Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God.
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:
- BSB “Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.
- 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.
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 15:34They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him.
- Num 27:5Moses brought their cause before Yahweh.
- Num 9:6There were certain men, who were unclean because of the dead body of a man, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day.
- Deut 17:8–13If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates; then you shall arise, and go up to the place which Yahweh your God chooses.
- Num 9:8Moses answered them, “Wait, that I may hear what Yahweh will command concerning you.”
- Lev 24:12–14They put him in custody, until Yahweh’s will should be declared to them.
- Exod 18:19–20Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.