If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
Parallel translations
- WEB If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”
- BSB 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.”
- NKJV If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”
- NASB If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their places in peace.”
- NLT If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
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
Jethro says that if Moses does this with God's approval, he will endure and the people will go home in peace. Wise, God-sanctioned delegation brings lasting peace.
Overview
Jethro submits his counsel to God's confirmation, recognizing that any plan must accord with the Lord's will. The promised result is endurance for Moses and peace for the people, fruits of ordered, shared leadership. This wisdom shows that God's work prospers through humble counsel and structures that honor both his authority and human limits.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Exod 18:18Thou 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.
- 1 Sam 8:6–7But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
- 1 Sam 8:22And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
- 2 Sam 18:3But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
- Gen 21:10–12Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
- Gen 18:33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
- Gen 30:25And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
- 2 Sam 19:39And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
- Phil 1:24–25Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
- Acts 15:2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
- 2 Sam 21:17But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
- Gal 2:2And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
- Exod 16:29See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
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 18:23 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
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