Exodus 18:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע יִתְר֨וֹ כֹהֵ֤ן מִדְיָן֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־הוֹצִ֧יא יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

Transliteration

wə-yišmaʿ yitrô kōhēn midyān ḥōtēn mōšeh ʾēt all-which ʿāśāh ʾĕlōhîm to-mōšeh and-to-yiśrāʾēl ʿammô that-hôṣîʾ YHWH ʾet-yiśrāʾēl from-miṣrayim

Grammar Details

• *wə*-*yišmaʿ*: consecutive imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he heard
• *yitrô*: proper noun, masculine singular - Jethro
• *kōhēn*: noun, masculine singular construct - priest of
• *midyān*: proper noun - Midian
• *ḥōtēn*: noun, masculine singular construct - father-in-law of
• *mōšeh*: proper noun - Moses
• *ʾēt*: direct object marker
• *ʿāśāh*: perfect, 3rd masculine singular - had done
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: noun, masculine plural (with singular meaning) - God
• *ʿammô*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his people
• *hôṣîʾ*: perfect, 3rd masculine singular, hiphil form - had brought out
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the LORD
• *miṣrayim*: proper noun - Egypt

Word Meanings

• *yitrô*: Jethro (meaning 'his excellence/abundance')
• *ḥōtēn*: father-in-law/relative by marriage
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: God/gods/divine beings/mighty ones
• *ʿammô*: his people/his nation/his folk

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt,

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now Jethro,{H3503} the priest{H3548} of Midian,{H4080} Moses'{H4872} father-in-law,{H2859} heard{H8085} of all that God{H430} had done{H6213} for Moses,{H4872} and for Israel{H3478} his people,{H5971} how that Jehovah{H3068} had brought{H3318} Israel{H3478} out of Egypt.{H4714}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  When Jethro{H3503}, the priest{H3548} of Midian{H4080}, Moses{H4872}' father in law{H2859}{(H8802)}, heard{H8085}{(H8799)} of all that God{H430} had done{H6213}{(H8804)} for Moses{H4872}, and for Israel{H3478} his people{H5971}, and that the LORD{H3068} had brought{H3318}{(H8689)} Israel{H3478} out of Egypt{H4714};

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Iethro the prest of Madian Moses father in lawe herde of all that God had done vnto Moses and to Israel his people, how that the Lorde had broughte Israel out of Egipte.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And whan Iethro ye prest in Madian Moses father in lawe herde of all yt God had done wt Moses & his people of Israel, how yt the LORDE had brought Israel out of Egipte,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  When Iethro the Priest of Midian Moses father in lawe heard all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and howe the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Iethro ye priest of Madian Moyses father in lawe, heard of all that god had donefor Moyses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, [and] that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Jethro priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moses, heareth all that God hath done for Moses, and for Israel his people, that Jehovah hath brought out Israel from Egypt,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now news came to Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, of all God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, and how the Lord had taken Israel out of Egypt.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Advice of Jethro Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Referenced Verses

• Exod 2:16 : 16 Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father's flock.
• Exod 3:1 : 1 Now Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
• Ps 77:14-15 : 14 Your way, O God, is holy. Who is so great a God as our God? 15 You are the God who works wonders; You have made Your power known among the peoples.
• Ps 78:4 : 4 We will not hide them from their children, but will tell the next generation the praises of the Lord, His strength, and the wonders He has done.
• Ps 78:50-53 : 50 He prepared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague. 51 He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52 But He led His people like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness. 53 He led them safely, so they were unafraid, but the sea covered their enemies.
• Ps 105:5 : 5 Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He has spoken.
• Ps 105:36-41 : 36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength. 37 Then he brought them out with silver and gold, and none among his tribes stumbled. 38 Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon them. 39 He spread a cloud as a covering and fire to give light at night. 40 They asked, and he brought quail; he satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.
• Ps 105:43 : 43 He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with joyful singing.
• Ps 106:2 : 2 Who can declare the mighty acts of the LORD or proclaim all His praise?
• Ps 106:8-9 : 8 Yet He saved them for His name’s sake, to make His mighty power known. 9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a wilderness. 10 He saved them from the hand of the one who hated them; He redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.
• Ps 136:10-16 : 10 To Him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for His steadfast love endures forever. 11 And brought Israel out from among them, for His steadfast love endures forever. 12 With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, for His steadfast love endures forever. 13 To Him who divided the Red Sea into parts, for His steadfast love endures forever. 14 And made Israel pass through its midst, for His steadfast love endures forever. 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for His steadfast love endures forever. 16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, for His steadfast love endures forever.
• Isa 63:11-13 : 11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people: Where is the one who brought them up out of the sea, along with the shepherds of his flock? Where is the one who set his Holy Spirit among them, 12 who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses' right hand, who divided the waters before them to gain for himself an everlasting name, 13 who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble;
• Jer 33:9 : 9 Then this city will bring me joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth who hear of all the good I do for it. They will tremble in awe because of all the goodness and peace I provide for it.
• Zech 8:23 : 23 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: In those days, ten men from every language and nation will take hold of the robe of a Jewish man and say, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’
• Acts 7:35-36 : 35 This same Moses, whom they had rejected by saying, 'Who made you ruler and judge?'—this is the one God sent as ruler and deliverer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This is the one who led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.
• Acts 14:27 : 27 When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
• Acts 15:12 : 12 The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they narrated all the signs and wonders that God had done among the Gentiles through them.
• Acts 21:19-20 : 19 After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of everything God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him, 'You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.'
• Rom 15:18 : 18 I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done.
• Gal 1:23-24 : 23 They only heard the report: 'The one who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.' 24 And they glorified God because of me.
• Exod 4:18 : 18 Then Moses went back to Jethro, his father-in-law, and said to him, 'Please let me return to my relatives in Egypt to see if they are still alive.' And Jethro said to Moses, 'Go in peace.'
• Exod 7:1-9 : 1 The Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet." 2 You shall speak everything I command you, and your brother Aaron will speak to Pharaoh, so that he may let the Israelites go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and I will multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you, so I will stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring my armies—my people, the Israelites—out of the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them. 6 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh. 8 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 "When Pharaoh says to you, 'Perform a miracle,' you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent.'" 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. 11 Pharaoh then summoned the wise men and sorcerers, and the magicians of Egypt did the same things by their secret arts. 12 Each one threw down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go. 15 "Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the water. Wait to meet him by the riverbank, and take in your hand the staff that was turned into a snake.
• Num 10:29 : 29 Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law: "We are setting out for the place about which the LORD said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things for Israel."
• Josh 2:10 : 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.
• Josh 9:9 : 9 They answered him, “Your servants have come from a very distant land because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard of His fame and all He did in Egypt,
• Judg 4:11 : 11 Meanwhile, Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses, and pitched his tent near the great tree in Zaanannim, which is beside Kedesh.
• Neh 9:10-11 : 10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew how arrogantly they treated them. And You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day. 11 You divided the sea before them, and they passed through it on dry ground. But You cast their pursuers into the depths like a stone into mighty waters.
• Ps 34:2 : 2 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
• Ps 44:1 : 1 For the director of music. A contemplative psalm of the sons of Korah.
• Exod 2:18 : 18 When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked, 'Why have you returned so early today?'
• Exod 2:21 : 21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.