The Meaning of Exodus 18:15 Explained

Exodus 18:15

KJV: And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:

YLT: And Moses saith to his father-in-law, 'Because the people come unto me to seek God;

Darby: And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to enquire of God.

ASV: And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  said  unto his father in law,  Because the people  come  unto me to enquire  of God: 

What does Exodus 18:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 18:13-27 - Moses Appoints Rulers To Judge Israel
Jethro's frank acknowledgment of God's supremacy and lovingkindness was extremely beautiful. Oh, for more wisdom to discern, and humble reverence to acknowledge the divine goodness wherever we encounter it. His advice also was most sagacious. It is far better to set a thousand people to work than attempt to do the work of a thousand. The greatest and most useful men are those who know how to devolve on others work for which these are quite competent, while they concentrate themselves on matters of the highest moment, which the others cannot undertake. Thus character is created. It is the highest service of all to bring men's requests and causes to God, and then to show them the way in which they should walk and the work they should do. In the best sense this is what Jesus does for us all. [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 18:15 mean?

and said Moses to his father-in-law because come to me the people to inquire of God
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה לְחֹתְנ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ יָבֹ֥א אֵלַ֛י הָעָ֖ם לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֱלֹהִֽים

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מֹשֶׁ֖ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
לְחֹתְנ֑וֹ  to  his  father-in-law 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חָתַן 
Sense: to become a son-in-law, make oneself a daughter’s husband.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יָבֹ֥א  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֵלַ֛י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הָעָ֖ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
לִדְרֹ֥שׁ  to  inquire 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.
אֱלֹהִֽים  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).