethroיִתְרוֹ֙H3503Noun - proper - masculine singularhad received herוַיִּקַּ֗חH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 3

Original words

along withוְאֵ֖תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerher twoשְׁנֵ֣יH8147Number - masculine dual constructsonsבָנֶ֑יהָH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularOneהָֽאֶחָד֙H259Article | Number - masculine singular[son]אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativewas namedשֵׁ֤םH8034Noun - masculine singular constructGershomגֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔םH1647Noun - proper - masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionMoses had saidאָמַ֔רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularI have beenהָיִ֔יתִיH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singulara foreignerגֵּ֣רH1616Noun - masculine singularin a foreignנָכְרִיָּֽה׃H5237Adjective - feminine singularlandבְּאֶ֖רֶץH776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for sojourner.
Verse 4

Original words

The other [son]הָאֶחָ֖דH259Article | Number - masculine singularwas namedוְשֵׁ֥םH8034Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructEliezerאֱלִיעֶ֑זֶרH461Noun - proper - masculine singularfor [Moses had said]כִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionThe Godאֱלֹהֵ֤יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof my fatherאָבִי֙H1Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwas my helperבְּעֶזְרִ֔יH5828Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularand delivered meוַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִיH5337Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singularfrom the swordמֵחֶ֥רֶבH2719Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Pharaohפַּרְעֹֽה׃H6547Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Eliezer means God is my helper.
Verse 5

Original words

Moses’ father-in-lawחֹתֵ֥ןH2859Noun - masculine singular constructJethroיִתְר֨וֹH3503Noun - proper - masculine singularalong with Moses’מֹשֶׁ֛הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularwifeוְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹH802Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularand sonsוּבָנָ֥יוH1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularcameוַיָּבֹ֞אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionhimמֹשֶׁ֑הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularinאֶל־H413Prepositionthe desertהַמִּדְבָּ֗רH4057Article | Noun - masculine singularwhereאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeheה֛וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwas encampedחֹנֶ֥הH2583Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular. . .שָׁ֖םH8033Adverbat the mountainהַ֥רH2022Noun - masculine singular constructof Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃H430Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

He sent wordוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularIאֲנִ֛יH589Pronoun - first person common singularyour father-in-lawחֹתֶנְךָ֥H2859Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularJethroיִתְר֖וֹH3503Noun - proper - masculine singularam comingבָּ֣אH935Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singulartoאֵלֶ֑יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singularyou with your wifeוְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔H802Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularand herעִמָּֽהּ׃H5973Preposition | third person feminine singulartwoוּשְׁנֵ֥יH8147Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine dual constructsonsבָנֶ֖יהָH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 7

Original words

So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .לִקְרַ֣אתH7122Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructwent out to meetוַיֵּצֵ֨אH3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhis father-in-lawחֹֽתְנ֗וֹH2859Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand bowed downוַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙H7812Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand kissedוַיִּשַּׁק־H5401Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhimל֔וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularThey greetedוַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּH7592Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .לְשָׁל֑וֹםH7965Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singulareachאִישׁ־H376Noun - masculine singularotherלְרֵעֵ֖הוּH7453Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand wentוַיָּבֹ֖אוּH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralinto the tentהָאֹֽהֱלָה׃H168Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Then Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularrecountedוַיְסַפֵּ֤רH5608Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto his father-in-lawלְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹH2859Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular-אֵת֩H853Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhad doneעָשָׂ֤הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto Pharaohלְפַרְעֹ֣הH6547Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand the Egyptiansוּלְמִצְרַ֔יִםH4714Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singularforעַ֖לH5921PrepositionIsrael’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֵ֤תH853Direct object markersakeאוֹדֹ֣תH182Noun - feminine plural constructallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe hardshipsהַתְּלָאָה֙H8513Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativethey had encounteredמְצָאָ֣תַםH4672Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine pluralalong the wayבַּדֶּ֔רֶךְH1870Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularand how the LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhad delivered themוַיַּצִּלֵ֖םH5337Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 9

Original words

And Jethroיִתְר֔וֹH3503Noun - proper - masculine singularrejoicedוַיִּ֣חַדְּH2302Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularoverעַ֚לH5921Prepositionallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe good thingsהַטּוֹבָ֔הH2896Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhad doneעָשָׂ֥הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularfor Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularwhomאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeHe had rescuedהִצִּיל֖וֹH5337Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularfrom the handמִיַּ֥דH3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof the Egyptiansמִצְרָֽיִם׃H4714Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Jethroיִתְרוֹ֒H3503Noun - proper - masculine singulardeclaredוַיֹּאמֶר֮H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularBlessed [be]בָּר֣וּךְH1288Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwhoאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativehas deliveredהִצִּ֥ילH5337Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularyouאֶתְכֶ֛םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralfrom the handמִיַּ֥דH3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֖יִםH4714Noun - proper - feminine singular-וּמִיַּ֣דH3027Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructand of Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֑הH6547Noun - proper - masculine singularand whoאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativehas deliveredהִצִּיל֙H5337Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe peopleהָעָ֔םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularfromמִתַּ֖חַתH8478Preposition-mthe handיַד־H3027Noun - feminine singular constructof the Egyptiansמִצְרָֽיִם׃H4714Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Nowעַתָּ֣הH6258AdverbI knowיָדַ֔עְתִּיH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularis greaterגָד֥וֹלH1419Adjective - masculine singularthan all otherמִכָּל־H3605Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructgodsהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםH430Article | Noun - masculine pluralforכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionHe did thisבַדָּבָ֔רH1697Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularwhen theyאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativetreated Israel with arroganceזָד֖וּH2102Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural. . .עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃H5921Preposition | third person masculine plural
Verse 12

Original words

Then Moses’מֹשֶׁ֛הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularfather-in-lawחֹתֵ֥ןH2859Noun - masculine singular constructJethroיִתְר֨וֹH3503Noun - proper - masculine singularbroughtוַיִּקַּ֞חH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulara burnt offeringעֹלָ֥הH5930Noun - feminine singularand sacrificesוּזְבָחִ֖יםH2077Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralto Godלֵֽאלֹהִ֑יםH430Preposition-l | Noun - masculine pluraland Aaronאַהֲרֹ֜ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularcameוַיָּבֹ֨אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwith allוְכֹ֣ל׀H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructthe eldersזִקְנֵ֣יH2205Adjective - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularto eatלֶאֱכָל־H398Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructbreadלֶ֛חֶםH3899Noun - masculine singularwithעִם־H5973PrepositionMoses’מֹשֶׁ֖הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularfather-in-lawחֹתֵ֥ןH2859Noun - masculine singular constructin the presenceלִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructof Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃H430Article | Noun - masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.