Exodus 18:14 kjv

And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

Exodus 18:14 nkjv

So when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?"

Exodus 18:14 niv

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?"

Exodus 18:14 esv

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?"

Exodus 18:14 nlt

When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?"

Exodus 18 verses

Exodus 18 14 Meaning

Exodus 18:14 reveals Jethro's direct observation of Moses' strenuous judicial activities, leading him to question the intense, solo workload Moses bore in judging the vast Israelite population from dawn until dusk. It highlights Moses' overwhelming burden and the practical, human impossibility of sustaining such an intense, unassisted ministry without external help or system.

Exodus 18 14 Context

Exodus chapter 18 records the significant visit of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, a Midianite priest, after hearing of God's mighty deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Upon meeting Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel, Jethro rejoiced in Yahweh's greatness, acknowledging Him with a sacrifice and communal meal (Exo 18:1-12). The immediate context of verse 14 occurs "on the next day" (Exo 18:13) when Jethro observes Moses undertaking the overwhelming task of single-handedly judging all the disputes and instructions for the vast congregation of Israel, a practice Moses maintained from morning till evening. This verse sets the stage for Jethro's pivotal counsel to Moses to delegate responsibilities, ensuring both Moses' well-being and more efficient, sustained justice for the people. Historically, such singular leadership in a massive new nation was unsustainable and unheard of in complex societies.

Exodus 18 14 Word analysis

• And when Moses’ father-in-law (וַיַּרְא חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה – vayyar khothen Mosheh):

  • וַיַּרְא (vayyar) - "and he saw" (from רָאָה, ra'ah): Implies not just a casual glance but an attentive, perceptive observation and understanding of the situation. Jethro wasn't just noticing, he was analyzing the scope of Moses' work. His previous actions in the chapter (offering sacrifice, discussing God's work) indicate his wisdom and spiritual discernment, making his observation authoritative.
  • חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה (khothen Mosheh) - "Moses' father-in-law": Jethro's familial relation provided him the natural intimacy and right to address Moses directly. His status as a priest (of Midian, possibly recognizing Yahweh) and elder further lent credibility to his upcoming counsel. He stands as a wise Gentile outsider, demonstrating God's wisdom is not limited to Israelite prophecy, but also accessible through natural wisdom guided by observation and common sense, often aligning with divine purposes.

• saw all that he did for the people, (אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר הוּא עֹשֶׂה לָעָם – et kol-asher hu oseh la'am):

  • כָּל־אֲשֶׁר הוּא עֹשֶׂה (kol-asher hu oseh) - "all that he was doing": Emphasizes the sheer volume, breadth, and ceaseless nature of Moses' tasks. Moses wasn't just settling disputes; he was also teaching them God's statutes and laws (Exo 18:16). This was an immense, multi-faceted burden.
  • לָעָם (la'am) - "for the people": The recipients were the entire multitude of Israel, a number too vast for one man to manage effectively or justly.

• he said, (וַיֹּאמֶר – vayomer) - "and he said": This marks Jethro's transition from observation to verbal counsel. His statement is not accusatory but questioning, designed to elicit reflection.

• “Why are you sitting alone, (מַדּוּעַ אַתָּה יוֹשֵׁב לְבַדֶּךָ – maddua attah yoshev levaddekhah):

  • מַדּוּעַ (maddua) - "Why?": A probing question, indicating concern and prompting Moses to articulate the rationale (or lack thereof) for his method.
  • יוֹשֵׁב (yoshev) - "sitting": A posture associated with authority, judging, and teaching (e.g., Ps 1:1, Mat 23:2). Moses was formally exercising his judicial and teaching roles.
  • לְבַדֶּךָ (levaddekhah) - "alone": This is the crux of Jethro's concern. Moses' isolation in this colossal task was the problem—it was inefficient, unsustainable, and spiritually draining. It highlighted the absence of distributed leadership and shared burden.

• and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” (וְכָל־הָעָם נִצָּב עָלֶיךָ מִן־בֹּקֶר עַד־עָרֶב – vekol-ha'am nitzav alekha min-boker ad-erev):

  • נִצָּב עָלֶיךָ (nitzav alekha) - "standing before/upon you": The word nitzav can mean standing in readiness, or persistently present. Coupled with ʿalekha (upon/over you), it suggests the immense pressure and continuous stream of people waiting. The sheer visual image would have conveyed the crushing demands on Moses.
  • מִן־בֹּקֶר עַד־עָרֶב (min-boker ad-erev) - "from morning until evening": This phrase explicitly conveys the extreme duration of Moses' work, emphasizing the exhausting nature of the daily routine and its unfeasibility for proper judgment and the welfare of both Moses and the people. It demonstrates a complete lack of time for rest, contemplation, or other leadership duties.

Exodus 18 14 Bonus section

This verse implicitly lays groundwork for key biblical principles:

• Preventive Wisdom: Jethro’s intervention prevents a crisis (e.g., Moses’ burnout, or delayed/flawed justice for the people) before it fully materializes.
• The Universality of Wisdom: Sound principles of leadership and organization are discernible by observation and reason, and God can use any person, even a non-Israelite, to impart vital wisdom that aligns with His will.
• Stewardship of Gifts and Time: Moses, in trying to do everything himself, was not optimally stewarding his unique gifts (direct communication with God, law-giving) or his limited time. Delegation allows the chief leader to focus on core, non-delegable responsibilities.

Exodus 18 14 Commentary

Exodus 18:14 serves as a vital transition point in the narrative of Israel's early leadership structure. Jethro’s keen observation reveals an unsustainable model of governance—Moses, despite his divine calling and unique communion with God, was overwhelmed by administrative demands. The verse highlights that even a leader chosen by God is not exempt from the practical necessities of effective management and delegation. Jethro's gentle but direct questioning exposes Moses’ solitary burden, setting the stage for the pivotal shift towards shared leadership. This counsel, although from an "outsider," perfectly aligns with God's ultimate design for efficient, righteous leadership that benefits both the leader and the led. It underscores the divine wisdom embedded in practical delegation, preventing burnout and ensuring the proper administration of justice and law for a multitude.