“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.
Parallel translations
- WEB Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
- KJV And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
- NKJV And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
- NASB Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
- NLT Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Moses explains that the people come to him to inquire of God. He served as the mediator of God's will.
Overview
Moses understands his role as bringing the people's matters before God and conveying his answers. This mediatorial function was central to his calling, but it had become overwhelming as the sole channel. Moses' role as mediator between God and the people anticipates the perfect mediation of Christ between God and humanity (1 Tim. 2:5).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Num 15:34and because it had not been declared what should be done to him, they placed him in custody.
- Num 27:5So Moses brought their case before the LORD,
- Num 9:6But 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
- Deut 17:8–13If 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.
- Num 9:8“Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you,” Moses replied.
- Lev 24:12–14They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.
- Exod 18:19–20Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 18:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.