Exodus 18:15
New International Version
Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.

New Living Translation
Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God.

English Standard Version
And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God;

Berean Standard Bible
“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.

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

New King James Version
And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

New American Standard Bible
Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

NASB 1995
Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

NASB 1977
And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Amplified Bible
Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God.

Christian Standard Bible
Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

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

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Moshe said to his Father in Law, “The people come to me to ask the word from God:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses says to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to seek judgment from God.

Contemporary English Version
Moses answered, "Because they come here to find out what God wants them to do.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Moses answered him: The people come to me to seek the judgment of God.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Moses answered his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to find out God's will.

Good News Translation
Moses answered, "I must do this because the people come to me to learn God's will.

International Standard Version
Moses told his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses said unto his father-in-law: 'Because the people come unto me to inquire of God;

Literal Standard Version
And Moses says to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to seek God;

Majority Standard Bible
“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.

New American Bible
Moses answered his father-in-law, “The people come to me to consult God.

NET Bible
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

New Revised Standard Version
Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

New Heart English Bible
Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire of God:

World English Bible
Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith to his father-in-law, 'Because the people come unto me to seek God;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jethro Advises Moses
14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?” 15“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. 16“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”…

Cross References
Exodus 18:14
When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?"

Leviticus 24:12
They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.

Numbers 9:6
But there were some men who were unclean due to a dead body, so they could not observe the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and Aaron that same day

Numbers 9:8
"Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you," Moses replied.

Numbers 27:5
So Moses brought their case before the LORD,

Deuteronomy 17:8
If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose.


Treasury of Scripture

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

to enquire

Exodus 18:19,20
Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: …

Leviticus 24:12-14
And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them…

Numbers 15:34
And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

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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














(15, 16) Moses assigns two reasons for his conduct.

Verse 15. - And Moses said... Because the people come unto me, to inquire of God. To inquire of God is certainly not a mere "juridical phrase," meaning to consult a judge (Kalisch), nor, on the other hand, is it necessarily "to consult God through an oracle." It cannot, however, mean less than to seek a decision from some one regarded as entitled to speak for God; and it is certainly assigned by Moses as the reason why he judged all the causes himself, and did not devolve the duty upon others. They could not be supposed to know the mind of God as he knew it. Jethro, however, points out, that it is one thing to lay down principles, and another to apply them. Moses might reserve the legislative function - the inculcation of principles - to himself, and so still, "be for the people to Godward" (ver. 19); but he might find "able men" among the congregation, quite capable of applying the principles, and delegate to them the judicial function (vers. 21, 22).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the people
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

come
יָבֹ֥א (yā·ḇō)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֵלַ֛י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

me to inquire
לִדְרֹ֥שׁ (liḏ·rōš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

of God,”
אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֖ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

replied.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT Law: Exodus 18:15 Moses said to his father-in-law Because (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 18:14
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