Exo 18:16 | NETfull | STEP | When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.”

Exodus 18:16

16 When they have a dispute, ^{▼▼ Or “thing,” “matter,” “issue.”} it comes to me and I decide ^{▼▼ The verb שָׁפַט (shafat) means “to judge”; more specifically, it means to make a decision as an arbiter or umpire. When people brought issues to him, Moses decided between them. In the section of laws in Exodus after the Ten Commandments come the decisions, the מִשְׁפָּטִים (mishppatim).} between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.” ^{▼▼ The “decrees” or “statutes” were definite rules, stereotyped and permanent; the “laws” were directives or pronouncements given when situations arose. S. R. Driver suggests this is another reason why this event might have taken place after Yahweh had given laws on the mountain (Exodus, 165).}