Hebrew Torah  - Transliterated & Translated - Verse by Verse & with Commentary

Shemot Chapter 18

א וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ כֹהֵן מִדְיָן חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לְמֹשֶׁה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ: כִּי-הוֹצִיא יְהוָה אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם

Vayishma Yitro chohen Midyan choten Moshe et kol-asher asah Elokim le-Moshe ule-Yisra'el amo ki-hotzi HASHEM et-Yisra'el miMitzrayim.

1. Moshe's father-in-law, Yitro, the priest of Midyan, heard about all that G-d had done for Moshe and for His people Yisrael when HASHEM brought Yisrael out of Egypt.

ב וַיִּקַּח יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה אֶת-צִפֹּרָה אֵשֶׁת מֹשֶׁה--אַחַר שִׁלּוּחֶיהָ

Vayikach Yitro choten Moshe et-Tzipporah eshet Moshe achar shilucheiha.

2. Moshe's father-in-law, Yitro, took Moshe's wife, Tzipporah, who had earlier been sent home,

ג וְאֵת שְׁנֵי בָנֶיהָ: אֲשֶׁר שֵׁם הָאֶחָד גֵּרְשֹׁם--כִּי אָמַר גֵּר הָיִיתִי בְּאֶרֶץ נָכְרִיָּה

Ve'et shnei vaneiha asher shem ha'echad Gershom ki amar ger hayiti be'eretz nochryah.

3. along with her two sons. The name of one was Gershom, because [Moshe] had declared, "I was a stranger in a foreign land."

ד וְשֵׁם הָאֶחָד אֱלִיעֶזֶר--כִּי-אֱלֹהֵי אָבִי בְּעֶזְרִי וַיַּצִּלֵנִי מֵחֶרֶב פַּרְעֹה

Veshem ha'echad Eli'ezer ki-Elokei avi be'ezri vayatzileni mecherev Par'oh.

4. The name of [the other] one was Eliezer, because "My father's G-d was my help (ezer), and rescued me from Pharaoh's sword.

ה וַיָּבֹא יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה וּבָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּוֹ--אֶל-מֹשֶׁה: אֶל-הַמִּדְבָּר אֲשֶׁר-הוּא חֹנֶה שָׁם--הַר הָאֱלֹהִים

Vayavo Yitro choten Moshe uvanav ve'ishto el-Moshe el-hamidbar asher-hu choneh sham har ha'Elokim

5. Moshe's father-in-law, Yitro, along with [Moshe's] sons and wife, came to Moshe, to the desert where he was staying, at G-d's Mountain.

ו וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-מֹשֶׁה אֲנִי חֹתֶנְךָ יִתְרוֹ בָּא אֵלֶיךָ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ--וּשְׁנֵי בָנֶיהָ עִמָּהּ

Vayomer el-Moshe ani chotencha Yitro ba eleicha ve'ishtecha ushnei vaneiha imah.

6. He said to Moshe, "I, Yitro, your father-in-law, am coming to you along with your wife. Her two sons are with her."

ז וַיֵּצֵא מֹשֶׁה לִקְרַאת חֹתְנוֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ וַיִּשַּׁק-לוֹ וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ אִישׁ-לְרֵעֵהוּ לְשָׁלוֹם; וַיָּבֹאוּ הָאֹהֱלָה

Vayete Moshe likrat chotno vayishtachu vayishak-lo vayish'alu ish-lere'ehu leshalom vayavo'u ha'ohelah.

7. Moshe went out to greet his father-in-law. He prostrated himself and kissed him. They inquired about each other's welfare, and went into the tent.

ח וַיְסַפֵּר מֹשֶׁה לְחֹתְנוֹ אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוָה לְפַרְעֹה וּלְמִצְרַיִם עַל אוֹדֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל: אֵת כָּל-הַתְּלָאָה אֲשֶׁר מְצָאָתַם בַּדֶּרֶךְ וַיַּצִּלֵם יְהוָה

Vayesaper Moshe lechoteno et kol-asher asah HASHEM le-Far'oh ul-Mitzrayim al odot Yisra'el et kol-hatla'ah asher metza'atam baderech vayatzilem HASHEM.

8. Moshe told his father-in-law about all that HASHEM had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt forthe sake of Yisrael, as well as all the hardship that had befallen them on the way, and [how] HASHEM had rescued them.

ט וַיִּחַדְּ יִתְרוֹ--עַל כָּל-הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה יְהוָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: אֲשֶׁר הִצִּילוֹ מִיַּד מִצְרָיִם

Vayichad Yitro al kol-hatovah asher-asah HASHEM le-Yisra'el asher hitzilo miyad Mitzrayim.

9. Yitro expressed joy because of all the good that HASHEM had done for Yisrael, that He had rescued them from the hand of Egypt.

י וַיֹּאמֶר יִתְרוֹ בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד מִצְרַיִם וּמִיַּד פַּרְעֹה: אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל אֶת-הָעָם מִתַּחַת יַד-מִצְרָיִם

Vayomer Yitro baruch HASHEM asher hitzil etchem miyad Mitzrayim umiyad Par'oh asher hitzil et-ha'am mitachat yad-Mitzrayim.

10. Yitro said, "Blessd be HASHEM, Who rescued you from the hand of Egypt and from the hand of Pharaoh - Who rescued the people from under the hand of Egypt."

יא עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי-גָדוֹל יְהוָה מִכָּל-הָאֱלֹהִים: כִּי בַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר זָדוּ עֲלֵיהֶם

Atah yadati ki-gadol HASHEM mikol-ha'elohim ki vadavar asher zadu aleihem.

11. "Now I know that HASHEM is greater than all dieties, [especially] because of the way they plotted against [the people]."

יב וַיִּקַּח יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה עֹלָה וּזְבָחִים--לֵאלֹהִים; וַיָּבֹא אַהֲרֹן וְכֹל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֶאֱכָל-לֶחֶם עִם-חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה--לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים

Vayikach Yitro choten Moshe olah uzvachim l'Elokim vayavo Aharon vechol ziknei Yisra'el le'echol-lechem im-choten Moshe lifnei ha'Elokim.

12. Moshe's father-in-law Yitro brought burnt offerings and sacrifices to G-d. Aharon and all the elders of Yisrael came to break bread with Moshe's father-in-law before G-d.

יג וַיְהִי מִמָּחֳרָת וַיֵּשֶׁב מֹשֶׁה לִשְׁפֹּט אֶת-הָעָם וַיַּעֲמֹד הָעָם עַל-מֹשֶׁה מִן-הַבֹּקֶר עַד-הָעָרֶב

Vayehi mimachorat vayeshev Moshe lishpot et-ha'am vaya'amod ha'am al-Moshe min-haboker ad-ha'arev.

13. It was the next day. Moshe sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moshe from the morning until the evening.

יד וַיַּרְא חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-הוּא עֹשֶׂה לָעָם וַיֹּאמֶר מָה-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה לָעָם--מַדּוּעַ אַתָּה יוֹשֵׁב לְבַדֶּךָ וְכָל-הָעָם נִצָּב עָלֶיךָ מִן-בֹּקֶר עַד-עָרֶב

Vayar choten Moshe et kol-asher-hu oseh la'am vayomer mah-hadavar hazeh asher atah oseh la'am madua atah yoshev levadecha vechol-ha'am nitzav aleicha min-boker ad-arev.

14. Moshe's father-in-law saw all that [Moshe] was doing for the people. He said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting all by yourself, with all the people standing over you from morning until evening?"

טו וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה לְחֹתְנוֹ: כִּי-יָבֹא אֵלַי הָעָם לִדְרֹשׁ אֱלֹהִים

Vayomer Moshe lechotno ki-yavo elai ha'am lidrosh Elokim.

15. Moshe replied to his father-in-law, "The people are coming to me to seek G-d."

טז כִּי-יִהְיֶה לָהֶם דָּבָר בָּא אֵלַי וְשָׁפַטְתִּי בֵּין אִישׁ וּבֵין רֵעֵהוּ וְהוֹדַעְתִּי אֶת-חֻקֵּי הָאֱלֹהִים וְאֶת-תּוֹרֹתָיו

Ki-yihyeh lahem davar ba elai veshafateti bein ish uvein re'ehu vehodati et-chukei ha'Elokim ve'et-torotav.

16. "Whenever they have a concern, they come to me. I judge between man and his neighbor. I teach G-d's decrees and His Torah laws."

יז וַיֹּאמֶר חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה אֵלָיו: לֹא-טוֹב הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה

Vayomer choten Moshe elav lo-tov hadavar asher atah oseh.

17. Moshe's father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good."

יח נָבֹל תִּבֹּל--גַּם-אַתָּה גַּם-הָעָם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר עִמָּךְ: כִּי-כָבֵד מִמְּךָ הַדָּבָר לֹא-תוּכַל עֲשֹׂהוּ לְבַדֶּךָ

Navol tibol gam-atah gam-ha'am hazeh asher imach ki-chaved mimcha hadavar lo-tuchal asohu levadecha.

18. "You are going to wear yourself out - you and this nation that is with you - for the responsibility is too great. You cannot do it alone."

יט עַתָּה שְׁמַע בְּקֹלִי אִיעָצְךָ וִיהִי אֱלֹהִים עִמָּךְ הֱיֵה אַתָּה לָעָם מוּל הָאֱלֹהִים וְהֵבֵאתָ אַתָּה אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים

Atah shmah bekoli iyatzecha vyhi Elokim imach heyeh atah la'am mul ha'Elokim veheveta atah et-hadevarim el-ha'Elokim.

19. "Now listen to me. I will give you advice, and G-d will be with you. You must be G-d's representative for the people. You must bring [their] concerns to G-d."

כ וְהִזְהַרְתָּה אֶתְהֶם אֶת-הַחֻקִּים וְאֶת-הַתּוֹרֹת וְהוֹדַעְתָּ לָהֶם אֶת-הַדֶּרֶךְ יֵלְכוּ בָהּ וְאֶת-הַמַּעֲשֶׂה אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשׂוּן

Vehizhartah ethem et-hachukim ve'et-hatorot vehodata lahem et-haderech yelchu vah ve'et-hama'aseh asher ya'asun.

20. "Clarify for [the people] the decrees and Torah laws. Show them the path upon which they must travel, and the deeds they must do."

כא וְאַתָּה תֶחֱזֶה מִכָּל-הָעָם אַנְשֵׁי-חַיִל יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת--שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע וְשַׂמְתָּ עֲלֵהֶם שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים שָׂרֵי מֵאוֹת שָׂרֵי חֲמִשִּׁים וְשָׂרֵי עֲשָׂרֹת

Ve'atah techezeh mikol-ha'am anshei-chayil yir'ei Elokim anshei emet son'ei vatza vesamta alehem sarei alafim sarei me'ot sarei chamishim vesarei asarot.

21. "You must look among all the people for capable, G-d-fearing men - men of truth, who despise gain. You must then appoint them as leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens."

כב וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת-הָעָם בְּכָל-עֵת וְהָיָה כָּל-הַדָּבָר הַגָּדֹל יָבִיאוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְכָל-הַדָּבָר הַקָּטֹן יִשְׁפְּטוּ-הֵם; וְהָקֵל מֵעָלֶיךָ וְנָשְׂאוּ אִתָּךְ

Veshaftu et-ha'am bechol-et vehayah kol-hadavar hagadol yavi'u eleicha vechol-hadavar hakaton yishpetu-hem vehakel me'aleicha venas'u itach.

22. "They will judge the people at all times. Every major case, they will bring to you; while, every minor case, they can judge by themselves. It will then be easier for you. They will bear [the burden] with you."

כג אִם אֶת-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה תַּעֲשֶׂה וְצִוְּךָ אֱלֹהִים וְיָכָלְתָּ עֲמֹד וְגַם כָּל-הָעָם הַזֶּה עַל-מְקֹמוֹ יָבֹא בְשָׁלוֹם

Im et-hadavar hazeh ta'aseh vetzivecha Elokim veyacholta amod vegam kol-ha'am hazeh al-mekomo yavo veshalom.

23. "If you do this and G-d gives you His commandment, you will be able to survive. The entire nation will also come to its place in peace."

כד וַיִּשְׁמַע מֹשֶׁה לְקוֹל חֹתְנוֹ וַיַּעַשׂ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר אָמָר

Vayishma Moshe lekol chotno vaya'as kol asher amar.

24. Moshe took his father-in-law's advice and did all that he said.

כה וַיִּבְחַר מֹשֶׁה אַנְשֵׁי-חַיִל מִכָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם רָאשִׁים עַל-הָעָם--שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים שָׂרֵי מֵאוֹת שָׂרֵי חֲמִשִּׁים וְשָׂרֵי עֲשָׂרֹת

Vayivchar Moshe anshei-chayil mikol-Yisra'el vayiten otam rashim al-ha'am sarei alafim sarei me'ot sarei chamishim vesarei asarot.

25. Moshe chose capable men from all Yisrael, and he appointed them leadersover the people - leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens.

כו וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת-הָעָם בְּכָל-עֵת: אֶת-הַדָּבָר הַקָּשֶׁה יְבִיאוּן אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְכָל-הַדָּבָר הַקָּטֹן יִשְׁפּוּטוּ הֵם

Veshaftu et-ha'am bechol-et et-hadavar hakasheh yevi'un el-Moshe vechol-hadavar hakaton yishputu hem.

26. They judged the people at all times. They would bring the difficult cases to Moshe, while the simple cases, they would judge by themselves.

כז וַיְשַׁלַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת-חֹתְנוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ לוֹ אֶל-אַרְצוֹ

Vayeshalach Moshe et-chotno vayelech lo el-artzo.

27. Moshe let his father-in-law depart, and he went on his way to his own land.