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Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

Exodus 18:11

Greater than all gods - See Exodus 15:11. The words simply indicate a conviction of the incomparable might and majesty of Yahweh.

For in ... above them - i. e. the greatness of Yahweh was shown in those transactions wherein the Egyptians had thought to deal haughtily and cruelly against the Israelites. Jethro refers especially to the destruction of the Egyptian host in the Red Sea.

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See also Exodus 18:11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Exodus 18:11. _NOW I KNOW THAT THE LORD_ IS _GREATER THAN ALL GODS_] Some think that Jethro was _now_ converted to the true God; but it is very probable that he enjoyed this blessing before he...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 18 MOSES AND JETHRO _ 1. The coming of Jethro (Exodus 18:1)_ 2. Moses' and Jethro's communion (Exodus 18:6) 3. Jethro's advice (Exodus 18:13) 4. Moses' action ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JETHRO AS PRIEST. Exodus 18:1 a (Midian) J, Exodus 18:1 b E, Exodus 18:1 c (supply heard) J, Exodus 18:2 Rje,...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    GREATER. Figure of speech _Anthropopatheia._ App-6. Magnitude attributed to God....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    FOR IN THE THING WHEREIN THEY DEALT PROUDLY, &C.— Jethro, in the former part of the verse, expresses his belief in the superiority of Jehovah over all false gods: a belief, confirmed by the reason sub...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 18 Now Je-thro, the priest of Mid-i-an, Mo-ses-' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Mo-ses, and for Is-ra-el his people, how that Je-ho-vah had brought Is...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _NOW I KNOW THAT THE LORD IS GREATER THAN ALL GODS: FOR IN THE THING WHEREIN THEY DEALT PROUDLY HE WAS ABOVE THEM._ Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods. The reference is to the momentou...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE VISIT OF JETHRO 1. On the name JETHRO, see Exodus 2:16, and on MIDIAN, Exodus 2:15....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    See on Exodus 15:11. The second half of the v. is obscure. RV reads, 'yea, in the thing wherein they (the Egyptians) dealt proudly against them (the Israelites).'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    EXODUS: ISRAEL BECOMES A NATION THE *ISRAELITES LEAVE EGYPT EXODUS CHAPTER S 1 TO 18 _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 18 JETHRO’S VISIT – VERSES 1-12 V1 Jethro was the father of Moses’ w...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    JETHRO SAID, BLESSED BE THE LORD. — Heb., _Jehovah._ The Midianites, descendants of Abraham by Keturah, acknowledged the true God, and the Israelites could rightfully join with them in acts of worship...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    FOR IN THE THING... — Heb., _even in the matter in which they dealt proudly against them._ Jehovah’s superior power had been shown especially in the matter in which the Egyptians had dealt most proudl...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּֽי ־גָדֹ֥ול יְהוָ֖ה מִ...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    MOSES TELLS JETHRO OF GOD'S GOODNESS Exodus 18:1 The names that Moses gave his two sons betray the drift of his thoughts during the forty years of his shepherd life. May we ever remember that we are...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here we have an interesting interruption of the main narrative. Jethro arrests our attention and compels recognition of certain facts which we are liable to forget, as also were the Israelites of old....

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Now I know that the LORD [is] greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly (e) [he was] above them. (e) For they that drowned the children of the Israelites, perished themselves...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _I know. I am now more convinced of this truth. Jethro instructed his family in these principles. The Rechabites were his descendants. (1 Paralipomenon ii. 55; Jeremias xxxv.) (Menochius) --- Proudly....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Jethro though a Midianite, could not but be led to discover the hand of God in guiding Israel. The church makes the same beautiful observation at the close of a long discourse of divine mercies. Psalm...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    There is hardly a book of the Old Testament that stands out in more decided contrast with the book of Genesis than the one which follows it most closely. And this is the more striking, because God emp...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Up to this all was grace, though there were dependence and conflict. The murmurs of the people had only served to shew the riches of the grace of God, who displayed His sovereignty in giving them all...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    NOW I KNOW THAT THE LORD IS GREATER THAN ALL GODS,.... He knew the Lord before, and that he was the only true God, and greater than all that were so called; but now he had a fresh instance of it, a cl...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Now I know that the LORD [is] greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly [he was] above them. Ver. 11. _Now I know._] _See Trapp on "_ Exo 18:1 _"_ So the people knew that Jeh...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Now know I that JEHOVAH is greater than all gods_ That the _God of Israel is greater_ than all _pretenders_ All deities, that usurp divine honours: he silences and subdues them all, and is himself th...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iethro bringeth to Moses his wife and two sonnes. 7 Moses entertaineth him. 13 Iethros counsell is accepted. 27 Iethro departeth. 1 WHEN [NOTE: Leviticus 2:16.] Iethro the Priest of Midian, Mose...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    JETHRO ARRIVES WITH ZIPPORAH...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Now I know that the Lord, Jehovah, the God whom Moses and the children of Israel worshiped, IS GREATER THAN ALL GODS, having manifested Himself as being exalted above all so-called gods, the idols of...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FIFTH SECTION The journey through the wilderness to Sinai. Want of water. Marah. Elim. The Wilderness of Sin. Quails. Manna. Rephidim (Massah and Meribah). The Amalekites. Jethro and his advice, a hu...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    MOSES RECEIVING JETHRO (vs.1-12) Apparently Moses took his wife Zipporah and Gershom, his son, to Egypt when he returned there at God's call (ch.4:24-26). Likely his second son Eliezer, was born in E...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-12 Conversation concerning God's wondrous works is good, and edifies. Jethro not only rejoiced in the honour done to his son-in-law, but in all the goodness done to Israel. Standers-by were more af...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    NOW I KNOW, viz. more clearly and by certain experience; as that phrase signifies, GENESIS 22:12 1 KINGS 17:18,24. For otherwise it is more than probable that Jethro had the knowledge of the true God...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    We here arrive at the close of a very marked division of the book of Exodus. We have seen God, in the exercise of His perfect grace, visiting and redeeming His people; bringing them forth out of the l...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Exodus 18:11 know H3045 (H8804) LORD H3068 greater H1419 gods H430 thing H1697 proudly H2102 (H8804)...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JETHRO REJOICES IN YAHWEH WITH THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL (EXODUS 18:9). a Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel in delivering them from the hands of the Egyptians (Exodus...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Moses joined by his wife and children. Judges selected to solve the problems of the people. CHARACTERS: God, Moses, Aaron, Jethro, Zipporah, Gershom, Eliezer. CONCLUSION: Telling of God's...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Exodus 18:5. _Jethro came to Moses at the mount of God._ Horeb and Sinai, where God resided in glory, wrought miracles, and published his law. It would seem that Jethro stayed with Moses till the law...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness._ LESSONS 1. The Church’s friends rejoice in all the good done for it, and deliverance of it. 2. As Jehovah is the cause of good and deliverance to His Church,...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS—NOTE ON EXODUS 18:1 JETHRO, THE PRIEST OF MIDIAN, MOSES’ FATHER-IN-LAW (see Exodus 3:1;...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS—NOTE ON EXODUS 18:8 Having heard what the Lord has done on Israel’s behalf, Jethro responds in a way that shows more faith than the response of those who had experienced the Lord’s power firsth...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Exodus 18:1. Midian.]—If we mar assume that these Midianites were descendants of Midian, son of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:2), our wonder will be lessened that among this Arabian...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    JETHRO'S VISIT TO MOSES. EXPOSITION JETHRO'S VISIT TO MOSES. It has been noticed, in the comment on Exodus 4:1; that shortly after the circumcision of Eliezer, Moses' second son, he sent back his wif...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now when Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law (Exodus 18:1), But the same Hebrew word could be translated "brother-in-law", for we remember earlier, he was called "Reuel"; the father-in-...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    now I Exodus 9:16 1 Kings 17:24 2 Kings 5:15 the Lord Exodus 15:11...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    GIVING THE GLORY TO GOD Exodus 18:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS How fittingly does our chapter open: "When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and f...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Now know I that JEHOVAH is greater than all gods — That the God of Israel is greater than all pretenders; all deities, that usurp divine honours: he silenceth them, subdues them all, and is himself th...

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