Exodus 18:17

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.

Exodus 18:17 in Other Translations

KJV
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
ESV
17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.
NLT
17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed.
MSG
17 Moses' father-in-law said, "This is no way to go about it.
CSB
17 "What you're doing is not good," Moses' father-in-law said to him.

Exodus 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 18:17

And Moses's father in law said unto him
Having observed what he did, and heard his answer to the question he put to him:

the thing that thou doest is not good;
not meaning that it was not morally good, or that it was morally evil; for it was certainly a good thing to inquire of the mind and will of God for the people, and to hear and decide matters in controversy between them, and do justice to both parties; but it was not good for the health of Moses; it was not commodious and convenient for him; it was not for his bodily welfare; it was too much for him, as he explains himself in the next verse.

Exodus 18:17 In-Context

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.
16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.
18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.
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