What Does Exodus 18:24 Mean in the King James?
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew for “hearkened” leans toward response, and the next phrase shows what Moses’ listening becomes: he does what he hears.
THE MEANING
Your hearing takes shape in how you respond. This verse shows listening and action as one movement: counsel is received, then carried out.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that receiving counsel diminishes a leader’s authority dissolves here: Moses listens to another’s voice and acts on what he says.
THE ROOT
וַיִּשְׁמַע
vayishma
GROWS FROM
שמע
Hear, listen, heed.
“hearkened” in this verse is vayishma. The verb comes from שמע, a root that can carry listening that attends and responds. The verse makes that response visible in Moses doing all that was said, joining hearing to action in a single sequence.
ALSO GROWS
shema: Hear and respond.
שְׁמַע
The imperative form makes hearing an active reception, like Moses’ attentive response to counsel.
shemuah: Report, tidings; what is heard.
שְׁמוּעָה
This branch names what reaches the hearer, while the verse shows Moses carrying what he hears into action.
shomea: One who hears; a listener.
שׁוֹמֵעַ
The listener is not merely exposed to a voice; Moses’ response shows listening taking effect.
THE PATTERN
Hearing becomes complete as it is received and carried into action.
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.THE THREAD
Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:Jethro first says, “Hearken now unto my voice”; the same Hebrew root שמע appears when Moses hearkens to that voice. The response invited here becomes visible in verse 24, where Moses does all that Jethro said.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us