Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. New Living Translation They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. English Standard Version And let them judge the people at all times. 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 bear the burden with you. Berean Standard Bible Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you. King James Bible 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. New King James Version And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. New American Standard Bible Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will carry the burden with you. NASB 1995 “Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. NASB 1977 “And let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. Legacy Standard Bible And they will judge the people at all times. And it will be that every major matter they will bring to you, but every minor matter they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. Amplified Bible They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. Christian Standard Bible They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every major case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you. Holman Christian Standard Bible They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you. American Standard Version 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. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And they shall be judges to the people in every time and when a great matter will come to you, those shall judge all small matters and it will unburden you and they will bear it with you. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they shall judge the people at all times, and the too burdensome matter they shall bring to thee, but they shall judge the smaller cases; so they shall relieve thee and help thee. Contemporary English Version These judges can handle the ordinary cases and bring the more difficult ones to you. Having them to share the load will make your work easier. Douay-Rheims Bible Who may judge the people at all times: and when any great matter soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them judge the lesser matters only: that so it may be lighter for thee, the burden being shared out unto others. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation Let them be the ones who usually settle disagreements among the people. They should bring all important cases to you, but they should settle all minor cases themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them help you. Good News Translation Let them serve as judges for the people on a permanent basis. They can bring all the difficult cases to you, but they themselves can decide all the smaller disputes. That will make it easier for you, as they share your burden. International Standard Version They are to judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and they'll bear it with you. JPS Tanakh 1917 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 they make it easier for thee and bear the burden with thee. Literal Standard Version and they have judged the people at all times; and it has come to pass, they bring every great matter to you, and they judge every small matter themselves; and lighten it from off yourself, and they have borne with you. Majority Standard Bible Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you. New American Bible Let these render decisions for the people in all routine cases. Every important case they should refer to you, but every lesser case they can settle themselves. Lighten your burden by letting them bear it with you! NET Bible They will judge the people under normal circumstances, and every difficult case they will bring to you, but every small case they themselves will judge, so that you may make it easier for yourself, and they will bear the burden with you. New Revised Standard Version Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. New Heart English Bible Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you. Webster's Bible Translation And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring to thee, but every small matter they shall judge: So shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. World English Bible Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you. Young's Literal Translation 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. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jethro Advises Moses…21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you. 23If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”… Cross References Exodus 18:23 If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace." Exodus 18:26 And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves. Numbers 11:17 And I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put that Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself. Deuteronomy 1:17 Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it." Deuteronomy 1:18 And at that time I commanded you all the things you were to do. Treasury of Scripture And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for yourself, and they shall bear the burden with you. at all seasons Exodus 18:26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. Romans 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. great Leviticus 24:11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) Numbers 15:33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. Numbers 27:2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, they shall Exodus 18:18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Numbers 11:17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. Jump to Previous Bear Burden Case Cases Causes Decide Decisions Difficult Dispute Easier Great Hard Important Judge Judges Load Major Matter Minor Questions Seasons Serve Share Simple Small Themselves Thyself Times Way WeightJump to Next Bear Burden Case Cases Causes Decide Decisions Difficult Dispute Easier Great Hard Important Judge Judges Load Major Matter Minor Questions Seasons Serve Share Simple Small Themselves Thyself Times Way WeightExodus 18 1. Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses7. 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 (22) At all seasons.--Not on occasional court days, as had been the custom of Moses, but day by day continually. Every great matter they shall bring unto thee.--It must have been left to the judges themselves to decide what were "great" and what were "small matters." Under ordinary circumstances, courts would be inclined to extend their jurisdiction, and take enlarged views of their competency; but the difficulties of desert life were such as to counteract this inclination, and induce men to contract, rather than widen, their responsibilities. When the wilderness life was ended, the judicial system of Jethro came to an end also, and a system at once simpler and more elastic was adopted. Verse 22. - Let them judge the people at all seasons. Instead of occasional court-days, on which Moses sat from morning to evening hearing causes, judgments were to be given continually by the rulers of tens, fifties, etc., the accumulation of untried causes being thus avoided, and punishment following promptly on the committal of an offence. The elaborately minute organisation was only suited for the period of the wanderings, and was of a semi-military character, such as might have suited an army on the march When the Israelites became settled dwellers in Palestine, such a multiplicity of judges was unnecessary, and was discontinued. So shall it be easier. Literally, "So make it easier." Compare ver. 18.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Have [these men] judgeוְשָׁפְט֣וּ (wə·šā·p̄ə·ṭū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate the people הָעָם֮ (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock at all בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every times. עֵת֒ (‘êṯ) Noun - common singular Strong's 6256: Time, now, when Then וְהָיָ֞ה (wə·hā·yāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be they can bring יָבִ֣יאוּ (yā·ḇî·’ū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go you אֵלֶ֔יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to any כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every major הַגָּדֹל֙ (hag·gā·ḏōl) Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent issue, הַדָּבָ֤ר (had·dā·ḇār) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause but all וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every minor הַקָּטֹ֖ן (haq·qā·ṭōn) Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant cases הַדָּבָ֥ר (had·dā·ḇār) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause they can judge יִשְׁפְּטוּ־ (yiš·pə·ṭū-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate on their own, הֵ֑ם (hêm) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They so that your load may be lightened וְהָקֵל֙ (wə·hā·qêl) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling as they share וְנָשְׂא֖וּ (wə·nā·śə·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take it with you. אִתָּֽךְ׃ (’it·tāḵ) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among Links Exodus 18:22 NIVExodus 18:22 NLT Exodus 18:22 ESV Exodus 18:22 NASB Exodus 18:22 KJV Exodus 18:22 BibleApps.com Exodus 18:22 Biblia Paralela Exodus 18:22 Chinese Bible Exodus 18:22 French Bible Exodus 18:22 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 18:22 Let them judge the people at all (Exo. 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