The Meaning of Exodus 18:26 Explained

Exodus 18:26

KJV: And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

YLT: and they have judged the people at all times; the hard matter they bring in unto Moses, and every small matter they judge themselves.

Darby: And they judged the people at all times: the hard matters they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged.

ASV: And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

Discover Exodus 18:26

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Exodus 18:26?

MEANING: What does Exodus 18:26 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Exodus 18:26 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Exodus 18:26?

What is the context of Exodus 18:26?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

What does Exodus 18:26 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 18:26 mean?

So they judged - the people at all times the cases hard they brought to Moses but every case small judged they

וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם בְּכָל־ עֵ֑ת הַדָּבָ֤ר הַקָּשֶׁה֙ יְבִיא֣וּן אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה וְכָל־ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפּוּט֥וּ הֵֽם

וְשָׁפְט֥וּ	So they judged
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.
הָעָ֖ם	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.
עֵ֑ת	times
Parse: Noun, common singular Root: עֵת Sense: time.
הַדָּבָ֤ר	the cases
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: דָּבָר Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַקָּשֶׁה֙	hard
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular Root: קָשֶׁה Sense: hard, cruel, severe, obstinate.
יְבִיא֣וּן	they brought
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun Root: בֹּוא Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה	Moses
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: מֹשֶׁה Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
וְכָל־	but every
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct Root: כֹּל Sense: all, the whole.
הַדָּבָ֥ר	case
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: דָּבָר Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַקָּטֹ֖ן	small
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular Root: קָטָן Sense: young, small, insignificant, unimportant.
יִשְׁפּוּט֥וּ	judged
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural Root: שָׁפַט Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 18:26?

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Similar Scriptures for Exodus 18:26

		Exodus 18:22 [7]
		Deuteronomy 17:8 [2]
		Job 29:16 [2]
		Exodus 18:14-15 [2]
		1 Kings 3:16-28 [2]
		1 Kings 10:1 [2]