The Meaning of Exodus 18:22 Explained

Exodus 18:22

KJV: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

YLT: and they have judged the people at all times; and it hath come to pass, every great matter they bring in unto thee, and every small matter they judge themselves; and lighten it from off thyself, and they have borne with thee.

Darby: that they may judge the people at all times; and it shall be that they shall bring to thee every great matter, and that they shall judge every small matter, and they shall lighten the task on thee, and they shall bear it with thee.

ASV: and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And let them judge  the people  at all seasons:  and it shall be, [that] every great  matter  they shall bring  unto thee, but every small  matter  they shall judge:  so shall it be easier  for thyself, and they shall bear  [the burden] with thee. 

What does Exodus 18:22 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 18:22 mean?

And let them judge - the people at all times and it will be [that] every matter great they shall bring to you but every small shall judge they So it will be easier for you for they will bear [the burden] with you
וְשָׁפְט֣וּ אֶת־ הָעָם֮ בְּכָל־ עֵת֒ וְהָיָ֞ה כָּל־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדֹל֙ יָבִ֣יאוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְכָל־ הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפְּטוּ־ הֵ֑ם וְהָקֵל֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְנָשְׂא֖וּ אִתָּֽךְ

וְשָׁפְט֣וּ  And  let  them  judge 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָעָם֮  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בְּכָל־  at  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֵת֒  times 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
וְהָיָ֞ה  and  it  will  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כָּל־  [that]  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַדָּבָ֤ר  matter 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַגָּדֹל֙  great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
יָבִ֣יאוּ  they  shall  bring 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֵלֶ֔יךָ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וְכָל־  but  every 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַקָּטֹ֖ן  small 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָטָן 
Sense: young, small, insignificant, unimportant.
יִשְׁפְּטוּ־  shall  judge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
וְהָקֵל֙  So  it  will  be  easier 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: קָלַל  
Sense: to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light.
מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ  for  you 
Parse: Preposition-m, second person masculine singular
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.
וְנָשְׂא֖וּ  for  they  will  bear  [the  burden] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אִתָּֽךְ  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.