Exodus 18:19

Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jethro speaks to Moses at the moment Jethro observes that Moses alone cannot sustain the people's judicial workload. He offers counsel immediately before prescribing a system of delegated judges.

The words — `שְׁמַ֤ע (she.Ma')` means listen, and `אִיעָ֣צְ/ךָ֔ ('i.'A.tze./kha)` means let me advise you. These terms frame the verse as a direct command to receive guidance before implementation.

The thread — The theme of God's presence accompanies leadership in Exodus 3:12 and Genesis 39:2. The duty of bringing cases before the LORD appears in Numbers 27:5.

Why it lands — The text demands acceptance of structured delegation and acknowledges that administrative tasks require divine presence. A reader must recognize that human judgment operates only under God's authority and instruction.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

עַתָּ֞ה'a.Tahnow שְׁמַ֤עshe.Ma'listen בְּקֹלִי֙be./ko.L/ito/ voice/ my אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔'i.'A.tze./khalet me advise/ you וִיהִ֥יvi./Hiand/ may he be אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimGod עִמָּ֑ךְ'i.Ma/khwith/ you הֱיֵ֧הhe.Yehbe אַתָּ֣ה'a.Tahyou לָעָ֗םla./'Amfor the/ people מ֚וּלmulin front of הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha./'E.lo.Him<the>/ God וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ve./he.ve.Taand/ you will bring אַתָּ֛ה'a.Tahyou אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַדְּבָרִ֖יםha./de.va.Rimthe/ matters אֶל־'el-to הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha./'E.lo.Him<the>/ God

King James Version

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

Cross-references

Numbers 27:5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD,
Genesis 39:2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
Exodus 3:12 “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”
Exodus 20:19 “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”
Deuteronomy 5:5 At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. And He said:
Exodus 4:12 Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
Exodus 4:16 He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and it will be as if you were God to him.
Exodus 18:15 “Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.
Exodus 18:24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
Deuteronomy 20:1 When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.