The Meaning of Exodus 18:18 Explained

Exodus 18:18

KJV: Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

YLT: thou dost surely wear away, both thou, and this people which is with thee, for the thing is too heavy for thee, thou art not able to do it by thyself.

Darby: Thou wilt be quite exhausted, both thou and this people that is with thee; for the thing is too heavy for thee: thou canst not perform it alone.

ASV: Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou wilt surely  wear away,  both thou, and this people  that [is] with thee: for this thing  [is] too heavy  for thee; thou art not able  to perform  it thyself alone. 

What does Exodus 18:18 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 18:18 mean?

Surely will wear yourselves out both you and people this who [are] with you for [is] too much for you this thing not you are able to perform it by yourself
נָבֹ֣ל תִּבֹּ֔ל גַּם־ אַתָּ֕ה גַּם־ הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמָּ֑ךְ כִּֽי־ כָבֵ֤ד מִמְּךָ֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר לֹא־ תוּכַ֥ל עֲשֹׂ֖הוּ לְבַדֶּֽךָ

נָבֹ֣ל  Surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: נָבֵל 
Sense: to be senseless, be foolish.
תִּבֹּ֔ל  will  wear  yourselves  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָבֵל 
Sense: to be senseless, be foolish.
גַּם־  both 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הָעָ֥ם  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַזֶּ֖ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  who  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עִמָּ֑ךְ  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
כָבֵ֤ד  [is]  too  much 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: heavy, great.
מִמְּךָ֙  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
הַדָּבָ֔ר  this  thing 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
תוּכַ֥ל  you  are  able 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
עֲשֹׂ֖הוּ  to  perform  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְבַדֶּֽךָ  by  yourself 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּדָד  
Sense: isolation, withdrawal, separation.