Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Exodus, Chapter 18ΕΞΟΔΟΣ ΙΗ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Exodus 18 is a narrative hinge between the Red Sea / wilderness cycle and the Sinai theophany: Ιοθορ (Jethro), priest of Madian and Moses' γαμβρός, hears of the Exodus, brings Moses' wife Σεπφωρα and two sons to the mountain of God (vv.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Exodus 18 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. Exodus 18 is a narrative hinge between the Red Sea / wilderness cycle and the Sinai theophany: Ιοθορ (Jethro), priest of Madian and Moses' γαμβρός, hears of the Exodus, brings Moses' wife Σεπφωρα and two sons to the mountain of God (vv. 1–6), receives Moses' report and confesses YHWH's supremacy (vv. 7–12), then observes Moses judging the people alone and counsels the appointment of a tiered judiciary (vv. 13–27). The LXX deploys γαμβρός throughout for Moses' kinsman by marriage; the term is genuinely elastic in Greek (son-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law), and here renders Hebrew חֹתֵן ('father-in-law'). The two sons carry explanatory etymologies: Γηρσαμ is glossed πάροικος ἤμην ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ ('I was a sojourner in a foreign land', v. 3, on גֵּר שָׁם), and Ελιεζερ ὁ γὰρ θεὸς τοῦ πατρός μου βοηθός μου ('the God of my father is my helper', v. 4, on אֵל + עֵזֶר); both are folk-etymologies translated, not transliterated, into the explanatory clause. Jethro's confession νῦν ἔγνων ὅτι μέγας κύριος παρὰ πάντας τοὺς θεούς (v. 11) is a comparative recognition-formula (παρά + acc. = 'greater than'), the climax of a Gentile priest's acknowledgement of YHWH. The judicial counsel (vv. 13–26) is the foundational text for Israel's graded judiciary (cf. Deut 1:9–18): Moses is to seek out ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς θεοσεβεῖς … μισοῦντας ὑπερηφανίαν ('capable, God-fearing men … who hate arrogance', v. 21) and set them as χιλιάρχους καὶ ἑκατοντάρχους καὶ πεντηκοντάρχους καὶ δεκαδάρχους ('rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens'), a decimal military-administrative hierarchy. The chapter shows several distinctively LXX features: the Hebraising cognate construction φθορᾷ καταφθαρήσῃ ('you will utterly wear out', v. 18, on נָבֹל תִּבֹּל); the Koine/Hebraistic third-aorist plural endings ἐκρίνοσαν and ἀνεφέροσαν (v. 26) for the more usual ἔκριναν / ἀνέφερον; and the periphrasis γίνου σὺ τῷ λαῷ τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν (v. 19, 'be you for the people the things toward God', i.e. their representative before God). κύριος throughout renders the Tetragrammaton.

1

ἤκουσεν δὲ Ιοθορ ὁ ἱερεὺς Μαδιαμ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος Ισραηλ τῷ ἑαυτοῦ λαῷ ἐξήγαγεν γὰρ κύριος τὸν Ισραηλ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου

Now Jethro the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses, heard all that the LORD did for Israel his own people, for the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt.

New narrative episode (scene-setting with fronted verb)ἤκουσεν δὲ Ιοθορ
The verb-first clause ἤκουσεν δέ opens a fresh episode after the Amalek war of ch. 17; δέ marks the narrative turn, and the fronting of 'heard' is a standard LXX way to introduce a report-driven scene (cf. the same incipit at 18:1 mirrored in Josh and Judg battle-reports). The closing γάρ-clause is the narrator's parenthetical reminder grounding what Jethro heard.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (fronted, opening the episode)→ ingressive/constative aorist (the act of hearing that sets the plot in motion)ἀκούω: 'hear / hear of / learn'; renders שָׁמַע; with the accusative πάντα ὅσα it means 'heard about everything that…'; the fronted aorist is the report-trigger that brings Jethro to Moses.
δὲnownarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive particle marking a new narrative scene after the Amalek episode of ch. 17.
ΙοθορJethrosubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙοθορ: transliteration of Hebrew יִתְרוֹ ('Jethro'); indeclinable in the LXX; priest of Madian and Moses' father-in-law (cf. 3:1; 4:18); the same figure appears as Ραγουηλ at 2:18 and Ιοθορ here, a known crux of the Moses-marriage tradition.
theNominativearticle (with ἱερεύς, in apposition to Ιοθορ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativenominative in apposition to Ιοθορ→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; Jethro is a Midianite priest — a Gentile cultic functionary whose confession (v. 11) and sacrifice (v. 12) carry special weight precisely because he stands outside the covenant line.
Μαδιαμof Midiangenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name: 'priest of Midian')→ participant identificationΜαδιαμ: transliteration of Hebrew מִדְיָן ('Midian'); indeclinable; the Midianites were a Northwest-Arabian people descended from Abraham through Keturah (Gen 25:2), the milieu of Moses' wilderness sojourn (Exod 2:15–22).
theNominativearticle (with γαμβρός, second apposition)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρὸςfather-in-lawNominativenominative in apposition to Ιοθορ→ participant prominenceγαμβρός: 'kinsman by marriage'; the Greek term covers son-in-law, father-in-law, and brother-in-law; here it renders Hebrew חֹתֵן ('father-in-law'); the LXX uses γαμβρός consistently across the chapter (vv. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 17, 24, 27) as Jethro's defining relational title.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γαμβρός)→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined in Rahlfs' LXX with the genitive Μωυσῆ; here marks Jethro as the in-law belonging to Moses.
πάνταallAccusativedirect object of ἤκουσεν (antecedent of ὅσα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / everything'; the neuter plural πάντα is the comprehensive object of 'heard', resumed by the relative ὅσα ('all that…').
ὅσαwhatever / all thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν, antecedent πάντα)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; the correlative πάντα ὅσα ('all that') is a standard LXX rendering of כָּל אֲשֶׁר, summarising the totality of the Exodus deliverance.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause (ὅσα … ἐποίησεν)→ constative aorist (summary of completed divine acts)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; here it sums up YHWH's saving deeds in the plagues and the Sea-crossing as the content of Jethro's report.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is the agent of all Jethro has heard about.
ΙσραηλIsraeldative of advantage (indeclinable: 'for Israel', in apposition to τῷ λαῷ)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here functions as a dative of advantage ('for Israel'), clarified by the appositional τῷ ἑαυτοῦ λαῷ ('his own people').
τῷthe / hisDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive possessive (attributive to λαῷ)→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun 'his own'; renders the Hebrew possessive suffix; emphasises that Israel is YHWH's own covenant people, the object of his special action.
λαῷpeopleDativedative of advantage in apposition to Ισραηλ→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; the covenant term for Israel (rendering עַם); τῷ ἑαυτοῦ λαῷ glosses the indeclinable Ισραηλ with a declinable dative phrase.
ἐξήγαγενbrought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωmain verb of the explanatory γάρ-clause→ constative aorist (the completed Exodus deliverance)ἐξάγω: 'lead/bring out'; renders הוֹצִיא (Hiphil of יָצָא); the verb par excellence of the Exodus (cf. 3:10–12; 20:2); the compound ἐξ- stresses extraction 'out of' Egypt.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive, narrator's grounding aside)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the narrator's parenthetical explaining the substance of what Jethro heard — the deliverance from Egypt itself.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐξήγαγεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; repeated to make YHWH explicitly the agent of the Exodus in the grounding clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ as object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object of ἐξήγαγεν (indeclinable, here with accusative article τόν)→ noun-phrase markingΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the accusative function is signalled by the article τόν, since the name itself does not inflect — a typical LXX device for marking case on an indeclinable noun.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source: 'out of Egypt')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ (ἐξ before a vowel): 'out of / from'; the source-preposition of the Exodus formula ἐξ Αἰγύπτου.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (source)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): standard LXX form of Hebrew מִצְרַיִם; the land of bondage from which YHWH has led Israel out.
2

ἔλαβεν δὲ Ιοθορ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ Σεπφωραν τὴν γυναῖκα Μωυσῆ μετὰ τὴν ἄφεσιν αὐτῆς

And Jethro the father-in-law of Moses took Zipporah, the wife of Moses, after her sending away,

Sequential narrative (Jethro gathers Moses' family)ἔλαβεν δὲ Ιοθορ
δέ continues the narrative; the verb ἔλαβεν ('took/brought') sets up the family-reunion theme — Jethro brings Zipporah and the sons back to Moses. The phrase μετὰ τὴν ἄφεσιν αὐτῆς ('after her sending away') alludes to an otherwise unnarrated separation, perhaps connected with the circumcision episode of 4:24–26.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (Jethro as subject)→ constative aorist (single completed act of taking/bringing)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive / bring along'; renders לָקַח; here in the sense of taking along on a journey — Jethro brings Moses' family with him to the camp.
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: continuative particle advancing the narrative to the next action.
ΙοθορJethrosubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙοθορ: see v. 1; indeclinable.
theNominativearticle (with γαμβρός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρὸςfather-in-lawNominativenominative in apposition to Ιοθορ→ participant prominenceγαμβρός: see v. 1; the repeated title keeps the in-law relationship in the foreground as the family is reassembled.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γαμβρός)→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): see v. 1.
ΣεπφωρανZipporahAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationΣεπφωρα (acc. Σεπφωραν): transliteration of Hebrew צִפֹּרָה ('Zipporah', lit. 'bird'); declined as a first-declension noun (acc. -αν); Moses' Midianite wife, daughter of the priest (2:21), known from the circumcision crisis (4:25).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Σεπφωραν→ object specificationγυνή (acc. γυναῖκα): 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; the appositional 'the wife of Moses' identifies Zipporah's relational status.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γυναῖκα)→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): see v. 1.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; here temporal, locating the taking 'after' Zipporah's prior dismissal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄφεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄφεσινsending away / releaseAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal: 'after the release')→ object specificationἄφεσις: 'release / dismissal / sending away'; from ἀφίημι; here it denotes Moses' earlier sending of Zipporah back to her father; the same noun later carries the technical sense 'release / remission' in the Jubilee and forgiveness texts (Lev 25; cf. Luke 4:18).
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (objective: 'her sending away')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem. αὐτῆς): the genitive specifies Zipporah as the one who had been sent away.
3

καὶ τοὺς δύο υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ὄνομα τῷ ἑνὶ αὐτῶν Γηρσαμ λέγων πάροικος ἤμην ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ

and his two sons; the name of the one of them was Gershom, for he said, 'I was a sojourner in a foreign land,'

Coordinate continuation of v.2 (second object of ἔλαβεν) with embedded etymologyκαὶ τοὺς δύο υἱοὺς
The accusative τοὺς δύο υἱούς is a second object of ἔλαβεν (v. 2): Jethro brings the two sons as well. The narrator then embeds a name-etymology in nominal style (ὄνομα τῷ ἑνί … 'the name of the one…') followed by the participle λέγων introducing the explanatory naming-speech, a classic LXX folk-etymology rendered (not transliterated) into Greek.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking second object to v.2)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwoAccusativenumeral (attributive to υἱούς; indeclinable form)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; largely indeclinable in Koine; modifies υἱούς to specify the two sons, Gershom and Eliezer.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativesecond direct object of ἔλαβεν (carried over from v.2)→ object specificationυἱός (acc. pl. υἱούς): 'son'; renders בֵּן; the two sons are brought to Moses along with their mother.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Moses' sons)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; refers to Moses — the two sons are his.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of a verbless naming-clause (ὄνομα τῷ ἑνί … Γηρσαμ)→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; the nominal clause ὄνομα τῷ ἑνί αὐτῶν Γηρσαμ ('the name of one of them, Gershom') is a Hebraistic verbless naming-formula (שֵׁם הָאֶחָד …).
τῷto theDativearticle (with ἑνί, dative of possession)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑνὶoneDativedative of possession ('the name belonging to the one')→ sphere or referenceεἷς (dat. ἑνί): 'one'; the dative of possession renders the Hebrew construct 'the name of the one'; the construction ὄνομα τῷ ἑνί is idiomatic LXX naming.
αὐτῶνof themGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἑνί: 'one of them')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): partitive 'of them', distinguishing the first son from the second.
ΓηρσαμGershompredicate of the naming-clause (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓηρσαμ: transliteration of Hebrew גֵּרְשֹׁם ('Gershom'); indeclinable; the folk-etymology divides it as gēr ('sojourner') + šām ('there'), explicated in the following clause πάροικος ἤμην ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ; an explained/flagged name (cf. 2:22).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing the naming-speech; subject = Moses)→ imperfective participle (attendant speech accompanying the naming)λέγω (pres. ptc. λέγων): 'saying'; the masculine singular agrees with Moses as the implied namer; the participle introduces the direct-speech etymology, a standard LXX device for explained names.
πάροικοςsojourner / resident alienNominativepredicate nominative (with ἤμην: 'I was a sojourner')→ participant prominenceπάροικος: 'sojourner / resident alien / one dwelling alongside'; renders גֵּר; the predicate of ἤμην; the term picks up the gēr element of the name Γηρσαμ and frames Moses' Midianite years as alien residence.
ἤμηνI wasImpf Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula of the naming-speech (first-person)→ imperfect of past state ('I was/used to be a sojourner')εἰμί (impf. ἤμην): 'I was'; the later first-person singular imperfect form ἤμην (for classical ἦ/ἦν); states Moses' past condition as a resident alien in Midian.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in'; locative, fixing the place of Moses' sojourn.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative: 'in a land')→ sphere or referenceγῆ (dat. γῇ): 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; here the foreign land of Moses' exile (Midian).
ἀλλοτρίᾳforeign / belonging to anotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying γῇ: 'foreign land')→ sphere or referenceἀλλότριος: 'belonging to another / foreign / alien'; renders נָכְרִיָּה; γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ ('a foreign land') completes the etymology of Gershom and resonates with the patriarchal sojourner-motif (cf. Gen 15:13; Heb 11:9).
4

καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ δευτέρου Ελιεζερ λέγων ὁ γὰρ θεὸς τοῦ πατρός μου βοηθός μου καὶ ἐξείλατό με ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραω

and the name of the second was Eliezer, for he said, 'The God of my father is my helper, and he rescued me from the hand of Pharaoh.'

Coordinate continuation: second name-etymology (parallel to v.3)καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ δευτέρου
The structure mirrors v. 3: a verbless naming-clause (τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ δευτέρου Ελιεζερ) plus λέγων introducing the explanatory speech. The etymology divides Ελιεζερ as ʾēl ('God') + ʿēzer ('help'), unpacked in ὁ … θεὸς … βοηθός μου, with the deliverance-clause καὶ ἐξείλατό με ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραω recalling Moses' flight from Egypt (2:15).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking second naming-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὄνομα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of the verbless naming-clause→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ δευτέρου ('the name of the second') parallels the naming-formula of v. 3.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with δευτέρου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτέρουsecondGenitivesubstantival genitive ('of the second [son]')→ relational specificationδεύτερος: 'second'; ordinal numeral used substantivally; the second of Moses' two sons, Eliezer.
ΕλιεζερEliezerpredicate of the naming-clause (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλιεζερ: transliteration of Hebrew אֱלִיעֶזֶר ('Eliezer', 'my God is help'); indeclinable; the folk-etymology (ʾēl + ʿēzer) is unpacked in ὁ θεὸς … βοηθός μου; an explained/flagged name.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing the naming-speech; subject = Moses)→ imperfective participle (attendant speech)λέγω (pres. ptc.): see v. 3; again introduces the direct-speech etymology of the name.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive, within the naming-speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; grounds the name in the confessional statement that follows — Eliezer's name memorialises divine help.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of the verbless predication (ὁ θεός … βοηθός μου)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים / אֵל; ὁ θεὸς τοῦ πατρός μου ('the God of my father') is the patriarchal-ancestral title (cf. 3:6; 15:2), grounding Moses' deliverance in covenant continuity.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πατρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεός: 'God of my father')→ relational specificationπατήρ (gen. πατρός): 'father'; renders אָב; the 'God of my father' formula invokes the ancestral deity of the patriarchs as Moses' rescuer.
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitive (with πατρός)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the first-person possessive marks Moses as the speaker confessing his ancestral God.
βοηθόςhelperNominativepredicate nominative ('[is] my helper')→ participant prominenceβοηθός: 'helper / one who comes to aid'; renders עֵזֶר; picks up the ʿēzer element of Ελιεζερ; the same root underlies Israel's confession at 15:2 (βοηθὸς καὶ σκεπαστής).
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitive (with βοηθός)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; 'my helper' — the deliverance is personal to Moses.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the deliverance-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξείλατόrescued / deliveredAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb of the deliverance-clause→ constative aorist (the completed rescue from Pharaoh)ἐξαιρέω (aor. mid. ἐξείλατο): 'take out / rescue / deliver'; the middle ἐξειλάμην/ἐξείλατο means 'rescue for oneself'; renders נָצַל / חָלַץ; recurs as the leitmotif of the chapter (vv. 8, 9, 10) for YHWH's deliverance from the hand of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλατο→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; the object of the rescue is Moses himself, recalling his escape from Pharaoh after killing the Egyptian (2:15).
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source of deliverance)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'out of / from'; with χειρός in the idiom ἐκ χειρός ('from the hand of') = 'from the power of'.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from the hand/power of')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; the Hebraism ἐκ χειρός renders מִיַּד ('from the hand of'), idiomatic for deliverance from someone's power; the same idiom recurs throughout vv. 8–10.
ΦαραωPharaohgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'the hand of Pharaoh')→ participant identificationΦαραω: transliteration of Hebrew פַּרְעֹה (Egyptian pr-ꜥȝ, 'great house'); indeclinable; here the oppressor from whose lethal threat (the 'sword of Pharaoh', cf. 2:15) Moses was rescued.
5

καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ιοθορ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς Μωυσῆν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον οὗ παρενέβαλεν ἐπ᾿ ὄρους τοῦ θεοῦ

And Jethro the father-in-law of Moses, and the sons, and the wife went out to Moses into the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

Sequential narrative (arrival at the camp)καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ιοθορ
The compound subject (Jethro + sons + wife) takes a singular verb ἐξῆλθεν agreeing with the first/nearest member — a normal LXX/Hebraic concord. The relative clause οὗ παρενέβαλεν ('where he was encamped') locates the reunion at ὄρος τοῦ θεοῦ, the mountain of God (Horeb/Sinai, cf. 3:1), the very site of Moses' call, now the goal of the people's journey.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent out / cameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (singular agreeing with nearest subject Ιοθορ)→ constative aorist (the journey to Moses' camp)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go/come out'; renders יָצָא / בּוֹא; the singular verb with a compound subject reflects agreement with the leading member (Jethro), a common LXX construction.
ΙοθορJethrosubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙοθορ: see v. 1; indeclinable.
theNominativearticle (with γαμβρός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρὸςfather-in-lawNominativenominative in apposition to Ιοθορ→ participant prominenceγαμβρός: see v. 1.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γαμβρός)→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): see v. 1.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativecoordinate subject (with Ιοθορ and γυνή)→ participant prominenceυἱός (nom. pl. υἱοί): 'son'; the two sons of v. 3–4 accompany Jethro and Zipporah to the camp.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding third subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with γυνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativecoordinate subject (Zipporah)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the wife is Σεπφωρα (v. 2).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward Moses)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; directional, marking the goal of the journey.
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the one they come to)→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc. Μωυσῆν): see v. 1.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction into a place)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'into'; locative-directional, specifying the wilderness as the place of arrival.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἔρημον)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔρημονwilderness / desertAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (place of encampment)→ object specificationἔρημος: 'desert / wilderness'; renders מִדְבָּר; the substantivised feminine adjective; the wilderness of Sinai where Israel is encamped (cf. 19:1–2).
οὗwhererelative adverb of place (introducing locative clause)→ participant referenceοὗ: 'where'; relative adverb (genitive of ὅς used adverbially) introducing the place where Moses was encamped.
παρενέβαλενhe was encamped / had pitched campAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παρεμβάλλωverb of the relative-locative clause→ constative aorist (settled encampment at the mountain)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / pitch camp'; renders חָנָה; military-camp vocabulary, the standard LXX verb for Israel's wilderness encampments; the cognate noun παρεμβολή is 'camp / army'.
ἐπ᾿at / onpreposition + genitive (location: 'at the mountain', elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'on / at'; locates the camp at the mountain of God.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location)→ relational specificationὄρος (gen. ὄρους): 'mountain'; renders הַר; ὄρος τοῦ θεοῦ ('the mountain of God') is Horeb/Sinai (cf. 3:1; 4:27), the site of the burning bush and the coming theophany.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ὄρους: 'mountain of God')→ relational specificationθεός (gen. θεοῦ): 'God'; the genitive designates the mountain as God's own — the place of his self-revelation.
6

ἀνηγγέλη δὲ Μωυσεῖ λέγοντες ἰδοὺ ὁ γαμβρός σου Ιοθορ παραγίνεται πρὸς σέ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ καὶ οἱ δύο υἱοί σου μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ

And it was announced to Moses, saying, 'Behold, your father-in-law Jethro is coming to you, and the wife and your two sons with him.'

Sequential narrative (the report reaches Moses)ἀνηγγέλη δὲ Μωυσεῖ
The impersonal passive ἀνηγγέλη ('it was announced') with the loosely-attached masculine plural participle λέγοντες ('[men] saying') is a Hebraistic anacoluthon — the participle agrees not with the passive verb but with an implied plural subject ('messengers'). The deictic ἰδού opens the announced direct speech, heightening the immediacy of Jethro's approach.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἀνηγγέληit was announced / reportedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (impersonal passive)→ constative aorist passive (the report delivered to Moses)ἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / report / declare'; renders נָגַד (Hophal 'be told'); the second-aorist passive ἀνηγγέλη is impersonal ('word was brought'), a common LXX report-formula.
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: advancing the narrative to the messengers' report.
Μωυσεῖto MosesDativedative of indirect object (recipient of the report)→ sphere or referenceΜωυσῆς (dat. Μωυσεῖ): the dative form in Rahlfs' LXX; Moses is the one to whom the arrival is announced.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech-introduction (anacoluthon: agrees with implied plural 'messengers')→ imperfective participle (introducing direct speech)λέγω (pres. ptc. nom. masc. pl. λέγοντες): 'saying'; the plural participle does not agree with the singular passive ἀνηγγέλη but with an implied subject ('they/messengers'), a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר ('saying') as a frozen speech-marker.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (introducing direct speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a presentative deictic drawing attention to Jethro's imminent arrival; frozen imperative form of εἶδον.
theNominativearticle (with γαμβρός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρόςfather-in-lawNominativesubject of παραγίνεται→ participant prominenceγαμβρός: see v. 1; here in the messengers' announcement to Moses.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with γαμβρός: 'your father-in-law')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; addressing Moses directly within the report.
ΙοθορJethronominative in apposition to γαμβρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙοθορ: see v. 1; indeclinable.
παραγίνεταιis coming / arrivesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραγίνομαιmain verb of the announced speech (vivid present)→ futuristic/progressive present (arrival in progress)παραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive / be present'; renders בּוֹא; the present tense gives the report immediacy — Jethro is even now approaching.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward Moses)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; directional.
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σέ): 'you'; the accented form, object of πρός; Moses is the goal of Jethro's approach.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with γυνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativecoordinate subject (with Ιοθορ)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'wife'; Zipporah accompanies Jethro.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwoNominativenumeral (attributive to υἱοί)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; indeclinable numeral; the two sons of vv. 3–4.
υἱοίsonsNominativecoordinate subject→ participant prominenceυἱός (nom. pl. υἱοί): 'son'; Gershom and Eliezer.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with υἱοί: 'your two sons')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the sons belong to Moses.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; accompaniment — wife and sons come together with Jethro.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά (Jethro)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'him'; refers to Jethro, in whose company the family travels.
7

ἐξῆλθεν δὲ Μωυσῆς εἰς συνάντησιν τῷ γαμβρῷ αὐτοῦ καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐφίλησεν αὐτόν καὶ ἠσπάσαντο ἀλλήλους καὶ εἰσήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν σκηνήν

And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance to him and kissed him, and they greeted one another, and he brought him into the tent.

Sequential narrative (Moses receives Jethro with honor)ἐξῆλθεν δὲ Μωυσῆς
A rapid chain of καί-coordinated aorists (προσεκύνησεν … ἐφίλησεν … ἠσπάσαντο … εἰσήγαγεν) stages an elaborate welcome. The idiom ἐξῆλθεν εἰς συνάντησιν ('went out to meet', rendering יָצָא לִקְרַאת) is a standard LXX greeting-formula; προσεκύνησεν here is a gesture of honorific respect to an elder kinsman, not cultic worship.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (Moses as subject)→ constative aorist (Moses' going out to meet)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; here in the welcome-idiom ἐξῆλθεν εἰς συνάντησιν.
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: continuative; shifts focus to Moses' response.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: see v. 1.
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here in the idiom εἰς συνάντησιν ('to meet').
συνάντησινa meetingAccusativeaccusative in the idiom ἐξῆλθεν εἰς συνάντησιν ('went to meet')→ object specificationσυνάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; from συναντάω; the phrase εἰς συνάντησιν renders Hebrew לִקְרַאת ('to meet'), a fixed LXX greeting-idiom (cf. Gen 14:17; Exod 4:27).
τῷtheDativearticle (with γαμβρῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρῷfather-in-lawDativedative complement of συνάντησιν ('to meet his father-in-law')→ sphere or referenceγαμβρός (dat. γαμβρῷ): see v. 1; the dative is governed by the meeting-idiom.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with γαμβρῷ)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; Moses' father-in-law.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (chaining greeting-actions)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσεκύνησενdid obeisance / bowed downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσκυνέωcoordinate main verb (gesture of honor)→ constative aorist (single act of bowing)προσκυνέω: 'bow down / do obeisance / pay homage'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; with the dative αὐτῷ; here a social gesture of respect to an honored elder kinsman, not divine worship — the same verb's range covers both.
αὐτῷto himDativedative object of προσεκύνησεν→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'to him'; Jethro is the recipient of the homage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐφίλησενkissedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φιλέωcoordinate main verb (greeting-kiss)→ constative aorist (single act)φιλέω: 'love / kiss'; renders נָשַׁק; here in the sense 'kiss', the customary greeting between kin (cf. Gen 33:4; 45:15); the kiss seals the affectionate reunion.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐφίλησεν→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): 'him'; Jethro.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠσπάσαντοthey greetedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀσπάζομαιcoordinate main verb (reciprocal greeting; plural subject)→ constative aorist (mutual greeting)ἀσπάζομαι: 'greet / welcome / embrace'; deponent middle; the plural with ἀλλήλους expresses the reciprocal exchange of greetings between Moses and Jethro.
ἀλλήλουςone anotherAccusativereciprocal pronoun (object of ἠσπάσαντο)→ participant referenceἀλλήλων (acc. ἀλλήλους): 'one another'; reciprocal pronoun marking the mutual greeting.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσήγαγενbrought in / led inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσάγωcoordinate main verb (Moses brings Jethro into the tent)→ constative aorist (completed act of hosting)εἰσάγω: 'bring/lead in'; renders הֵבִיא; the compound εἰς- marks entry into the tent — Moses extends formal hospitality.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of εἰσήγαγεν→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): 'him'; Jethro is led into the tent.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'into'; entry into the dwelling.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with σκηνήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνήνtentAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the dwelling)→ object specificationσκηνή: 'tent / dwelling'; renders אֹהֶל; here Moses' own tent (the term will later become the technical word for the Tabernacle, σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου).
8

καὶ διηγήσατο Μωυσῆς τῷ γαμβρῷ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος τῷ Φαραω καὶ τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις ἕνεκεν τοῦ Ισραηλ καὶ πάντα τὸν μόχθον τὸν γενόμενον αὐτοῖς ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ καὶ ὅτι ἐξείλατο αὐτοὺς κύριος ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραω καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν Αἰγυπτίων

And Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD did to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the hardship that befell them on the way, and how the LORD rescued them from the hand of Pharaoh and from the hand of the Egyptians.

Sequential narrative (Moses' testimony to Jethro)καὶ διηγήσατο Μωυσῆς
Moses' report has a three-fold object: (1) all YHWH did to Pharaoh/Egypt, (2) all the hardship (μόχθον) on the road, (3) the rescue. The triple structure (πάντα ὅσα … πάντα τὸν μόχθον … καὶ ὅτι ἐξείλατο) moves from divine action to Israel's suffering to deliverance, setting up Jethro's rejoicing and confession in vv. 9–11. The verb ἐξείλατο echoes Eliezer's etymology (v. 4).
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διηγήσατοrecounted / related in fullAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · διηγέομαιmain verb (Moses narrates to Jethro)→ constative aorist (the completed narration)διηγέομαι: 'narrate / recount in detail / set out fully'; deponent middle; renders סִפֵּר; the διά- compound stresses thorough, sequential telling — Moses gives a complete testimony of the Exodus events.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: see v. 1.
τῷtheDativearticle (with γαμβρῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρῷfather-in-lawDativedative of indirect object (recipient of the narration)→ sphere or referenceγαμβρός (dat. γαμβρῷ): see v. 1; Jethro is the audience of Moses' testimony.
πάνταallAccusativedirect object of διηγήσατο (antecedent of ὅσα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the comprehensive object 'all that…', resumed by ὅσα.
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much as'; πάντα ὅσα ('all that'), as in v. 1.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (summary of divine deeds)ποιέω: 'do'; renders עָשָׂה; recapitulating YHWH's actions against Egypt.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the agent of all Moses recounts.
τῷthe / toDativearticle (marking the dative function of indeclinable Φαραω)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΦαραωPharaohdative of disadvantage (indeclinable; case shown by article τῷ: 'to Pharaoh')→ noun-phrase markingΦαραω: see v. 4; indeclinable, with the dative function marked by the preceding article τῷ — what YHWH 'did to Pharaoh'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with Αἰγυπτίοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἰγυπτίοιςEgyptiansDativedative of disadvantage (parallel to Φαραω)→ sphere or referenceΑἰγύπτιος (dat. pl. Αἰγυπτίοις): 'Egyptian'; gentilic substantive; the people on whom YHWH acted alongside their king.
ἕνεκενfor the sake ofpreposition + genitive (cause/advantage)→ spatial or relational framingἕνεκεν: 'on account of / for the sake of'; takes the genitive; renders בַּעֲבוּר / עַל; the divine acts against Egypt were on Israel's behalf.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (marking genitive of indeclinable Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive object of ἕνεκεν (indeclinable; case shown by article τοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingΙσραηλ: see v. 1; indeclinable, the genitive function signalled by τοῦ — 'for Israel's sake'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding second object of διηγήσατο)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with μόχθον: 'all the hardship')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; modifying μόχθον, the second object of the recounting.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μόχθον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μόχθονhardship / toil / distressAccusativedirect object of διηγήσατο (second object)→ object specificationμόχθος: 'toil / hardship / distress'; renders תְּלָאָה ('the weariness/trouble'); the wilderness hardships of hunger, thirst, and the Amalekites (chs. 15–17).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with γενόμενον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενόμενονthat befell / happenedAor Mid Ptc Acc Masc Sg · γίνομαιattributive participle (modifying μόχθον: 'the hardship that befell')→ aorist participle (the completed experience of hardship)γίνομαι (aor. ptc. γενόμενον): 'happen / come to be'; the articular attributive participle τὸν γενόμενον αὐτοῖς ('that came upon them') specifies the hardship as experienced on the road.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of disadvantage (with γενόμενον: 'befell them')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'to them'; Israel, who experienced the hardship.
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in / on'; locative, 'on the way'.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ὁδῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδῷway / road / journeyDativedative of place (locative: 'on the way')→ sphere or referenceὁδός (dat. ὁδῷ): 'way / road / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; the wilderness journey from the Sea to Sinai.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing third, clausal object)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅτιhow / thatconjunction (introducing a noun clause as third object of διηγήσατο)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that / how'; here introduces the content-clause 'how the LORD rescued them', the third element Moses recounts.
ἐξείλατοrescued / deliveredAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωverb of the ὅτι content-clause→ constative aorist (the completed deliverance)ἐξαιρέω (aor. mid. ἐξείλατο): 'rescue / deliver'; see v. 4; the leitmotif of the chapter — here of the whole people's deliverance, echoed by Jethro at vv. 9–10.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλατο→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; the Israelites rescued.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐξείλατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; YHWH the deliverer.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source of deliverance)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: in the idiom ἐκ χειρός ('from the hand/power of').
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from the hand of')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; the Hebraism ἐκ χειρός = 'from the power of' (מִיַּד), as in v. 4.
ΦαραωPharaohgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'the hand of Pharaoh')→ participant identificationΦαραω: see v. 4; indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (parallel source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: repeated in the parallel phrase 'from the hand of the Egyptians'.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (second occurrence)→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): see above; the doubled ἐκ χειρός … ἐκ χειρός underscores the totality of the deliverance from both king and people.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with Αἰγυπτίων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἰγυπτίωνEgyptiansGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρός: 'the hand of the Egyptians')→ relational specificationΑἰγύπτιος (gen. pl. Αἰγυπτίων): 'Egyptian'; the people from whose power Israel was delivered.
9

ἐξέστη δὲ Ιοθορ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς οἷς ἐποίησεν αὐτοῖς κύριος ὅτι ἐξείλατο αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς Αἰγυπτίων καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραω

And Jethro was amazed at all the good things that the LORD did for them, because he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh.

Response: Jethro's reaction to Moses' testimonyἐξέστη δὲ Ιοθορ
Jethro's response unfolds in three escalating stages: amazement (ἐξέστη, v. 9), blessing of YHWH (v. 10), and comparative confession (v. 11). The verb ἐξίστημι ('be astonished / beside oneself') registers the impact of the saving narrative on a Gentile priest; the ὅτι-clause grounds the wonder in the deliverance, again with the ἐκ χειρός idiom (now in reversed order: Egyptians then Pharaoh).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐξέστηwas amazed / astonishedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξίστημιmain verb (Jethro's reaction)→ ingressive aorist (came to be astonished)ἐξίστημι (2nd aor. ἐξέστη): 'be astonished / amazed / beside oneself'; lit. 'stand out (of oneself)'; renders forms of תָּמַהּ / חָדָה; the intransitive aorist marks Jethro's overwhelmed reaction to the report.
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: continuative; introduces Jethro's response.
ΙοθορJethrosubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙοθορ: see v. 1; indeclinable.
ἐπὶat / overpreposition + dative (cause/occasion of amazement)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'at / over / on account of'; the causal-occasional dative governs the object of Jethro's amazement.
πᾶσιallDativeattributive adjective (with ἀγαθοῖς)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς (dat. pl. πᾶσι): 'all'; modifies ἀγαθοῖς — the totality of YHWH's benefactions.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀγαθοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθοῖςgood thingsDativedative object of ἐπί (substantivised adjective: 'the good things')→ sphere or referenceἀγαθός (dat. pl. ἀγαθοῖς): 'good'; substantivised neuter plural 'the good things / benefactions'; renders טוֹבָה; the saving acts viewed as benefits conferred on Israel.
οἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (attracted to the case of ἀγαθοῖς; object of ἐποίησεν)→ participant reference or interestὅς (dat. pl. οἷς): 'which'; the relative is attracted into the dative case of its antecedent ἀγαθοῖς (case-attraction), though logically the object of ἐποίησεν.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (completed benefactions)ποιέω: 'do'; renders עָשָׂה; here 'did/performed for them'.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedative of advantage (with ἐποίησεν)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'for them'; the Israelites, beneficiaries of the good.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the benefactor.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (grounding the amazement)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / that'; here causal, specifying why the deeds were so good — the deliverance from Egypt.
ἐξείλατοrescuedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωverb of the causal ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (the completed rescue)ἐξαιρέω (aor. mid. ἐξείλατο): 'rescue / deliver'; see vv. 4, 8; the recurring deliverance-verb of the chapter.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλατο→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; the rescued Israelites.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: in the idiom ἐκ χειρός ('from the power of').
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from the hand of')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; the Hebraism מִיַּד; here Egyptians named before Pharaoh, the reverse of v. 8.
ΑἰγυπτίωνEgyptiansGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρός)→ relational specificationΑἰγύπτιος (gen. pl. Αἰγυπτίων): 'Egyptian'; the oppressing people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (parallel source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: repeated in the parallel phrase.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (second occurrence)→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): see above.
ΦαραωPharaohgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'the hand of Pharaoh')→ participant identificationΦαραω: see v. 4; indeclinable.
10

καὶ εἶπεν Ιοθορ εὐλογητὸς κύριος ὅτι ἐξείλατο τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ χειρὸς Αἰγυπτίων καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραω

And Jethro said, 'Blessed be the LORD, because he rescued his people from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh.'

Direct speech: Jethro's benediction (second stage of his response)καὶ εἶπεν Ιοθορ
The benediction-formula εὐλογητὸς κύριος ('Blessed be the LORD', rendering בָּרוּךְ יהוה) is the standard OT doxology in response to deliverance (cf. Gen 14:20; 24:27; 1 Sam 25:32). Notably the Gentile Jethro blesses the LORD by name and calls Israel τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ('his people') — a striking acknowledgement of the covenant relationship from outside it.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say'; introduces Jethro's benediction.
ΙοθορJethrosubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙοθορ: see v. 1; indeclinable.
εὐλογητὸςblessedNominativepredicate adjective in a verbless benediction-formula ('blessed [be] the LORD')→ participant prominenceεὐλογητός: 'blessed / worthy of praise'; verbal adjective from εὐλογέω; renders בָּרוּךְ; the verbless formula εὐλογητὸς κύριος ('Blessed be the LORD') is the classic OT doxology of thanksgiving for deliverance.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of the benediction-formula→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; remarkably, the Midianite priest blesses YHWH by the covenant name.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (grounding the blessing)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the reason for blessing YHWH — the deliverance of his people.
ἐξείλατοrescuedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωverb of the causal ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (completed deliverance)ἐξαιρέω (aor. mid. ἐξείλατο): 'rescue / deliver'; the chapter's leitmotif (vv. 4, 8, 9), here grounding the doxology.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλατο→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ('his people') frames Israel as YHWH's covenant possession — confessed by a Gentile.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with λαόν: 'his people')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; refers to YHWH — Israel is the LORD's own people.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: in the idiom ἐκ χειρός.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from the hand of')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; the Hebraism מִיַּד, repeated for the fourth time in the chapter.
ΑἰγυπτίωνEgyptiansGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρός)→ relational specificationΑἰγύπτιος (gen. pl. Αἰγυπτίων): 'Egyptian'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (parallel source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: repeated.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (second occurrence)→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): see above.
ΦαραωPharaohgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'the hand of Pharaoh')→ participant identificationΦαραω: see v. 4; indeclinable.
11

νῦν ἔγνων ὅτι μέγας κύριος παρὰ πάντας τοὺς θεούς ἕνεκεν τούτου ὅτι ἐπέθεντο αὐτοῖς

Now I know that the LORD is great beyond all the gods, on account of this: that they acted arrogantly against them.

Direct speech: Jethro's confession (climax of his response)νῦν ἔγνων
The confession νῦν ἔγνων ὅτι μέγας κύριος παρὰ πάντας τοὺς θεούς is the chapter's theological climax: a Gentile priest's recognition-formula. παρά + accusative is comparative ('greater than'), and the experiential aorist ἔγνων ('I have come to know') marks knowledge newly arrived at through the saving narrative. The final clause ὅτι ἐπέθεντο αὐτοῖς is grammatically compressed — 'because they (the Egyptians) set upon / dealt arrogantly with them (Israel)' — i.e. YHWH's greatness is shown precisely where the Egyptians presumed against his people.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (marking newly-arrived knowledge)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; renders עַתָּה; the temporal adverb signals that Jethro's recognition is the fresh result of hearing the Exodus testimony — 'now (at last) I know'.
ἔγνωνI know / I have come to knowAor Act Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (confessional declaration)→ experiential/ingressive aorist (have come to realise)γινώσκω (2nd aor. ἔγνων): 'know / come to know / recognise'; renders יָדַע; the aorist with νῦν denotes knowledge just attained through experience — the confessional 'now I know' formula (cf. Gen 22:12).
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of knowledge)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the object-clause of ἔγνων — the content of Jethro's recognition.
μέγαςgreatNominativepredicate adjective (verbless: 'the LORD [is] great')→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; renders גָּדוֹל; predicate of the verbless clause; the comparative force is supplied by the following παρά-phrase.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of the verbless predication→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the subject confessed as supreme.
παρὰbeyond / abovepreposition + accusative (comparative: 'greater than')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + acc.: here comparative, 'beyond / more than / surpassing'; renders מִן of comparison; μέγας … παρὰ πάντας means 'great beyond/above all', the standard LXX way of expressing the comparative/superlative.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with θεούς)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. pl. πάντας): 'all'; modifies θεούς — YHWH surpasses every other deity.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with θεούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεούςgodsAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (comparison-standard)→ object specificationθεός (acc. pl. θεούς): 'gods'; renders אֱלֹהִים (here plural 'gods'); the comparison with 'all the gods' situates the Exodus as a victory over Egypt's deities (cf. 12:12), confessed by a foreign priest.
ἕνεκενon account ofpreposition + genitive (cause)→ spatial or relational framingἕνεκεν: 'on account of / because of'; takes the genitive; ἕνεκεν τούτου ('on account of this') points forward to the explanatory ὅτι-clause.
τούτουthisGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκεν (cataphoric: 'because of this [namely]…')→ relational specificationοὗτος (gen. τούτου): 'this'; the demonstrative is cataphoric, anticipating the ὅτι-clause that specifies the ground.
ὅτιthat / in thatconjunction (epexegetic of τούτου)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that / because'; epexegetic, unpacking ἕνεκεν τούτου — 'on account of this, namely that…'.
ἐπέθεντοthey set upon / dealt arrogantlyAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιverb of the epexegetic ὅτι-clause (subject = the Egyptians)→ constative aorist (the Egyptians' presumptuous assault)ἐπιτίθημι (aor. mid. ἐπέθεντο): 'lay upon / set upon / attack'; the middle ἐπιτίθεμαι + dative means 'attack / assail / deal presumptuously against'; renders זִיד / the sense of Hebrew 'they acted arrogantly against them'; YHWH's greatness is manifested precisely in overthrowing those who presumed to assault his people.
αὐτοῖςagainst themDativedative complement of ἐπέθεντο (object of the assault: Israel)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'them'; the dative governed by ἐπέθεντο — the Israelites against whom the Egyptians presumed.
12

καὶ ἔλαβεν Ιοθορ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ θυσίας τῷ θεῷ παρεγένετο δὲ Ααρων καὶ πάντες οἱ πρεσβύτεροι Ισραηλ συμφαγεῖν ἄρτον μετὰ τοῦ γαμβροῦ Μωυσῆ ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ

And Jethro the father-in-law of Moses took whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for God; and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with the father-in-law of Moses before God.

Climactic action: Gentile priest's sacrifice and covenant mealκαὶ ἔλαβεν Ιοθορ
Jethro's confession issues in cultic act: he offers ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ θυσίας ('whole burnt offerings and sacrifices'), and a fellowship meal follows in which Aaron and all Israel's elders eat bread with him ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ ('before God'). The scene — a Midianite priest offering sacrifice and Israel's leadership sharing a sacred meal — anticipates the covenant-ratification meal of 24:11 and frames the Gentile's worship as accepted before YHWH.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtook / offeredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (Jethro brings/offers sacrifices)→ constative aorist (the act of offering)λαμβάνω: 'take'; here in the cultic sense of 'take/bring (offerings)', i.e. present sacrifices; renders לָקַח; the MT reads 'took' (Jethro brought/offered).
ΙοθορJethrosubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙοθορ: see v. 1; indeclinable.
theNominativearticle (with γαμβρός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρὸςfather-in-lawNominativenominative in apposition to Ιοθορ→ participant prominenceγαμβρός: see v. 1.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γαμβρός)→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): see v. 1.
ὁλοκαυτώματαwhole burnt offeringsAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν (first object)→ object specificationὁλοκαύτωμα: 'whole burnt offering'; lit. 'wholly-burnt thing' (ὅλος + καίω); renders עֹלָה; the offering wholly consumed on the altar; the LXX's standard cultic term, used here of a Gentile's worship before the Sinai legislation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θυσίαςsacrificesAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν (second object, coordinate)→ object specificationθυσία (acc. pl. θυσίας): 'sacrifice / offering'; renders זֶבַח; the shared/communion sacrifices accompanying the burnt offerings, providing the meat for the fellowship meal that follows.
τῷto / for theDativearticle (with θεῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷfor GodDativedative of recipient (the one to whom the offerings are made)→ sphere or referenceθεός (dat. θεῷ): 'God'; the dative of the deity to whom Jethro offers; that a Midianite priest sacrifices to the God of Israel is theologically arresting.
παρεγένετοcame / arrivedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραγίνομαιmain verb (singular agreeing with nearest subject Ααρων)→ constative aorist (the gathering for the meal)παραγίνομαι (aor. παρεγένετο): 'come / arrive / be present'; see v. 6; the singular verb agrees with the nearest subject Ααρων, though the elders are also subjects (Hebraic concord).
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: continuative; shifts to the gathering for the meal.
ΑαρωνAaronsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑαρων: transliteration of Hebrew אַהֲרֹן ('Aaron'); indeclinable; Moses' brother and future high priest, here representing Israel's emerging leadership at the meal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (with πρεσβύτεροι)→ participant prominenceπᾶς (nom. pl. πάντες): 'all'; modifies πρεσβύτεροι — the entire body of elders.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πρεσβύτεροι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτεροιeldersNominativecoordinate subject (with Ααρων)→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτερος (nom. pl. πρεσβύτεροι): 'elder'; renders זָקֵן; the elders are Israel's representative leadership (cf. 3:16; 24:1); their participation makes the meal an official act of the community.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'the elders of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: see v. 1; indeclinable; here a genitive of relationship ('elders of Israel'), unmarked by an article.
συμφαγεῖνto eat withAor Act Inf · συνεσθίωinfinitive of purpose (with παρεγένετο: 'came to eat with')→ aorist infinitive (purpose of the gathering)συνεσθίω (aor. inf. συμφαγεῖν): 'eat with / share a meal'; the σύν- compound stresses table-fellowship; the infinitive of purpose expresses why Aaron and the elders gathered — to share the sacrificial meal with Jethro.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of συμφαγεῖν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread'; renders לֶחֶם; 'eat bread' is the idiom for sharing a meal (φαγεῖν ἄρτον = אָכַל לֶחֶם); here the covenant fellowship-meal following the sacrifice.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; table-companionship with Jethro.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with γαμβροῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβροῦfather-in-lawGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationγαμβρός (gen. γαμβροῦ): see v. 1; Jethro as the host/companion of the meal.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γαμβροῦ)→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): see v. 1.
ἐναντίονbefore / in the presence ofpreposition + genitive (in the divine presence)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the meal is held 'before God' — a sacred, cultic fellowship in YHWH's presence, anticipating 24:11.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationθεός (gen. θεοῦ): 'God'; the meal 'before God' marks it as a sacred act, sealing Jethro's confession with covenant fellowship.
13

καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὴν ἐπαύριον συνεκάθισεν Μωυσῆς κρίνειν τὸν λαόν παρειστήκει δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς Μωυσεῖ ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας

And it came to pass on the next day that Moses sat down to judge the people, and all the people stood by Moses from morning until evening.

New scene (next day): Moses judging aloneκαὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὴν ἐπαύριον
The temporal formula καὶ ἐγένετο … ('and it came to pass', rendering וַיְהִי) opens the second half of the chapter. The temporal frame ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας ('from morning until evening') stresses the exhausting, all-day burden of Moses' sole judgeship — the problem Jethro will diagnose and solve. The pluperfect παρειστήκει pictures the people standing in continuous attendance.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (with ἐγένετο, temporal formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal temporal formula καὶ ἐγένετο)→ constative aorist (scene-setting)γίνομαι (aor. ἐγένετο): 'become / happen'; the impersonal καὶ ἐγένετο renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי ('and it came to pass'), a standard LXX scene-opener.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; temporal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἐπαύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπαύριονnext day / morrowAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal: 'after the morrow')→ object specificationἐπαύριον: 'the next day / morrow'; adverbial form (ἐπί + αὔριον) used substantivally with the article; μετὰ τὴν ἐπαύριον = 'on the following day' (cf. מִמָּחֳרָת).
συνεκάθισενsat downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συγκαθίζωmain verb of the ἐγένετο-construction (Moses takes his seat)→ ingressive aorist (took his seat to judge)συγκαθίζω (aor. συνεκάθισεν): 'sit down / take one's seat'; the σύν- here is largely intensive/idiomatic ('sit oneself down'); to 'sit' is the judicial posture — the judge is seated while litigants stand (cf. Joel 3:12; Matt 19:28).
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: see v. 1.
κρίνεινto judgePres Act Inf · κρίνωinfinitive of purpose (with συνεκάθισεν: 'sat to judge')→ imperfective infinitive (ongoing judicial activity)κρίνω: 'judge / decide / arbitrate'; renders שָׁפַט; the present infinitive frames judging as a continuous activity; the keyword of the delegation-narrative (cf. vv. 16, 22, 26).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativedirect object of κρίνειν→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; the object of Moses' judging — the whole community brings its disputes to him.
παρειστήκειstood by / was standingPlpf Act Indic 3 Sg · παρίστημιmain verb of the δέ-clause (durative attendance)→ pluperfect with imperfect force (continuous standing in attendance)παρίστημι (plpf. παρειστήκει): 'stand by / be present / attend'; the intransitive perfect/pluperfect of παρίστημι denotes a settled state — the people 'stood/were standing' in continuous attendance before the seated judge.
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: continuative; introduces the contrasting picture of the standing crowd.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; πᾶς ὁ λαός ('all the people') stresses the overwhelming scale of the demand on Moses.
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of παρειστήκει→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the whole community waiting for judgment.
Μωυσεῖby Moses / before MosesDativedative complement of παρειστήκει ('stood by Moses')→ sphere or referenceΜωυσῆς (dat. Μωυσεῖ): the dative governed by παρίστημι ('stand by / in attendance on'); the people attend on Moses awaiting their cases.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + adverb (temporal starting-point)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; here with the adverb πρωίθεν marking the start of the day-long ordeal.
πρωίθενfrom morningtemporal adverb (with ἀπό: 'from morning')→ clausal contributionπρωίθεν: 'from early morning'; adverb (πρωΐ + -θεν 'from'); ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας = 'from morning till evening', a merism for the entire working day.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal end-point)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; takes the genitive; marks the day's close.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal: 'until evening')→ relational specificationἑσπέρα (gen. ἑσπέρας): 'evening'; renders עֶרֶב; the end of the all-day judicial session.
14

καὶ ἰδὼν Ιοθορ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίει τῷ λαῷ λέγει τί τοῦτο ὃ σὺ ποιεῖς τῷ λαῷ διὰ τί σὺ κάθησαι μόνος πᾶς δὲ ὁ λαὸς παρέστηκέν σοι ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως δείλης

And when Jethro saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, 'What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand by you from morning until late afternoon?'

Jethro's diagnostic questionκαὶ ἰδὼν Ιοθορ
The aorist participle ἰδών ('having seen') sets up Jethro's reaction; he poses a double question — τί τοῦτο … ('what is this…?') and διὰ τί σὺ … μόνος ('why do you [judge] alone?'). The emphatic σύ … μόνος ('you alone') isolates the problem: Moses bears the entire judicial load single-handed. The echoing temporal phrase ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως δείλης ties his observation back to v. 13.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδὼνhaving seen / when he sawAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ὁράωcircumstantial participle (temporal, modifying Ιοθορ)→ aorist participle (antecedent action: 'having observed')ὁράω (aor. ptc. ἰδών): 'see / observe / perceive'; suppletive aorist of ὁράω; the temporal participle frames Jethro's questioning as the reaction to what he witnessed.
ΙοθορJethrosubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙοθορ: see v. 1; indeclinable.
πάνταallAccusativedirect object of ἰδών (antecedent of ὅσα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάντα ὅσα ('all that') — the totality of Moses' activity.
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίει)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much as'; correlative πάντα ὅσα.
ἐποίειhe was doingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause (durative)→ imperfect (continuous, repeated action of judging)ποιέω (impf. ἐποίει): 'do'; the imperfect marks Moses' judging as an ongoing, repeated process — exactly what alarms Jethro.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷfor the peopleDativedative of advantage (with ἐποίει)→ sphere or referenceλαός (dat. λαῷ): 'people'; the dative of those for whom Moses acts as judge.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (historic present, introducing direct speech)→ historic present (vivid narration of Jethro's question)λέγω (pres. λέγει): 'say'; the historic present enlivens the dialogue, a frequent LXX narrative feature in direct exchanges.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of verbless question)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative 'what / who'; τί τοῦτο ('what is this?') is an idiomatic expression of remonstrance (cf. Gen 3:13; 12:18).
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative subject of the verbless question→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the subject of 'what [is] this?'.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ποιεῖς)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. ὅ): 'which'; the relative clause 'which you are doing' specifies the τοῦτο of the question.
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with ποιεῖς)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; the explicit pronoun underscores that Moses personally bears this whole task.
ποιεῖςyou are doingPres Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause→ progressive present (ongoing activity)ποιέω (pres. 2 sg. ποιεῖς): 'do'; the present marks the current, ongoing practice Jethro questions.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷfor the peopleDativedative of advantage (with ποιεῖς)→ sphere or referenceλαός (dat. λαῷ): 'people'; repeated from above.
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (in the idiom διὰ τί: 'why?')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: in the fixed interrogative διὰ τί ('on account of what?' = 'why?').
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative (with διά: 'why')→ participant referenceτίς, τί: 'what'; διὰ τί = 'why', introducing the second, sharper question.
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with κάθησαι)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; reinforces the isolation of Moses ('you, all by yourself').
κάθησαιyou sitPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb of the διὰ τί question→ progressive present (the ongoing judicial sitting)κάθημαι (pres. 2 sg. κάθησαι): 'sit / be seated'; the judicial posture (cf. v. 13); 'why do you sit alone?' targets the unsustainable solo arrangement.
μόνοςaloneNominativepredicate adjective (with κάθησαι: 'sit alone')→ participant prominenceμόνος: 'alone / by oneself'; renders לְבַד; the crux of Jethro's critique — Moses' sole judgeship; the word recurs at v. 18 (οὐ δυνήσῃ ποιεῖν μόνος).
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the whole people set against the single judge.
δὲwhile / andmild adversative (post-positive, contrasting crowd with the solitary judge)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: here lightly adversative — 'whereas all the people…'.
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of παρέστηκεν→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the whole community standing in attendance.
παρέστηκένstands byPf Act Indic 3 Sg · παρίστημιmain verb (perfect of present state)→ intransitive perfect with present force ('stands / is standing')παρίστημι (pf. παρέστηκεν): 'stand by / be present'; the intransitive perfect denotes the resultant standing-state — the people 'are standing' before Moses; cf. the pluperfect παρειστήκει at v. 13.
σοιby you / before youDativedative complement of παρέστηκεν ('stand by you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to/by you'; the dative governed by παρίστημι; the people stand in attendance on Moses.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + adverb (temporal starting-point)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; with πρωίθεν.
πρωίθενfrom morningtemporal adverb (with ἀπό)→ clausal contributionπρωίθεν: 'from early morning'; see v. 13.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal end-point)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; takes the genitive.
δείληςlate afternoon / eveningGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal: 'until late afternoon')→ relational specificationδείλη (gen. δείλης): 'afternoon / late day / evening'; a slight variation on ἑσπέρας (v. 13), both rendering עֶרֶב; 'until late afternoon' completes the all-day picture.
15

καὶ λέγει Μωυσῆς τῷ γαμβρῷ ὅτι παραγίνεται πρός με ὁ λαὸς ἐκζητῆσαι κρίσιν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ

And Moses said to his father-in-law, 'Because the people come to me to seek a decision from God.'

Moses' reply (first part of his justification)καὶ λέγει Μωυσῆς
Moses answers with a ὅτι-clause ('because…'), explaining the throng: the people come to ἐκζητῆσαι κρίσιν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ('seek a decision/judgment from God'). Moses understands his role as the channel of divine verdicts — he is the conduit through whom litigants consult God himself, which is why he cannot simply turn them away. v. 16 will spell out the mechanics.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (historic present)→ historic present (vivid dialogue)λέγω (pres. λέγει): 'say'; historic present continuing the lively exchange.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: see v. 1.
τῷtheDativearticle (with γαμβρῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρῷfather-in-lawDativedative of indirect object (addressee)→ sphere or referenceγαμβρός (dat. γαμβρῷ): see v. 1; Jethro is addressed.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (introducing the explanatory answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces Moses' explanation; the ὅτι is recitative-causal, supplying the reason for the crowd.
παραγίνεταιcomesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραγίνομαιverb of the causal clause (singular with collective λαός)→ customary present (habitual coming)παραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive'; see v. 6; the present marks the habitual, repeated coming of the people for judgment.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to'; the people come 'to me'.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; Moses as the destination of the litigants.
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of παραγίνεται→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the collective subject takes the singular verb.
ἐκζητῆσαιto seek outAor Act Inf · ἐκζητέωinfinitive of purpose (with παραγίνεται: 'come to seek')→ aorist infinitive (purpose of the coming)ἐκζητέω (aor. inf. ἐκζητῆσαι): 'seek out / inquire diligently / consult'; the ἐκ- intensifies the searching; renders דָּרַשׁ ('seek/inquire of God'); the verb of consulting the divine will through Moses.
κρίσινjudgment / decisionAccusativedirect object of ἐκζητῆσαι→ object specificationκρίσις: 'judgment / decision / verdict'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the divine ruling the people seek; cognate with κρίνω (v. 13).
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source: 'from God')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from (the side of)'; marks God as the source of the sought verdict.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive object of παρά (source of the decision)→ relational specificationθεός (gen. θεοῦ): 'God'; the ultimate source of the κρίσις — Moses mediates God's own verdict to the people.
16

ὅταν γὰρ γένηται αὐτοῖς ἀντιλογία καὶ ἔλθωσι πρός με διακρίνω ἕκαστον καὶ συμβιβάζω αὐτοὺς τὰ προστάγματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ

For whenever a dispute arises among them and they come to me, I decide between each person, and I instruct them in the ordinances of God and his law.

Moses' justification continued (mechanics of his judging)ὅταν γὰρ γένηται
γάρ grounds v. 15: the case-by-case process is described. The ὅταν-clause (with subjunctives γένηται … ἔλθωσι) presents the recurring situation; the apodosis pairs two present verbs — διακρίνω ('I adjudicate between [the parties]') and συμβιβάζω ('I make known/instruct'). Moses thus exercises both a judicial and a teaching function: deciding disputes and instructing in τὰ προστάγματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ ('God's ordinances and his law').
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ὅτανwhenevertemporal conjunction (introducing iterative subordinate clause + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅταν: 'whenever'; ὅτε + ἄν; with the subjunctive expresses a repeated/general condition — 'every time a dispute arises'.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive, grounding v. 15)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the explanation of how the consultation works.
γένηταιarises / comes aboutAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of the ὅταν-clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (iterative-eventual: 'whenever there arises')γίνομαι (aor. subj. γένηται): 'happen / arise'; with ὅταν, the aorist subjunctive denotes the recurring onset of a dispute.
αὐτοῖςamong themDativedative of reference ('a dispute for/among them')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'them'; the people among whom the dispute arises.
ἀντιλογίαdispute / controversyNominativesubject of γένηται→ participant prominenceἀντιλογία: 'dispute / contradiction / controversy'; lit. 'speaking-against' (ἀντί + λόγος); renders רִיב / דָּבָר; the legal quarrel that requires adjudication.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking second subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλθωσιthey comeAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιverb of the ὅταν-clause (second subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (iterative: 'whenever they come')ἔρχομαι (aor. subj. ἔλθωσι): 'come / go'; the litigants bring their case to Moses.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to'.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; Moses, to whom the disputants come.
διακρίνωI decide between / adjudicatePres Act Indic 1 Sg · διακρίνωmain verb of the apodosis (Moses' judicial act)→ customary present (habitual adjudication)διακρίνω: 'distinguish / decide between / arbitrate'; the διά- stresses discerning between parties; renders שָׁפַט בֵּין; Moses settles each dispute by rendering a verdict.
ἕκαστονeach / each caseAccusativedirect object of διακρίνω (distributive)→ object specificationἕκαστος: 'each (one)'; the distributive object — Moses adjudicates each litigant/case individually, underlining the exhausting case-by-case burden.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking second apodosis verb)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συμβιβάζωI instruct / make knownPres Act Indic 1 Sg · συμβιβάζωmain verb of the apodosis (Moses' teaching act)→ customary present (habitual instruction)συμβιβάζω: 'bring together / instruct / make known / teach'; renders יָדַע (Hiphil 'make known') / יָרָה; the LXX uses it for imparting divine instruction (cf. Isa 40:13, cited 1 Cor 2:16); here Moses both judges and teaches the law.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of συμβιβάζω (persons instructed)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; the people instructed in God's statutes (double accusative with τὰ προστάγματα).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with προστάγματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προστάγματαordinances / decreesAccusativesecond accusative of συμβιβάζω (content of instruction)→ object specificationπρόσταγμα: 'ordinance / decree / command'; from προστάσσω; renders חֹק / מִצְוָה; the divine statutes; the double-accusative construction ('instruct them [in] the ordinances') is a Hebraism.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of source (with προστάγματα: 'ordinances of God')→ relational specificationθεός (gen. θεοῦ): 'God'; the statutes derive from God — Moses teaches divine, not human, law.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativeaccusative (coordinate with προστάγματα: 'and his law')→ object specificationνόμος: 'law / instruction'; renders תּוֹרָה; paired with τὰ προστάγματα as the comprehensive divine instruction; notable that the term appears here before the Sinai legislation, anticipating the giving of the Law.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with νόμον: 'his law' = God's)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; refers to God — the law belongs to him.
17

εἶπεν δὲ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ πρὸς αὐτόν οὐκ ὀρθῶς σὺ ποιεῖς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο

And the father-in-law of Moses said to him, 'You are not doing this thing rightly.'

Jethro's verdict and the start of his counselεἶπεν δὲ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ
Jethro's blunt assessment οὐκ ὀρθῶς σὺ ποιεῖς ('you are not doing rightly') opens the counsel section (vv. 17–23). The fronted negative οὐκ ὀρθῶς and the emphatic σύ form a direct, frank correction from elder to son-in-law — striking in that a Gentile advises the man who consults God. τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ('this matter') uses ῥῆμα in the Hebraistic sense of דָּבָר ('word/thing/affair').
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say'; introduces Jethro's counsel.
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: continuative; turns to Jethro's response.
theNominativearticle (with γαμβρός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρὸςfather-in-lawNominativesubject→ participant prominenceγαμβρός: see v. 1; here ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ stands for Jethro by his relational title.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γαμβρός)→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): see v. 1.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to'; directs the speech to Moses.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Moses)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): 'him'; Moses, the addressee.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ὀρθῶς)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ before vowel): 'not'; objective negation; fronted with ὀρθῶς for emphasis.
ὀρθῶςrightly / correctlyadverb of manner (negated: 'not rightly')→ clausal contributionὀρθῶς: 'rightly / correctly / properly'; from ὀρθός ('straight'); οὐκ ὀρθῶς = 'wrongly / improperly'; the frank verdict on Moses' arrangement.
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with ποιεῖς)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; personalises the correction.
ποιεῖςyou are doingPres Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb→ progressive present (current practice)ποιέω (pres. 2 sg. ποιεῖς): 'do'; the present marks Moses' ongoing arrangement that Jethro judges faulty.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / matterAccusativedirect object of ποιεῖς→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר; in LXX Greek ῥῆμα often carries the Hebraic extended sense 'thing/affair' (not merely 'spoken word'); τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο = 'this matter/practice'.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; points to Moses' solo-judging practice.
18

φθορᾷ καταφθαρήσῃ ἀνυπομονήτῳ καὶ σὺ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οὗτος ὅς ἐστιν μετὰ σοῦ βαρύ σοι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο οὐ δυνήσῃ ποιεῖν μόνος

With unbearable ruin you will be worn out, both you and all this people who are with you; this matter is too heavy for you; you will not be able to do it alone.

Jethro's diagnosis: the burden is unsustainableφθορᾷ καταφθαρήσῃ
The verse opens with the emphatic cognate-dative Hebraism φθορᾷ καταφθαρήσῃ ('with ruin you shall be ruined' = 'you will surely wear out'), rendering the Hebrew infinitive-absolute construction נָבֹל תִּבֹּל. The diagnosis is three-fold: (1) Moses and the people will be worn out, (2) the task is βαρύ ('too heavy'), and (3) Moses cannot do it μόνος ('alone') — picking up μόνος from v. 14 and motivating the remedy of vv. 19–23.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
φθορᾷwith ruin / wearing-outDativecognate dative (Hebraism: intensifying καταφθαρήσῃ)→ sphere or referenceφθορά: 'destruction / ruin / wearing-out'; cognate dative with καταφθαρήσῃ rendering the Hebrew infinitive absolute נָבֹל ('surely'); the dativus cognatus expresses certainty/intensity — 'you will utterly wear out' (cf. ἐκβολῇ at 11:1).
καταφθαρήσῃyou will be worn out / ruinedFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · καταφθείρωmain verb (with cognate dative)→ predictive future passive (inevitable exhaustion)καταφθείρω (fut. pass. καταφθαρήσῃ): 'destroy / wear out / wear down'; the κατα- intensifies; renders נָבֵל ('wither / wear out'); the passive 'you will be worn down' presents Moses' collapse as the certain consequence of the present system.
ἀνυπομονήτῳunbearable / intolerableDativeattributive adjective (modifying φθορᾷ: 'unbearable ruin')→ sphere or referenceἀνυπομόνητος: 'unendurable / intolerable'; lit. 'not-to-be-borne-up-under' (ἀ- + ὑπομένω); a rare, strong compound qualifying φθορᾷ — the wearing-out will be beyond endurance.
καὶboth / andcorrelative conjunction (καὶ … καί: 'both … and')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί … καί: correlative 'both … and'; coordinates Moses and the people as joint sufferers.
σὺyouNominativesubject (first member of καὶ … καί)→ participant referenceσύ: 'you'; Moses, who will wear out.
καὶandcorrelative conjunction (second member)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the whole people share the strain.
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject (second member of καὶ … καί)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the community, also worn down by the bottleneck of a single judge.
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (with λαός)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οὗτος = 'all this people'.
ὅςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν, modifying λαός)→ participant referenceὅς: 'who'; introduces the relative clause 'who are with you'.
ἐστινis / arePres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the relative clause (copula)→ stative present (the people's present association with Moses)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): 'be'; the copula agrees with the singular collective λαός — 'who is/are with you'.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; the people are 'with' Moses, dependent on him.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'; the accented form, object of μετά.
βαρύheavy / burdensomeNominativepredicate adjective (verbless: 'this matter [is] heavy')→ participant prominenceβαρύς: 'heavy / weighty / burdensome'; renders כָּבֵד; the neuter βαρύ agrees with τὸ ῥῆμα — the task is too weighty for one man.
σοιfor youDativedative of reference (with βαρύ: 'too heavy for you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'for you'; the dative of the person for whom the burden is too heavy.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαmatter / taskNominativesubject of the verbless clause (βαρύ … τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο)→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'matter / task'; see v. 17; here the burdensome judicial task.
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; 'this matter'.
οὐnotnegative particle (negating δυνήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; objective negation of the future capacity.
δυνήσῃyou will be ableFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb (negated future of ability)→ predictive future (incapacity to continue alone)δύναμαι (fut. δυνήσῃ): 'be able / can'; renders יָכֹל; οὐ δυνήσῃ = 'you will not be able' — the categorical conclusion of the diagnosis.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with δυνήσῃ)→ imperfective infinitive (ongoing performance of the task)ποιέω (pres. inf. ποιεῖν): 'do'; complements δυνήσῃ — 'you will not be able to do (it)'.
μόνοςaloneNominativepredicate adjective (with the subject of δυνήσῃ: 'do it alone')→ participant prominenceμόνος: 'alone / by oneself'; echoes v. 14 (κάθησαι μόνος); the problem named there is now declared impossible to sustain — the keyword that drives the delegation remedy.
19

νῦν οὖν ἄκουσόν μου καὶ συμβουλεύσω σοι καὶ ἔσται ὁ θεὸς μετὰ σοῦ γίνου σὺ τῷ λαῷ τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ ἀνοίσεις τοὺς λόγους αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν

Now then, listen to me, and I will counsel you, and God will be with you. Be you for the people in the things toward God, and you shall bring their words to God;

Jethro's counsel proper: the proposed remedy beginsνῦν οὖν ἄκουσόν μου
The transition νῦν οὖν ('now then', rendering וְעַתָּה) marks the move from diagnosis to prescription. Jethro first defines Moses' irreducible role: he is to remain the people's representative before God (γίνου σὺ τῷ λαῷ τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν — 'be for the people the things toward God', an idiomatic periphrasis) and to bring their cases (τοὺς λόγους αὐτῶν) up to God. The blessing καὶ ἔσται ὁ θεὸς μετὰ σοῦ frames the counsel as offered in dependence on God.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (with οὖν, transitional)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; νῦν οὖν renders וְעַתָּה ('now therefore'), the standard Hebrew hortatory transition from analysis to exhortation.
οὖνthen / thereforeinferential particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: 'therefore / then'; draws the practical conclusion — given the diagnosis, here is the remedy.
ἄκουσόνlisten / hearAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (imperative opening the counsel)→ ingressive aorist imperative (heed me now)ἀκούω (aor. impv. ἄκουσον): 'hear / listen / heed'; with the genitive μου ('listen to me'); the aorist imperative issues a decisive call to attend to the advice.
μουme / to meGenitivegenitive object of ἄκουσον (person heard)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'me'; ἀκούω + gen. of person = 'listen to / heed someone'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συμβουλεύσωI will counsel / adviseFut Act Indic 1 Sg · συμβουλεύωmain verb (Jethro's offer of counsel)→ predictive/promissory future ('I will give you advice')συμβουλεύω (fut. συμβουλεύσω): 'counsel / advise / give advice'; with the dative σοι; renders יָעַץ; the verb defines the whole speech as formal counsel.
σοιyouDativedative of indirect object (with συμβουλεύσω)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'you'; the recipient of the counsel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the conditional promise)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (promise of divine presence)→ predictive future (assurance contingent on heeding the counsel)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'will be'; the assurance ἔσται ὁ θεὸς μετὰ σοῦ ('God will be with you') echoes the Mosaic call-promise of 3:12 and frames obedience to the counsel as the path of continued divine accompaniment.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the promised companion of Moses.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; divine accompaniment.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'.
γίνουbe / becomePres Mid Impv 2 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (imperative: Moses' defined role)→ durative present imperative (continue to be / keep being)γίνομαι (pres. impv. γίνου): 'be / become'; the present imperative urges Moses to keep being the people's God-ward representative; γίνου σὺ τῷ λαῷ τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν is a Hebraistic periphrasis (הֱיֵה אַתָּה לָעָם מוּל הָאֱלֹהִים).
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with γίνου)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; stresses that this God-ward role remains Moses' own, undelegated.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷfor the peopleDativedative of advantage (with γίνου: 'be for the people')→ sphere or referenceλαός (dat. λαῷ): 'people'; Moses is to act on the people's behalf in their dealings with God.
τὰthe thingsAccusativeaccusative of respect (substantivised article: 'in the things toward God')→ object specificationὁ (neut. pl. τά): the substantivised article τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν ('the things pertaining to God') is an idiomatic accusative of respect — Moses' sphere is 'the God-ward matters' (cf. Heb 2:17, τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, of the high priest).
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (relation: 'in regard to God')→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'toward / in relation to'; τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν = 'the matters in relation to God'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationθεός (acc. θεόν): 'God'; the focus of Moses' representative role.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνοίσειςyou shall bring up / referFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀναφέρωmain verb (future with imperatival force)→ imperatival future (directive: 'you are to refer')ἀναφέρω (fut. ἀνοίσεις): 'bring up / carry up / refer / offer'; the ἀνα- ('up') suits both 'refer upward (to God)' and the cultic 'offer up'; renders הֵבִיא / הֶעֱלָה; Moses brings the people's cases up to God; the same verb recurs at v. 22 (ἀνοίσουσιν) of referring hard cases up to Moses.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λόγους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwords / mattersAccusativedirect object of ἀνοίσεις→ object specificationλόγος (acc. pl. λόγους): 'word / matter / case'; renders דָּבָר; here the people's legal matters/disputes that Moses lays before God.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive genitive (with λόγους: 'their matters')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the people's own cases.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to God')→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; the destination of the referral — God himself.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationθεός (acc. θεόν): 'God'; the one to whom Moses brings the people's cases.
20

καὶ διαμαρτυρῇ αὐτοῖς τὰ προστάγματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ καὶ σημανεῖς αὐτοῖς τὰς ὁδούς ἐν αἷς πορεύσονται ἐν αὐταῖς καὶ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιήσουσιν

and you shall solemnly charge them with the ordinances of God and his law, and you shall show them the ways in which they shall walk and the works which they shall do.

Jethro's counsel continued: Moses' teaching officeκαὶ διαμαρτυρῇ αὐτοῖς
Moses' second irreducible task is instruction. Two future-as-imperative verbs — διαμαρτυρῇ ('solemnly charge') and σημανεῖς ('show / make known') — define his teaching role: he warns the people with τὰ προστάγματα … καὶ τὸν νόμον (the same pairing as v. 16) and points out τὰς ὁδοὺς … καὶ τὰ ἔργα ('the ways … and the works'), i.e. how to live. The redundant resumptive ἐν αἷς … ἐν αὐταῖς ('in which … in them') is a Hebraism rendering the resumptive pronoun of a Hebrew relative clause.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαμαρτυρῇyou shall solemnly charge / testifyFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · διαμαρτύρομαιmain verb (future with imperatival force)→ imperatival future (directive instruction)διαμαρτύρομαι (fut. διαμαρτυρῇ): 'solemnly testify / charge / warn earnestly'; the διά- intensifies; renders הֵעִיד ('admonish / charge solemnly'); Moses is to impress the divine statutes on the people with binding seriousness.
αὐτοῖςthem / to themDativedative of indirect object (with διαμαρτυρῇ)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'them'; the people charged with the statutes.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with προστάγματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προστάγματαordinances / decreesAccusativedirect object of διαμαρτυρῇ (content of the charge)→ object specificationπρόσταγμα: 'ordinance / decree'; see v. 16; the divine statutes Moses must teach.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of source (with προστάγματα)→ relational specificationθεός (gen. θεοῦ): 'God'; the statutes are God's.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativedirect object (coordinate with προστάγματα)→ object specificationνόμος: 'law / instruction'; see v. 16; renders תּוֹרָה; paired again with the ordinances.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with νόμον: 'his law')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; God's law.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking second teaching verb)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σημανεῖςyou shall show / make knownFut Act Indic 2 Sg · σημαίνωmain verb (future with imperatival force)→ imperatival future (directive)σημαίνω (fut. σημανεῖς): 'signify / make known / point out / indicate'; renders הוֹדִיעַ ('make known'); Moses is to point out the practical path of obedience — the ways to walk and the works to do.
αὐτοῖςthem / to themDativedative of indirect object (with σημανεῖς)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'them'; the people shown the way.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ὁδούς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδούςways / roadsAccusativedirect object of σημανεῖς→ object specificationὁδός (acc. pl. ὁδούς): 'way / road / manner of life'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; metaphorical 'ways' of conduct — the ethical-religious path the people must walk.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, with relative αἷς)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in'; introduces the relative clause.
αἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (with ἐν, antecedent ὁδούς)→ participant reference or interestὅς (dat. fem. pl. αἷς): 'which'; relative referring to ὁδούς; governed by ἐν.
πορεύσονταιthey shall walk / goFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιverb of the relative clause→ predictive future (the people's future conduct)πορεύομαι (fut. πορεύσονται): 'go / walk / journey'; renders הָלַךְ; 'walk in the ways' is the standard biblical metaphor for living according to God's instruction (cf. Deut 5:33).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (resumptive Hebraism with αὐταῖς)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in'; the second ἐν (ἐν αὐταῖς) redundantly resumes the relative — a Hebraism.
αὐταῖςthemDativeresumptive pronoun (Hebraism: 'in which … in them')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. fem. pl. αὐταῖς): 'them'; the resumptive ἐν αὐταῖς ('in them') redundantly repeats the relative αἷς, calquing the Hebrew resumptive pronoun in a relative clause (אֲשֶׁר … בָּהֵן).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔργα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔργαworks / deedsAccusativedirect object of σημανεῖς (coordinate with ὁδούς)→ object specificationἔργον (acc. pl. ἔργα): 'work / deed'; renders מַעֲשֶׂה; the concrete deeds the people are to perform — paired with 'ways' as the comprehensive content of obedience.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ποιήσουσιν, antecedent ἔργα)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. neut. pl. ἅ): 'which'; relative referring to ἔργα.
ποιήσουσινthey shall doFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of the relative clause→ predictive future (the deeds to be performed)ποιέω (fut. 3 pl. ποιήσουσιν): 'do / perform'; the works the people are to carry out in obedience to the law.
21

καὶ σὺ σεαυτῷ σκέψαι ἀπὸ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς θεοσεβεῖς ἄνδρας δικαίους μισοῦντας ὑπερηφανίαν καὶ καταστήσεις αὐτοὺς ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν χιλιάρχους καὶ ἑκατοντάρχους καὶ πεντηκοντάρχους καὶ δεκαδάρχους

And you, look out for yourself from all the people capable, God-fearing men, righteous men who hate arrogance, and you shall set them over them as rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds and rulers of fifties and rulers of tens.

Jethro's counsel: the core remedy — selection and appointment of judgesκαὶ σὺ σεαυτῷ σκέψαι
The heart of the counsel: Moses is to select qualified men and appoint a tiered judiciary. The character qualifications are stacked — ἄνδρας δυνατούς ('capable/able men'), θεοσεβεῖς ('God-fearing'), δικαίους ('righteous'), μισοῦντας ὑπερηφανίαν ('hating arrogance/unjust gain') — emphasising both competence and integrity. The decimal hierarchy χιλιάρχους / ἑκατοντάρχους / πεντηκοντάρχους / δεκαδάρχους ('of thousands / hundreds / fifties / tens') is a military-administrative structure (cf. Deut 1:15; Num 31:14) here applied to civil judgeship — the foundational text of Israel's graded judiciary.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with σκέψαι)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; καὶ σύ ('and you, for your part') marks the personal task laid on Moses.
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativereflexive dative of advantage (with σκέψαι)→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ (dat. σεαυτῷ): reflexive 'yourself'; the ethical/advantage dative ('for yourself, to your own benefit') renders the Hebrew לְךָ (dativus ethicus), urging Moses to provide for his own relief.
σκέψαιlook out / select / provideAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · σκέπτομαιmain verb (imperative: the selection command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (set about choosing)σκέπτομαι (aor. mid. impv. σκέψαι): 'look out / consider / select carefully'; renders חָזָה / רָאָה ('look out / select'); the verb implies discerning examination — Moses must carefully vet candidates.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive source: 'from all the people')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; partitive — the men are to be drawn from the whole populace.
παντὸςallGenitiveattributive adjective (with λαοῦ)→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. παντός): 'all'; the candidates come from the entire people.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (partitive)→ relational specificationλαός (gen. λαοῦ): 'people'; the pool from which judges are selected.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of σκέψαι (first occurrence)→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the male candidates for judgeship; the noun is repeated for emphasis with a second cluster of qualities.
δυνατοὺςcapable / able / mightyAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἄνδρας)→ object specificationδυνατός: 'capable / powerful / competent'; renders אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל ('men of ability/valor'); the first qualification — proven competence and capacity for the task.
θεοσεβεῖςGod-fearing / piousAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἄνδρας)→ object specificationθεοσεβής: 'God-fearing / devout'; lit. 'God-revering' (θεός + σέβομαι); renders יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים ('fearers of God'); the second qualification — reverence for God as the foundation of just judgment.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of σκέψαι (second occurrence, resumptive)→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'man'; the repetition (ἄνδρας … ἄνδρας) is emphatic, introducing the moral qualities.
δικαίουςrighteous / justAccusativeattributive adjective (with the second ἄνδρας)→ object specificationδίκαιος: 'righteous / just'; renders צַדִּיק; the third qualification — moral uprightness essential for fair adjudication.
μισοῦνταςhatingPres Act Ptc Acc Masc Pl · μισέωattributive participle (modifying ἄνδρας: 'men who hate')→ imperfective participle (settled disposition of hatred)μισέω (pres. ptc. μισοῦντας): 'hate / detest'; the present participle expresses a fixed disposition; μισοῦντας ὑπερηφανίαν renders שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע ('haters of unjust gain'), here rendered as 'hating arrogance' — judges immune to pride and corrupt self-interest.
ὑπερηφανίανarrogance / prideAccusativedirect object of μισοῦντας→ object specificationὑπερηφανία: 'arrogance / haughtiness / pride'; lit. 'showing-oneself-above' (ὑπέρ + φαίνομαι); the LXX renders Hebrew בֶּצַע ('unjust gain') here with ὑπερηφανίαν, interpreting the vice as the proud self-exaltation that corrupts judgment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the appointment)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταστήσειςyou shall set / appointFut Act Indic 2 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb (future with imperatival force)→ imperatival future (directive to appoint)καθίστημι (fut. καταστήσεις): 'set / appoint / establish / put in charge'; renders שִׂים / נָתַן ('appoint over'); the verb of official installation to office (cf. Gen 41:41; Acts 6:3); here Moses installs the graded judges.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of καταστήσεις (the selected men)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; the chosen men, installed as officials.
ἐπ᾿overpreposition + genitive (authority: 'over them', elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'over'; expresses jurisdictional authority — set 'over' the people.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (those over whom they are set: the people)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the people over whom the judges are placed.
χιλιάρχουςrulers of thousandsAccusativeobject complement of καταστήσεις (rank, first tier)→ object specificationχιλίαρχος: 'commander of a thousand'; χίλιοι + ἄρχω; renders שַׂר אֲלָפִים; the highest tier of the decimal hierarchy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἑκατοντάρχουςrulers of hundredsAccusativeobject complement (rank, second tier)→ object specificationἑκατόνταρχος: 'commander of a hundred / centurion'; ἑκατόν + ἄρχω; renders שַׂר מֵאוֹת; the second tier.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πεντηκοντάρχουςrulers of fiftiesAccusativeobject complement (rank, third tier)→ object specificationπεντηκόνταρχος: 'commander of fifty'; πεντήκοντα + ἄρχω; renders שַׂר חֲמִשִּׁים; the third tier (cf. 2 Kgs 1:9–14).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δεκαδάρχουςrulers of tensAccusativeobject complement (rank, fourth/lowest tier)→ object specificationδεκάδαρχος: 'commander of ten'; δεκάς + ἄρχω; renders שַׂר עֲשָׂרֹת; the lowest tier; the four-fold descending series (1000/100/50/10) constitutes Israel's graded judicial-administrative structure.
22

καὶ κρινοῦσιν τὸν λαὸν πᾶσαν ὥραν τὸ δὲ ῥῆμα τὸ ὑπέρογκον ἀνοίσουσιν ἐπὶ σέ τὰ δὲ βραχέα τῶν κριμάτων κρινοῦσιν αὐτοὶ καὶ κουφιοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ συναντιλήμψονταί σοι

And they shall judge the people at every hour; the weighty matter they shall refer to you, but the minor of the cases they shall judge themselves, and they shall lighten the load from you and shall share the burden with you.

Jethro's counsel: the operation of the delegated systemκαὶ κρινοῦσιν τὸν λαὸν
The mechanics of delegation: the appointed judges handle ordinary cases 'at every hour' (πᾶσαν ὥραν), while τὸ ῥῆμα τὸ ὑπέρογκον ('the weighty/over-large matter') is referred up to Moses (ἀνοίσουσιν ἐπὶ σέ, echoing Moses' own ἀνοίσεις … πρὸς τὸν θεόν of v. 19). The result is twofold relief: κουφιοῦσιν ('they will lighten [the load]') and συναντιλήμψονταί σοι ('they will take hold along with you' = share the burden) — the same verb Greek-speaking readers know from Rom 8:26 (the Spirit's συναντιλαμβάνεται).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κρινοῦσινthey shall judgeFut Act Indic 3 Pl · κρίνωmain verb (the judges' regular function)→ predictive future (the ongoing judicial activity of the appointees)κρίνω (fut. 3 pl. κρινοῦσιν): 'judge / decide'; the contract future of the liquid stem; the appointed officials take over the routine judging (cf. v. 13).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of κρινοῦσιν→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; the object of the judges' adjudication.
πᾶσανeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ὥραν)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. fem. πᾶσαν): 'every / all'; πᾶσαν ὥραν = 'at every hour / at all times'.
ὥρανhour / timeAccusativeaccusative of time (extent/recurrence: 'at every hour')→ object specificationὥρα (acc. ὥραν): 'hour / season / time'; the accusative of time, πᾶσαν ὥραν ('at all times / continually'), renders בְּכָל עֵת; the judges are continuously available, relieving the morning-to-evening bottleneck of v. 13.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbutmild adversative (post-positive, contrasting case-types)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; contrasts the weighty cases with the routine ones.
ῥῆμαmatter / caseAccusativedirect object of ἀνοίσουσιν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'matter / case'; see v. 17; here the difficult legal matter.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with ὑπέρογκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπέρογκονweighty / oversized / hardAccusativeattributive adjective (with ῥῆμα: 'the weighty matter')→ object specificationὑπέρογκος: 'over-large / excessive / weighty'; lit. 'beyond bulk' (ὑπέρ + ὄγκος); renders הַדָּבָר הַגָּדֹל ('the great/hard matter'); the major case exceeding the lower judges' competence.
ἀνοίσουσινthey shall refer up / bring upFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναφέρωmain verb (referral of hard cases to Moses)→ predictive future (the upward referral)ἀναφέρω (fut. 3 pl. ἀνοίσουσιν): 'bring/carry up / refer'; see v. 19; the judges refer the hard cases up to Moses, mirroring Moses' referral up to God — a vertical chain of appeal.
ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + accusative (direction of referral)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'to / unto'; the direction of the upward referral (to Moses).
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (Moses)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σέ): 'you'; Moses, to whom the hard cases come.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with βραχέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbutmild adversative (post-positive, contrasting minor cases)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; introduces the counterpart — the minor cases.
βραχέαsmall / minor / trivialAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of κρινοῦσιν: 'the minor [cases]')→ object specificationβραχύς (neut. pl. βραχέα): 'short / small / slight'; renders הַקָּטֹן ('the small'); the lesser cases the lower judges decide themselves.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with κριμάτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κριμάτωνcases / judgmentsGenitivepartitive genitive (with βραχέα: 'the minor of the cases')→ relational specificationκρίμα (gen. pl. κριμάτων): 'judgment / legal case / lawsuit'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the partitive τὰ βραχέα τῶν κριμάτων = 'the minor (ones) among the cases'.
κρινοῦσινthey shall judgeFut Act Indic 3 Pl · κρίνωmain verb (the judges decide minor cases)→ predictive futureκρίνω (fut. 3 pl. κρινοῦσιν): 'judge'; repeated from above; the lower judges handle these autonomously.
αὐτοὶthemselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (subject emphasis: 'they themselves')→ participant referenceαὐτός (nom. pl. αὐτοί): intensive 'themselves'; stresses that the appointed judges, not Moses, decide the minor cases.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κουφιοῦσινthey shall lightenFut Act Indic 3 Pl · κουφίζωmain verb (the resulting relief)→ predictive future (the lightening of Moses' load)κουφίζω (fut. 3 pl. κουφιοῦσιν): 'lighten / make light / relieve'; from κοῦφος ('light'); renders הָקֵל ('make lighter'); the judges 'lighten (the burden) from you' — the explicit goal of the reform.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from you')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; the burden is lifted 'from' Moses.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'; Moses, from whom the load is taken.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συναντιλήμψονταίthey shall share the burden / help bearFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · συναντιλαμβάνομαιmain verb (the judges share the load with Moses)→ predictive future (shared burden-bearing)συναντιλαμβάνομαι (fut. 3 pl. συναντιλήμψονταί): 'take hold together with / help / share a burden'; the triple compound (σύν + ἀντί + λαμβάνω) means 'lay hold of the other end along with someone'; renders נָשָׂא אִתְּךָ ('bear with you'); the same verb describes the Spirit's help in Rom 8:26 and Martha's plea in Luke 10:40.
σοιyou / with youDativedative complement of συναντιλήμψονται ('share with you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'you'; the dative of association governed by the σύν- compound — they bear the load 'together with you'.
23

ἐὰν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ποιήσῃς κατισχύσει σε ὁ θεός καὶ δυνήσῃ παραστῆναι καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οὗτος εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τόπον μετ᾿ εἰρήνης ἥξει

If you do this thing, God will strengthen you, and you will be able to stand; and all this people will come to its own place in peace.

Jethro's counsel: conditional promise concluding the adviceἐὰν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ποιήσῃς
The counsel ends with a conditional promise (ἐάν + aorist subjunctive ποιήσῃς): obedience yields three results — God will strengthen Moses (κατισχύσει σε), Moses will be able to endure (δυνήσῃ παραστῆναι, answering οὐ δυνήσῃ of v. 18), and the whole people will reach its destination μετ᾿ εἰρήνης ('in peace'). The reform is thus framed not as mere efficiency but as the condition of divine empowerment and the people's peaceful arrival at the land.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis, + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; εἰ + ἄν; introduces a future/eventual condition with the subjunctive — the prospective 'if you do this'.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / matterAccusativedirect object of ποιήσῃς→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'matter / thing'; see v. 17; here the whole counsel just given.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; 'this thing' = Jethro's recommended plan.
ποιήσῃςyou do / performAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ποιέωverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (eventual condition: 'if you carry this out')ποιέω (aor. subj. ποιήσῃς): 'do / perform'; the aorist subjunctive views the implementation of the counsel as a single decisive act.
κατισχύσειwill strengthen / sustainFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κατισχύωmain verb of the apodosis (divine empowerment)→ predictive future (the promised strengthening)κατισχύω (fut. κατισχύσει): 'strengthen / be strong / prevail'; here transitive 'strengthen / sustain (you)'; renders חָזַק (Piel); God will give Moses the strength to endure the office under the new arrangement.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of κατισχύσει→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; Moses, the one God will strengthen.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativesubject of κατισχύσει→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the one who empowers Moses for the reformed task.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δυνήσῃyou will be ableFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb of the apodosis (restored capacity)→ predictive future (positive answer to v. 18's οὐ δυνήσῃ)δύναμαι (fut. δυνήσῃ): 'be able'; deliberately echoes and reverses οὐ δυνήσῃ ποιεῖν μόνος (v. 18) — what was impossible alone becomes possible with shared judges and divine strength.
παραστῆναιto stand / endure / hold upAor Act Inf · παρίστημιcomplementary infinitive (with δυνήσῃ)→ ingressive aorist infinitive (take and keep one's stand)παρίστημι (aor. inf. παραστῆναι): 'stand (firm) / endure / hold one's ground'; the intransitive aorist infinitive; Moses 'will be able to stand/endure' — to sustain the demands of office without collapse (contrast καταφθαρήσῃ, v. 18).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the people-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the whole people, the second beneficiary of the reform.
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of ἥξει→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the whole community that will reach its destination in peace.
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (with λαός)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; 'all this people'.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction/goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'to / into'; the goal of the people's coming.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with τόπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτοῦits ownGenitivereflexive possessive (with τόπον: 'its own place')→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'its own'; the people's destined place — ultimately the promised land (cf. Gen 18:33 idiom εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ).
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; renders מָקוֹם; the people's appointed destination, reached 'in peace' under the reformed system.
μετ᾿with / inpreposition + genitive (manner: 'in peace', elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; μετ᾿ εἰρήνης = 'in peace / peaceably', a manner-phrase.
εἰρήνηςpeaceGenitivegenitive object of μετά (manner: 'in peace')→ relational specificationεἰρήνη (gen. εἰρήνης): 'peace / wholeness / well-being'; renders שָׁלוֹם; the peaceful arrival contrasts with the strife and exhaustion of the unreformed system.
ἥξειwill come / arriveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἥκωmain verb (the people's peaceful arrival)→ predictive future (the promised outcome)ἥκω (fut. ἥξει): 'have come / arrive / reach'; renders בּוֹא; the singular agrees with the collective λαός; the verse ends on the goal — peaceful arrival at the destined place.
24

ἤκουσεν δὲ Μωυσῆς τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ γαμβροῦ καὶ ἐποίησεν ὅσα αὐτῷ εἶπεν

And Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he said to him.

Implementation: Moses obeys the counsel (section D begins)ἤκουσεν δὲ Μωυσῆς
The implementation section (vv. 24–27) opens with the obedience-formula ἤκουσεν … τῆς φωνῆς ('heeded the voice', rendering שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל) — a Hebraism in which ἀκούω + genitive of voice means 'obey'. The summary καὶ ἐποίησεν ὅσα … εἶπεν ('did all that he said') marks complete compliance, recalling the same obedience-formula used of Moses' obedience to God elsewhere (cf. 7:6; 12:28).
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ἤκουσενheeded / listened toAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (obedience-formula with genitive)→ constative aorist (the act of heeding)ἀκούω (aor. ἤκουσεν): 'hear / heed / obey'; with the genitive τῆς φωνῆς, ἀκούω means 'obey' (rendering שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל 'listen to the voice of'); the same verb opened the chapter (v. 1), now framing Moses' obedient response.
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: continuative; moves from counsel to implementation.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: see v. 1.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἤκουσεν (obedience-idiom: 'heeded the voice')→ relational specificationφωνή (gen. φωνῆς): 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; ἀκούειν τῆς φωνῆς ('listen to the voice') is the Hebraistic idiom for obedience.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with γαμβροῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβροῦfather-in-lawGenitivegenitive of relationship (with φωνῆς: 'voice of his father-in-law')→ relational specificationγαμβρός (gen. γαμβροῦ): see v. 1; Jethro, whose counsel Moses obeys.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωcoordinate main verb (the act of compliance)→ constative aorist (complete compliance)ποιέω (aor. ἐποίησεν): 'do'; renders עָשָׂה; the obedience-summary 'did all that he said' marks full implementation of the counsel.
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν and εἶπεν)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; 'all that he said' — the totality of Jethro's advice carried out.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (with εἶπεν)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'to him'; Moses, to whom Jethro spoke.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of the relative clause (subject = Jethro)→ constative aorist (Jethro's counsel)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say'; refers back to all Jethro counselled in vv. 17–23.
25

καὶ ἐπέλεξεν Μωυσῆς ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς ἀπὸ παντὸς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν χιλιάρχους καὶ ἑκατοντάρχους καὶ πεντηκοντάρχους καὶ δεκαδάρχους

And Moses chose capable men from all Israel, and made them rulers over them, rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds and rulers of fifties and rulers of tens.

Implementation: the appointment carried out (fulfilling vv. 21)καὶ ἐπέλεξεν Μωυσῆς
The execution mirrors the command of v. 21 almost verbatim — ἐπέλεξεν … ἄνδρας δυνατούς ('chose capable men') and ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς … χιλιάρχους κτλ. The LXX compresses the multiple moral qualifications of v. 21 to the single δυνατούς, but reproduces the full four-tier hierarchy exactly. The narrative-fulfilment technique (command then verbatim execution) is characteristic of Pentateuchal Hebrew preserved in the LXX.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέλεξενchose / selectedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιλέγωmain verb (Moses' selection)→ constative aorist (the act of choosing)ἐπιλέγω (aor. ἐπέλεξεν): 'pick out / select / choose'; the ἐπι- marks deliberate selection; renders בָּחַר; Moses carries out the σκέψαι command of v. 21.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: see v. 1.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἐπέλεξεν→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'man'; the chosen candidates, as specified in v. 21.
δυνατοὺςcapable / ableAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἄνδρας)→ object specificationδυνατός: 'capable / able'; see v. 21; here the single epithet stands for the full cluster of qualifications, summarising the chosen men's fitness.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; partitive — drawn from all Israel.
παντὸςallGenitiveattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. παντός): 'all'; the candidates are drawn from the entire nation.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable: 'from all Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: see v. 1; indeclinable; here παντὸς Ισραηλ ('all Israel') is the source-pool, replacing v. 21's παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησενmade / appointedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωcoordinate main verb (the appointment)→ constative aorist (act of appointing)ποιέω (aor. ἐποίησεν): 'make / appoint'; here in the sense 'made/appointed them as…' (= καθίστημι of v. 21); renders שִׂים; the double accusative (αὐτούς … χιλιάρχους) expresses appointment to office.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; the chosen men appointed to office.
ἐπ᾿overpreposition + genitive (authority: 'over them', elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'over'; jurisdictional authority, as in v. 21.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (the people)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the people over whom the judges are set.
χιλιάρχουςrulers of thousandsAccusativeobject complement (rank, first tier)→ object specificationχιλίαρχος: 'commander of a thousand'; see v. 21.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἑκατοντάρχουςrulers of hundredsAccusativeobject complement (rank, second tier)→ object specificationἑκατόνταρχος: 'commander of a hundred'; see v. 21.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πεντηκοντάρχουςrulers of fiftiesAccusativeobject complement (rank, third tier)→ object specificationπεντηκόνταρχος: 'commander of fifty'; see v. 21.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δεκαδάρχουςrulers of tensAccusativeobject complement (rank, fourth/lowest tier)→ object specificationδεκάδαρχος: 'commander of ten'; see v. 21; the full four-tier hierarchy is reproduced exactly as commanded.
26

καὶ ἐκρίνοσαν τὸν λαὸν πᾶσαν ὥραν πᾶν δὲ ῥῆμα ὑπέρογκον ἀνεφέροσαν ἐπὶ Μωυσῆν πᾶν δὲ ῥῆμα ἐλαφρὸν ἐκρίνοσαν αὐτοί

And they judged the people at every hour; every weighty matter they referred to Moses, but every light matter they judged themselves.

Implementation: the new system in operation (fulfilling v. 22)καὶ ἐκρίνοσαν τὸν λαὸν
The system functions exactly as Jethro proposed in v. 22. Notable here are the Hellenistic/Hebraistic third-plural imperfect endings in -οσαν: ἐκρίνοσαν (for ἔκρινον) and ἀνεφέροσαν (for ἀνέφερον) — a hallmark of LXX 'translation Greek', especially common in the Pentateuch. The contrast πᾶν ῥῆμα ὑπέρογκον / πᾶν ῥῆμα ἐλαφρόν ('every weighty / every light matter') restates v. 22's case-division as accomplished practice.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκρίνοσανthey judged / kept judgingImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · κρίνωmain verb (the judges' habitual activity)→ iterative/customary imperfect (ongoing judging)κρίνω (impf. 3 pl. ἐκρίνοσαν): 'judge'; the form ἐκρίνοσαν exhibits the Hellenistic 3rd-plural imperfect ending -οσαν (for classical ἔκρινον), a frequent LXX feature; the imperfect marks the regular, ongoing operation of the new judiciary.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of ἐκρίνοσαν→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; the object of the judges' work.
πᾶσανeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ὥραν)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. fem. πᾶσαν): 'every'; πᾶσαν ὥραν = 'at all times', as in v. 22.
ὥρανhour / timeAccusativeaccusative of time (recurrence: 'at every hour')→ object specificationὥρα (acc. ὥραν): 'hour / time'; see v. 22; the continuous availability now realised.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. neut. πᾶν): 'every'; with ῥῆμα.
δὲbutmild adversative (post-positive, contrasting case-types)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; contrasts the weighty cases referred up.
ῥῆμαmatter / caseAccusativedirect object of ἀνεφέροσαν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'matter / case'; see v. 17; the hard case.
ὑπέρογκονweighty / hardAccusativeattributive adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ object specificationὑπέρογκος: 'weighty / over-large'; see v. 22; here without the article, 'every weighty matter'.
ἀνεφέροσανthey referred up / brought upImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναφέρωmain verb (referral of hard cases to Moses)→ iterative/customary imperfect (habitual referral)ἀναφέρω (impf. 3 pl. ἀνεφέροσαν): 'bring/carry up / refer'; the form ἀνεφέροσαν again shows the Hellenistic -οσαν imperfect ending (for ἀνέφερον); the imperfect marks the regular practice of escalating hard cases to Moses (fulfilling v. 22's ἀνοίσουσιν).
ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + accusative (direction of referral)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'to / unto'; the hard cases go up 'to Moses'.
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc. Μωυσῆν): see v. 1; Moses receives the difficult cases.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with the second ῥῆμα)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. neut. πᾶν): 'every'; with the light case.
δὲbutmild adversative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; the counterpart — light cases handled locally.
ῥῆμαmatter / caseAccusativedirect object of ἐκρίνοσαν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'matter / case'; the minor case.
ἐλαφρὸνlight / minor / easyAccusativeattributive adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ object specificationἐλαφρός: 'light / slight / easy'; renders הַקָּטֹן / the 'small' matter; synonymous here with βραχέα (v. 22); the routine case the lower judges settle.
ἐκρίνοσανthey judgedImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · κρίνωmain verb (the judges decide minor cases)→ iterative/customary imperfectκρίνω (impf. 3 pl. ἐκρίνοσαν): 'judge'; repeated with the -οσαν ending; the lower judges decide the light cases themselves.
αὐτοίthemselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (subject emphasis: 'they themselves')→ participant referenceαὐτός (nom. pl. αὐτοί): intensive 'themselves'; stresses the autonomy of the appointed judges in minor cases, as in v. 22.
27

ἐξαπέστειλεν δὲ Μωυσῆς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ γαμβρόν καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ

And Moses sent his father-in-law away, and he went off to his own land.

Episode closure: Jethro's departureἐξαπέστειλεν δὲ Μωυσῆς
The chapter closes with a tidy two-clause departure-formula: Moses ἐξαπέστειλεν ('sent away/dismissed') his father-in-law, and Jethro ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ ('went off to his own land', i.e. Midian). The narrative is rounded off before the Sinai theophany of ch. 19, the family episode and judicial reform now complete; Num 10:29–32 records a later continuation of the Jethro/Hobab tradition.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ἐξαπέστειλενsent away / dismissedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (Moses dismisses Jethro)→ constative aorist (the act of sending off)ἐξαποστέλλω (aor. ἐξαπέστειλεν): 'send away / send off / dismiss'; the double compound ἐξ-απο- stresses sending right off; renders שָׁלַח; here a courteous leave-taking, not an expulsion (contrast the same verb's use of Pharaoh releasing Israel, 11:1).
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: continuative; closes the episode.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: see v. 1.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with γαμβρόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive possessive (with γαμβρόν: 'his own father-in-law')→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'his own'; emphasises the kinship bond as Jethro departs.
γαμβρόνfather-in-lawAccusativedirect object of ἐξαπέστειλεν→ object specificationγαμβρός (acc. γαμβρόν): see v. 1; Jethro, dismissed with honor; the relational title frames the chapter from first verse to last.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῆλθενwent off / departedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιcoordinate main verb (Jethro's departure)→ constative aorist (the act of departing)ἀπέρχομαι (aor. ἀπῆλθεν): 'go away / depart'; renders הָלַךְ; Jethro returns home, closing the episode.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction/goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'to / into'; the destination of Jethro's return.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationγῆ (acc. γῆν): 'land / country'; renders אֶרֶץ; Jethro's own land — Midian (cf. v. 1).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with γῆν: 'his land')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; refers to Jethro — his homeland of Midian, to which he returns.