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Exodus 18:1-20:23
English Standard Version
Exodus 18:1-20:23
English Standard Version
Jethro's Advice
18 (A)Jethro, (B)the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her (C)two sons. The name of the one was Gershom ((D)for he said, (E)“I have been a sojourner[a] in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer[b] (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the (F)mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I,[c] your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” 7 Moses (G)went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and (H)kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law (I)all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 Jethro said, (J)“Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that (K)the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they (L)dealt arrogantly with the people.”[d] 12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law (M)before God.
13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because (N)the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 (O)when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I (P)make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. (Q)You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall (R)represent the people before God and (S)bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know (T)the way in which they must walk and (U)what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for (V)able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And (W)let them judge the people at all times. (X)Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will (Y)bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be (Z)able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 (AA)Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And (AB)they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and (AC)he went away to his own country.
Israel at Mount Sinai
19 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they (AD)came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from (AE)Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before (AF)the mountain, 3 while (AG)Moses went up to God. (AH)The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 (AI)‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how (AJ)I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be (AK)my treasured possession among all peoples, for (AL)all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a (AM)kingdom of priests and (AN)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 (AO)All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you (AP)in a thick cloud, that (AQ)the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also (AR)believe you forever.”
When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and (AS)consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them (AT)wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day (AU)the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. (AV)Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;[e] whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When (AW)the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses (AX)went down from the mountain to the people and (AY)consecrated the people; (AZ)and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the (BA)third day; (BB)do not go near a woman.”
16 On the morning of the (BC)third day there were (BD)thunders and lightnings and (BE)a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud (BF)trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp (BG)trembled. 17 Then (BH)Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now (BI)Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and (BJ)the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the (BK)sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and (BL)God answered him in thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord (BM)to look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord (BN)consecrate themselves, lest the Lord (BO)break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, (BP)‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people (BQ)break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Ten Commandments
20 (BR)And (BS)God spoke all these words, saying,
2 (BT)“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 (BU)“You shall have no other gods before[f] me.
4 (BV)“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 (BW)You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am (BX)a jealous God, (BY)visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands[g] of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 (BZ)“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8 (CA)“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 (CB)Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the (CC)seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the (CD)sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For (CE)in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 (CF)“Honor your father and your mother, (CG)that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13 (CH)“You shall not murder.[h]
14 (CI)“You shall not commit adultery.
15 (CJ)“You shall not steal.
16 (CK)“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 (CL)“You shall not covet (CM)your neighbor's house; (CN)you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
18 Now when all the people saw (CO)the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid[i] and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, (CP)“You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 (CQ)Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to (CR)test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the (CS)thick darkness where God was.
Laws About Altars
22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have (CT)talked with you from heaven. 23 (CU)You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.
Footnotes
- Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for sojourner
- Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means My God is help
- Exodus 18:6 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac behold
- Exodus 18:11 Hebrew with them
- Exodus 19:13 That is, shot with an arrow
- Exodus 20:3 Or besides
- Exodus 20:6 Or to the thousandth generation
- Exodus 20:13 The Hebrew word also covers causing human death through carelessness or negligence
- Exodus 20:18 Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Masoretic Text the people saw
Exodus 18:1-20:23
New International Version
Exodus 18:1-20:23
New International Version
Jethro Visits Moses
18 Now Jethro,(A) the priest of Midian(B) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.(C)
2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,(D) his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons.(E) One son was named Gershom,[a] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;(F) 4 and the other was named Eliezer,[b](G) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;(H) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain(I) of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down(J) and kissed(K) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships(L) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved(M) them.
9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things(N) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord,(O) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,(P) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”(Q) 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,(R) brought a burnt offering(S) and other sacrifices(T) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal(U) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence(V) of God.
13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.(W) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(X) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(Y)
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.(Z) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(AA) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(AB) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(AC) and show them the way they are to live(AD) and how they are to behave.(AE) 21 But select capable men(AF) from all the people—men who fear(AG) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(AH)—and appoint them as officials(AI) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(AJ) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(AK) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders(AL) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(AM) 26 They served as judges(AN) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(AO) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(AP)
27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.(AQ)
At Mount Sinai
19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt(AR)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.(AS) 2 After they set out from Rephidim,(AT) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.(AU)
3 Then Moses went up to God,(AV) and the Lord called(AW) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(AX) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(AY) and brought you to myself.(AZ) 5 Now if you obey me fully(BA) and keep my covenant,(BB) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(BC) Although the whole earth(BD) is mine, 6 you[c] will be for me a kingdom of priests(BE) and a holy nation.’(BF) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders(BG) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(BH) 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(BI) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,(BJ) so that the people will hear me speaking(BK) with you and will always put their trust(BL) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(BM) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(BN) 11 and be ready by the third day,(BO) because on that day the Lord will come down(BP) on Mount Sinai(BQ) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(BR) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned(BS) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn(BT) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(BU)
14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(BV) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(BW) from sexual relations.”
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(BX) and lightning, with a thick cloud(BY) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(BZ) Everyone in the camp trembled.(CA) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(CB) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(CC) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(CD) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(CE) and the whole mountain[d] trembled(CF) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(CG) of God answered(CH) him.[e]
20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(CI) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see(CJ) the Lord and many of them perish.(CK) 22 Even the priests, who approach(CL) the Lord, must consecrate(CM) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”(CN)
23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,(CO) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits(CP) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron(CQ) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”(CR)
25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Ten Commandments(CS)
20 And God spoke(CT) all these words:(CU)
2 “I am the Lord your God,(CV) who brought you out(CW) of Egypt,(CX) out of the land of slavery.(CY)
3 “You shall have no other gods before[f] me.(CZ)
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image(DA) in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship(DB) them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,(DC) punishing the children for the sin of the parents(DD) to the third and fourth generation(DE) of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand(DF) generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.(DG)
8 “Remember the Sabbath(DH) day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,(DI) 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath(DJ) to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,(DK) the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested(DL) on the seventh day.(DM) Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother,(DN) so that you may live long(DO) in the land(DP) the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.(DQ)
14 “You shall not commit adultery.(DR)
15 “You shall not steal.(DS)
16 “You shall not give false testimony(DT) against your neighbor.(DU)
17 “You shall not covet(DV) your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet(DW) and saw the mountain in smoke,(DX) they trembled with fear.(DY) They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak(DZ) to us or we will die.”(EA)
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.(EB) God has come to test(EC) you, so that the fear(ED) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”(EE)
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness(EF) where God was.
Idols and Altars
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:(EG) 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me;(EH) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.(EI)
Footnotes
- Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
- Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means my God is helper.
- Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. 6 You
- Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
- Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder
- Exodus 20:3 Or besides
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.