Exodus 18:21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
Original Language Analysis
תֶֽחֱזֶ֣ה
Moreover thou shalt provide
H2372
תֶֽחֱזֶ֣ה
Moreover thou shalt provide
Strong's:
H2372
Word #:
2 of 22
to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have a vision of
מִכָּל
H3605
מִכָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
3 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָ֠עָם
out of all the people
H5971
הָ֠עָם
out of all the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
4 of 22
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אַנְשֵׁי
H376
אַנְשֵׁי
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
5 of 22
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
חַ֜יִל
able
H2428
חַ֜יִל
able
Strong's:
H2428
Word #:
6 of 22
probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
אֱלֹהִ֛ים
God
H430
אֱלֹהִ֛ים
God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
8 of 22
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
אַנְשֵׁ֥י
H376
אַנְשֵׁ֥י
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
9 of 22
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אֱמֶ֖ת
of truth
H571
אֱמֶ֖ת
of truth
Strong's:
H571
Word #:
10 of 22
stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
וְשַׂמְתָּ֣
and place
H7760
וְשַׂמְתָּ֣
and place
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
13 of 22
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עֲלֵהֶ֗ם
H5921
עֲלֵהֶ֗ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
14 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֲלָפִים֙
of thousands
H505
אֲלָפִים֙
of thousands
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
16 of 22
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
מֵא֔וֹת
of hundreds
H3967
מֵא֔וֹת
of hundreds
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
18 of 22
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
Cross References
Acts 6:3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.Exodus 18:25And 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.Genesis 42:18And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:Ezekiel 18:8He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Historical Context
This fourfold qualification system predated formal law but established enduring leadership criteria. Acts 6:3's deacon qualifications echo these standards: 'men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.'
Questions for Reflection
- Why does 'fear of God' appear first among qualifications, before ability or integrity?
- How does 'hating covetousness' protect justice from corruption through bribery?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness—Jethro's criteria for judges establishes qualifications for spiritual leadership. 'Able men' (אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל, anshei-chayil) means capable, strong, competent. 'Such as fear God' (יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים, yirei Elohim) prioritizes spiritual qualification—reverence for God precedes all other qualifications. 'Men of truth' (אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת, anshei emet) indicates integrity and reliability. 'Hating covetousness' (שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע, son'ei vatza') means rejecting bribery and corruption. These four qualifications—ability, godliness, truthfulness, incorruptibility—apply to all church leadership (cf. 1 Tim 3:1-7). The command to 'place such over them' as rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens establishes hierarchical structure for efficient governance.