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

1 Now 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.

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

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

4 The 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.”

5 Moses’ 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.

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

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

8 Then 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.

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

10 Jethro 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.

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

12 Then 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’ מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֵת֩ H853 Direct object marker father-in-law חֹתֵ֣ן H2859 Noun - masculine singular construct Jethro יִתְר֨וֹ H3503 Noun - proper - masculine singular the priest כֹהֵ֤ן H3548 Noun - masculine singular construct of Midian מִדְיָן֙ H4080 Noun - proper - masculine singular heard וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular about all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative God אֱלֹהִים֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural had done עָשָׂ֤ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular for Moses לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and His people עַמּ֑וֹ H5971 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Israel וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל H3478 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and how כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had brought הוֹצִ֧יא H3318 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular out of Egypt מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

After אַחַ֖ר H310 Adverb Moses מֹשֶׁ֑ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular had sent back שִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃ H7964 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular his wife אֵ֣שֶׁת H802 Noun - feminine singular construct Zipporah צִפֹּרָ֖ה H6855 Noun - proper - feminine singular [his] מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker father-in-law חֹתֵ֣ן H2859 Noun - masculine singular construct Jethro יִתְרוֹ֙ H3503 Noun - proper - masculine singular had received her וַיִּקַּ֗ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 3

Original words

along with וְאֵ֖ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker her two שְׁנֵ֣י H8147 Number - masculine dual construct sons בָנֶ֑יהָ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular One הָֽאֶחָד֙ H259 Article | Number - masculine singular [son] אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative was named שֵׁ֤ם H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct Gershom גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם H1647 Noun - proper - masculine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction Moses had said אָמַ֔ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular I have been הָיִ֔יתִי H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular a foreigner גֵּ֣ר H1616 Noun - masculine singular in a foreign נָכְרִיָּֽה׃ H5237 Adjective - feminine singular land בְּאֶ֖רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for sojourner.
Verse 4

Original words

The other [son] הָאֶחָ֖ד H259 Article | Number - masculine singular was named וְשֵׁ֥ם H8034 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Eliezer אֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר H461 Noun - proper - masculine singular for [Moses had said] כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction The God אֱלֹהֵ֤י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of my father אָבִי֙ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular was my helper בְּעֶזְרִ֔י H5828 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular and delivered me וַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִי H5337 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular from the sword מֵחֶ֥רֶב H2719 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of Pharaoh פַּרְעֹֽה׃ H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Eliezer means God is my helper.
Verse 5

Original words

Moses’ father-in-law חֹתֵ֥ן H2859 Noun - masculine singular construct Jethro יִתְר֨וֹ H3503 Noun - proper - masculine singular along with Moses’ מֹשֶׁ֛ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular wife וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ H802 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular and sons וּבָנָ֥יו H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular came וַיָּבֹ֞א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition him מֹשֶׁ֑ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular in אֶל־ H413 Preposition the desert הַמִּדְבָּ֗ר H4057 Article | Noun - masculine singular where אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative he ה֛וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular was encamped חֹנֶ֥ה H2583 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . שָׁ֖ם H8033 Adverb at the mountain הַ֥ר H2022 Noun - masculine singular construct of God הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

He sent word וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular I אֲנִ֛י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular your father-in-law חֹתֶנְךָ֥ H2859 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Jethro יִתְר֖וֹ H3503 Noun - proper - masculine singular am coming בָּ֣א H935 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular to אֵלֶ֑יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular you with your wife וְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ H802 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and her עִמָּֽהּ׃ H5973 Preposition | third person feminine singular two וּשְׁנֵ֥י H8147 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine dual construct sons בָנֶ֖יהָ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 7

Original words

So Moses מֹשֶׁ֜ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . לִקְרַ֣את H7122 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct went out to meet וַיֵּצֵ֨א H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular his father-in-law חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ H2859 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and bowed down וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ H7812 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and kissed וַיִּשַּׁק־ H5401 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular him ל֔וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular They greeted וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ H7592 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . לְשָׁל֑וֹם H7965 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular each אִישׁ־ H376 Noun - masculine singular other לְרֵעֵ֖הוּ H7453 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and went וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural into the tent הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃ H168 Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Then Moses מֹשֶׁה֙ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular recounted וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר H5608 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to his father-in-law לְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹ H2859 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular - אֵת֩ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular had done עָשָׂ֤ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to Pharaoh לְפַרְעֹ֣ה H6547 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and the Egyptians וּלְמִצְרַ֔יִם H4714 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular for עַ֖ל H5921 Preposition Israel’s יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֵ֤ת H853 Direct object marker sake אוֹדֹ֣ת H182 Noun - feminine plural construct all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the hardships הַתְּלָאָה֙ H8513 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative they had encountered מְצָאָ֣תַם H4672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural along the way בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ H1870 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular and how the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular had delivered them וַיַּצִּלֵ֖ם H5337 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 9

Original words

And Jethro יִתְר֔וֹ H3503 Noun - proper - masculine singular rejoiced וַיִּ֣חַדְּ H2302 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular over עַ֚ל H5921 Preposition all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the good things הַטּוֹבָ֔ה H2896 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular had done עָשָׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular for Israel לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular whom אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative He had rescued הִצִּיל֖וֹ H5337 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular from the hand מִיַּ֥ד H3027 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of the Egyptians מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Jethro יִתְרוֹ֒ H3503 Noun - proper - masculine singular declared וַיֹּאמֶר֮ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Blessed [be] בָּר֣וּךְ H1288 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular who אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative has delivered הִצִּ֥יל H5337 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular you אֶתְכֶ֛ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural from the hand מִיַּ֥ד H3027 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of the Egyptians מִצְרַ֖יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular - וּמִיַּ֣ד H3027 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct and of Pharaoh פַּרְעֹ֑ה H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular and who אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative has delivered הִצִּיל֙ H5337 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the people הָעָ֔ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular from מִתַּ֖חַת H8478 Preposition-m the hand יַד־ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct of the Egyptians מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Now עַתָּ֣ה H6258 Adverb I know יָדַ֔עְתִּי H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular is greater גָד֥וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular than all other מִכָּל־ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct gods הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction He did this בַדָּבָ֔ר H1697 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular when they אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative treated Israel with arrogance זָד֖וּ H2102 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural . . . עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine plural
Verse 12

Original words

Then Moses’ מֹשֶׁ֛ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular father-in-law חֹתֵ֥ן H2859 Noun - masculine singular construct Jethro יִתְר֨וֹ H3503 Noun - proper - masculine singular brought וַיִּקַּ֞ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular a burnt offering עֹלָ֥ה H5930 Noun - feminine singular and sacrifices וּזְבָחִ֖ים H2077 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural to God לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים H430 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural and Aaron אַהֲרֹ֜ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular came וַיָּבֹ֨א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular with all וְכֹ֣ל׀ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct the elders זִקְנֵ֣י H2205 Adjective - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular to eat לֶאֱכָל־ H398 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct bread לֶ֛חֶם H3899 Noun - masculine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition Moses’ מֹשֶׁ֖ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular father-in-law חֹתֵ֥ן H2859 Noun - masculine singular construct in the presence לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct of God הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ H430 Article | 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.