Exodus 18:16
New International Version
Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

New Living Translation
When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”

English Standard Version
when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.”

Berean Standard Bible
“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.”

King James Bible
When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

New King James Version
When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

New American Standard Bible
When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

NASB 1995
“When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

NASB 1977
“When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

Legacy Standard Bible
When they have a matter, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

Amplified Bible
When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

Christian Standard Bible
Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws."”

American Standard Version
when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when they have a matter they come to me and I judge between a man with his neighbor and I show to them the commandments of God and his laws.”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For whenever there is a dispute among them, and they come to me, I give judgment upon each, and I teach them the ordinances of God and his law.

Contemporary English Version
They bring their complaints to me, and I make decisions on the basis of God's laws."

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to shew the precepts of God, and his laws.

English Revised Version
when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbour, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whenever they have a disagreement and bring it to me, I decide which person is right, and I tell them God's laws and instructions."

Good News Translation
When two people have a dispute, they come to me, and I decide which one of them is right, and I tell them God's commands and laws."

International Standard Version
When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a person and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and his instructions."

JPS Tanakh 1917
when they have a matter, it cometh unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbour, and I make them know the statutes of God, and His laws.'

Literal Standard Version
when they have a matter, it has come to me, and I have judged between a man and his neighbor, and made known the statutes of God, and His laws.”

Majority Standard Bible
“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.”

New American Bible
Whenever they have a disagreement, they come to me to have me settle the matter between them and make known to them God’s statutes and instructions.”

NET Bible
When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws."

New Revised Standard Version
When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.”

New Heart English Bible
When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws."

Webster's Bible Translation
When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between one and another, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

World English Bible
When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.”

Young's Literal Translation
when they have a matter, it hath come unto me, and I have judged between a man and his neighbour, and made known the statutes of God, and His laws.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jethro Advises Moses
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.” 17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.…

Cross References
Exodus 18:17
But Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.

Exodus 24:14
And he said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. Whoever has a dispute can go to them."


Treasury of Scripture

When they have a matter, they come to me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

a matter

Exodus 23:7
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

Exodus 24:14
And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

Deuteronomy 17:8-12
If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; …

one and another.

Exodus 2:13
And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

make

Leviticus 24:15
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.

Numbers 15:35
And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

Numbers 27:6
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

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Decide Decisions Dispute God's Inform Judge Judged Laws Matter Neighbor Neighbour Orders Parties Question Statutes Whenever
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Decide Decisions Dispute God's Inform Judge Judged Laws Matter Neighbor Neighbour Orders Parties Question Statutes Whenever
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














Verse 16. - I judge... and I do make them know the statutes of God. As the israelites were, up to this time, without any code of written laws, Moses took the opportunity furnished by such cases as came before him, to lay down principles of law, and enjoin them upon the people; thus making them to know the statutes of God and his eternal unwritten laws. Such a practice would not have been necessary after the giving of the law on Mount Sinai; and its existence at the time of Jethro's visit helps to fix that visit as occurring before the giving of the law.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

they have
יִהְיֶ֨ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a dispute,
דָּבָר֙ (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

it is brought
בָּ֣א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

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

to judge
וְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔י (wə·šā·p̄aṭ·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

between
בֵּ֥ין (bên)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

one man
אִ֖ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

and another,
רֵעֵ֑הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

and I make known
וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛י (wə·hō·w·ḏa‘·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

to them
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

the statutes
חֻקֵּ֥י (ḥuq·qê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2706: Something prescribed or owed, a statute

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

laws
תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃ (tō·w·rō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

of God.”
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Law: Exodus 18:16 When they have a matter they come (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 18:15
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