The Meaning of Exodus 18:11 Explained

Exodus 18:11

KJV: Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

YLT: now I have known that Jehovah is greater than all the gods, for in the thing they have acted proudly -- He is above them!'

Darby: Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; for in the thing in which they acted haughtily he was above them.

ASV: Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now I know  that the LORD  [is] greater  than all gods:  for in the thing  wherein they dealt proudly  [he was] above them. 

What does Exodus 18:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 18:1-12 - Moses Tells Jethro Of God's Goodness
The names that Moses gave his two sons betray the drift of his thoughts during the forty years of his shepherd life. May we ever remember that we are strangers here, and our only help is in God. How humble Moses was in attributing to God all the glory of the Exodus! This is the sure cure of pride; and what are we but the axe that lies at the tree-foot, or the dry jaw-bone of an ass! Jethro belonged to another type of the religious life. He was not one of the chosen people, nor did he follow the methods of Jewish worship. But holy souls recognize their kinship the world over, and in loving embrace disregard the minor disagreements. "Grace be with all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 18

1  Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses
7  Moses entertains him, and relates the goodness of the Lord
9  Jethro rejoices, blesses God, and offers sacrifice
13  He gives good counsel, which is accepted
27  Jethro departs

What do the individual words in Exodus 18:11 mean?

Now I know that [is] greater Yahweh than all the gods for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly [He was] above them
עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּֽי־ גָד֥וֹל יְהוָ֖ה מִכָּל־ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י בַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָד֖וּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם

עַתָּ֣ה  Now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
יָדַ֔עְתִּי  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
גָד֥וֹל  [is]  greater 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מִכָּל־  than  all 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים  the  gods 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
בַדָּבָ֔ר  in  the  very  thing 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  in  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
זָד֖וּ  they  behaved  proudly 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: זִיד  
Sense: to boil, boil up, seethe, act proudly, act presumptuously, act rebelliously, be presumptuous, be arrogant, be rebelliously proud.
עֲלֵיהֶֽם  [He  was]  above  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.