King James Version

Exodus 18:17

And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

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Hebrew

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וַיֹּ֛אמֶרvayomerand sayאָמַרconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and say”, the next action in the storyH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…חֹתֵ֥ןchotenjoin in affinityחָתַןverb, qal, participle, construct — “join in affinity”, a verb used as a describing wordH2859to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriagejoin in affinity, father in law, make marriages, mother in law, son in law.מֹשֶׁ֖הmoshehMosesמֹשֶׁהnoun, proper name — “Moses”H4872Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverMoses.אֵלָ֑יוelayvamongאֵלpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “among”H413near, with or among; often in general, toabout, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).לֹאlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…טוֹב֙tovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…הַדָּבָ֔רhadavarthe causeדָּבָרdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the cause”, the ordinary formH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…אֲשֶׁ֥רasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, relative — “because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…אַתָּ֖הatahtheeאַתָּהpronoun, personal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “thee”H859thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youthee, thou, ye, you.עֹשֶֽׂהosehdoעָשָׂהverb, qal, participle, absolute — “do”, a verb used as a describing wordH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

And Moses' father-in-law said unto him: 'The thing that thou doest is not good.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And Moses’ father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

Young’s Literal Translation

And the father-in-law of Moses saith unto him, 'The thing which thou art doing [is] not good;

World English Bible

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.

Darby Translation

And Moses' father-in-law said to him, The thing that thou art doing is not good.

Douay-Rheims

But he said: The thing thou dost is not good.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

And Moses' father-in-law said unto him: 'The thing that thou doest is not good.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And the father-in-law of Moses said to him, Thou dost not this thing rightly,

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Εἶπε δὲ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ πρὸς αὐτὸν, οὐκ ὀρθῶς σὺ ποιεῖς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.