Exodus 18:25 kjv

And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Exodus 18:25 nkjv

And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Exodus 18:25 niv

He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Exodus 18:25 esv

Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

Exodus 18:25 nlt

He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.

Exodus 18 verses

Exodus 18 25 Meaning

Exodus 18:25 records Moses' humble and complete obedience to the wise counsel of his father-in-law, Jethro. After observing Moses burdened by judging all the people, Jethro advised him to delegate responsibilities, appointing trustworthy men to handle lesser disputes and bring only major issues to Moses. This verse signifies Moses' acceptance and immediate implementation of this counsel, establishing a foundational administrative structure for the nascent nation of Israel.

Exodus 18 25 Context

Exodus chapter 18 details the visit of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, a Midianite priest, who brought Moses' wife Zipporah and his two sons to him. Upon arriving, Jethro rejoiced at God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt. He then observed Moses sitting alone from morning till evening, serving as the sole judge and instructor for all the Israelites who came to him with their disputes. Seeing the unsustainable burden on Moses and the people, Jethro, filled with practical wisdom (and implicitly, divine guidance, as Moses acknowledged), advised Moses to delegate this immense task. He proposed establishing a hierarchical system of capable, God-fearing men to serve as judges over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, with only the most difficult cases brought to Moses. The context highlights the transition from a miraculous liberation to the pragmatic organization of a large community, demonstrating the necessity of effective leadership structures even for a people led directly by God. Moses' response in verse 25 is the immediate, humble, and thorough adoption of this wise administrative framework.

Exodus 18 25 Word analysis

• So (וַיַּעַשׂ, vayya'as / וַיִּשְׁמַע, vaysh'ma): The Hebrew connective vav ("and," "so") links Moses' action directly to Jethro's counsel. It indicates immediate consequence and initiation of action.
• Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Moshe): The preeminent leader, chosen by God to mediate the covenant, yet demonstrates profound humility in accepting counsel from another, particularly a non-Israelite. This shows that divine appointment does not preclude the need for human wisdom and practical advice.
• listened (שָׁמַע, shama'): This word implies more than merely hearing sound. In biblical Hebrew, shama' signifies not just listening but heeding, obeying, understanding, and acting upon. It connotes receptive attention and internal assent that leads to corresponding action. It highlights Moses' teachability.
• to his father-in-law (אֶל-חֹתְנוֹ, 'el-chot'no): Jethro (or Reuel), Moses' father-in-law, was a Midianite priest, an outsider to Israel. Moses' acceptance of counsel from this non-Israelite, familial figure demonstrates humility and wisdom in valuing truth and good advice regardless of its source, aligning with divine providence that can use anyone to deliver wisdom.
• and did (וַיַּעַשׂ, vaya'as): From the root עָשָׂה ('asah), meaning "to do," "make," or "perform." This emphasizes concrete, practical implementation. Moses didn't just agree mentally; he executed the plan, showing decisiveness and commitment.
• all (כָּל־אֲשֶׁר, kol-'asher): The word kol means "all," "every," "the whole of." It signifies the completeness and thoroughness of Moses' compliance. He did not pick and choose but embraced the entire scheme suggested by Jethro, showing full trust and submission to the wise counsel.
• that he had said (דִּבֵּר, dibber): From the root דָּבַר (davar), meaning "to speak," often implying a weighty, purposeful, and comprehensive speech. This refers directly to Jethro's detailed instructions for the hierarchical delegation system given in the preceding verses.

Word-group analysis

• "So Moses listened to his father-in-law": This phrase highlights Moses' exceptional humility and openness to receive practical wisdom. Despite his unique position as God's chosen leader, Moses recognized the value of external, human counsel, especially from a respected elder figure. It exemplifies the wise leader's disposition: receptive, not resistant, to critique and constructive advice.
• "and did all that he had said": This second part emphasizes the immediate and comprehensive implementation of the counsel. It wasn't just agreement in principle, but swift action. The phrase "all that he had said" underscores Moses' thoroughness, adopting the entire administrative structure as suggested, which laid a vital groundwork for Israel's legal and social organization. It speaks to obedience not just in thought but in deed, covering every aspect of Jethro's advice.

Exodus 18 25 Bonus section

The account of Jethro's counsel and Moses' acceptance also serves as a subtle theological statement: God's wisdom is not limited to those within the Israelite covenant at this nascent stage. Jethro, a Midianite priest, appears as a channel of divine common grace and practical wisdom. This foreshadows a broader understanding of God's work in the world, often through unexpected means and people, even those not yet directly part of His chosen people. The swift and comprehensive implementation by Moses speaks to the practical, not just spiritual, aspects of living in God's will; administrative efficiency and proper delegation are also part of righteous living and community flourishing. This administrative framework laid down in Exodus 18 became the bedrock for Israel's legal and judicial system, referenced and expanded upon in Deuteronomy 1 and enduring through generations. It shows God's plan involves both divine revelation and the sensible ordering of human affairs.

Exodus 18 25 Commentary

Exodus 18:25 encapsulates a crucial lesson in effective leadership, wise counsel, and practical administration within a divinely guided community. Moses, the singular recipient of God's direct revelation for Israel, demonstrates profound humility by heeding the strategic advice of his Midianite father-in-law, Jethro. This act of "listening" (שָׁמַע, shama') goes beyond mere hearing; it signifies receptive obedience that immediately leads to "doing" (עָשָׂה, 'asah), implementing all of Jethro's suggested structure for delegated authority.

This verse is foundational because it shows how divine will and human wisdom can coalesce for practical benefit. God chose Moses, yet provided the organizational solution through Jethro, an outside observer. This highlights that wisdom can come from unexpected sources and that even God's chosen leaders need practical support and administrative frameworks. The principles exemplified here—recognizing the limits of individual capacity, sharing burdens, valuing wise counsel, and promptly implementing good advice—are timeless. They speak to the necessity of establishing clear lines of authority, distributing responsibility, and empowering others in any large or growing endeavor, whether a nation, an organization, or a church. It directly addresses the risk of burnout for leaders and the inefficiencies that can plague a large group if authority is overly centralized. Moses' willingness to delegate was a critical step in building the robust framework needed for the fledgling nation of Israel.

• Examples for practical usage:
  • A church pastor realizing burnout from personal counseling every member and establishing a system of elders and deacons to care for specific needs.
  • A business owner delegating responsibilities to department heads instead of micromanaging every task, thereby increasing overall efficiency.
  • A spiritual leader humbly seeking advice from experienced mentors or even community members, despite their position.