Exodus 18:22 kjv
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.
Exodus 18:22 nkjv
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.
Exodus 18:22 niv
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.
Exodus 18:22 esv
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.
Exodus 18:22 nlt
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.
Exodus 18 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 1:9-18 | And I said to you at that time, 'I am not able to bear you by myself... So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and made them heads over you... | Moses recounts appointing judges as per Jethro's counsel. |
| Deut 16:18-20 | You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you... They shall judge the people with righteous judgment. | Divine command to establish local justice system. |
| 2 Chron 19:5-7 | He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities... and said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord..." | Later kings implement a similar judicial structure. |
| Num 11:16-17 | Then the Lord said to Moses, "Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel... and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them..." | God directly commissions delegation of spiritual authority. |
| Act 6:2-4 | The twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables... select from among you seven men..." | Apostolic principle of delegation for efficiency and focus. |
| 2 Cor 6:11-13 | You are restricted by your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. | Emphasizes opening hearts and sharing burdens. |
| Gal 6:2 | Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. | New Testament command for communal support. |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. | Wisdom in decentralization and shared counsel. |
| Prov 24:6 | For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. | Multiple perspectives lead to better decisions. |
| Exo 18:13 | The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. | Illustrates Moses' initial unsustainable workload. |
| Exo 18:21 | Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate a bribe... | Specifies the high moral qualifications of the delegated judges. |
| Job 29:14 | I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. | The importance of a judge embodying justice. |
| Ps 72:2 | May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! | A prayer for righteous judgment for the king. |
| Isa 1:17 | Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. | Divine expectation for justice in society. |
| Amos 5:24 | But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. | Prophetic call for abundant and consistent justice. |
| John 5:22 | For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son... | Jesus as the ultimate divine judge. |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | God's omnipresence in all matters, big or small. |
| Ps 82:3-4 | Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. | Charge to judges to protect the vulnerable. |
| Prov 29:4 | By justice a king builds up the land, but a man who takes bribes tears it down. | Impact of justice and corruption on a nation. |
| Zech 8:16 | These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace. | Calls for true and peaceful judgments at local gates (courts). |
| Jer 22:15 | Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. | Prosperity tied to leaders practicing justice. |
Exodus 18 verses
Exodus 18 22 Meaning
Exodus 18:22 outlines the establishment of a foundational, tiered judicial system for the Israelites. It specifies that a newly appointed class of judges would handle "small matters" continuously, while only "every great matter" would be referred to Moses. This delegation aimed to alleviate Moses' overwhelming burden and allow the chosen judges to share in the responsibility of governing the people by administering justice. It ensured greater accessibility to justice for all.
Exodus 18 22 Context
Exodus chapter 18 details the visit of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, to the Israelite camp in the wilderness. He observes Moses’ overwhelming and exhausting daily routine of sitting "from morning till evening" to arbitrate disputes for the entire multitude of Israelites (Exo 18:13-14). Jethro questions the sustainability of this system (Exo 18:17) and proposes a structured solution: delegating judicial responsibility to "able men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate a bribe" (Exo 18:21). Verse 22 specifically lays out the practical implementation of this proposed hierarchical system. This event occurs before the Israelites receive the detailed Law at Mount Sinai, highlighting the practical necessity of established governance and dispute resolution for a newly formed nation.
Exodus 18 22 Word analysis
- And let them judge (יִשְׁפְּטוּ - yishp'tu): From the root שָׁפַט (shaphat), which means not only to decide a legal case or render a verdict, but also to govern, administer, and maintain order. It implies a role beyond just arbiter, encompassing leadership and management of affairs. This delegation establishes formal administrative and judicial roles within the community.
- the people (הָעָם - ha'am): Refers to the common people, the entire Israelite community, emphasizing that justice was to be accessible to everyone, from the highest to the lowest, rather than exclusive.
- at all times (בְּכָל־עֵת - b'chol 'et): This phrase signifies continuous availability and consistent application of justice. The judges are not to be available only periodically, but are always on call to address disputes, ensuring a stable and efficient judicial process for the community.
- every great matter (כָל־הַדָּבָר הַגָּדֹל - kol ha'davar ha'gadol): Davar can mean "word," "thing," "matter," or "dispute." "Great" here implies not only complexity in terms of legal interpretation but also significant consequence for individuals or the community. These are the intricate cases that require ultimate divine wisdom and Moses' unique prophetic authority, or those with far-reaching implications for the nascent nation.
- they shall bring to you (יָבִיאוּ אֵלֶיךָ - yavi'u eilekha): Reinforces Moses' ultimate authority as the divinely appointed leader and primary mediator. All critical and difficult cases were to funnel up to him, ensuring that major decisions reflected God's direct guidance through His chosen servant.
- every small matter (כָל־הַדָּבָר הַקָּטֹן - kol ha'davar ha'qaton): Refers to less complex disputes or issues of lesser consequence. The vast majority of daily interactions and minor grievances fell into this category.
- they shall judge themselves (הֵמָּה יִשְׁפְּטוּ - hemma yishp'tu): The emphatic pronoun "they" highlights the independent authority granted to the chosen judges for routine cases. This decentralization empowered local leaders to make decisions promptly.
- So it will be easier for you (וְהֵקֵל מֵעָלֶיךָ - v'heqel me'alekha): Literally, "and it will lighten from upon you." This directly addresses the crushing burden Moses was under (Exo 18:13-14) and points to the practical benefit of delegation for leadership sustainability and well-being.
- and they will bear the burden with you (וְנָשׂוּא אִתָּךְ - v'nasu ittakh): The word for "burden" (massa') implies a heavy load or responsibility. This phrase emphasizes shared responsibility and co-labor, establishing a partnership in governance. It promotes collective ownership of the nation's welfare.
Exodus 18 22 Bonus section
- The implementation of this system before the formal giving of the Law at Sinai highlights that practical administration and accessible justice are foundational for any people, even as they await detailed divine legislation. It shows God's concern for ordered community life.
- Moses' humility in accepting Jethro's advice underscores that wise counsel can come from unexpected sources and a good leader is open to constructive feedback.
- The character requirements for the chosen judges (mentioned in the preceding verse, Exo 18:21) — "able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness" — are vital for the integrity of the entire system, ensuring that delegated authority is exercised righteously.
- This structure serves as a blueprint for leadership and ministry models in all times, illustrating that no single person can bear the entire load, and sharing responsibilities with qualified, godly individuals leads to greater efficiency and impact.
Exodus 18 22 Commentary
Exodus 18:22 represents a crucial organizational shift for Israel, moving from a single point of authority to a decentralized, yet hierarchical, system of governance and justice. Jethro's wise counsel, though from an outsider, was recognized and adopted by Moses because it addressed a practical necessity and resonated with divine wisdom for order and sustainable leadership. This verse, therefore, encapsulates principles of delegation, burden-sharing, and efficient administration. It ensured that justice was both accessible (by having many local judges for "small matters") and ultimately aligned with God's will (by reserving "great matters" for Moses). This model laid the groundwork for future Israelite judicial structures and exemplifies the wisdom in distributing leadership responsibilities for the well-being of the community.