Exodus 18 · Verse 11

Exodus 18:11

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
Exodus 18:11, King James Version

Exodus 18:11 in other translations

BSBNow I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”
WEBNow I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.”
ASVNow I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.
YLTnow I have known that Jehovah is greater than all the gods, for in the thing they have acted proudly-- He is above them!'
DARBYNow I know that Jehovah is greater than allgods; for in the thing in which they acted haughtily he was above them.
BBENow I am certain that the Lord is greater than all gods, for he has overcome them in their pride.
WebsterNow I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing in which they dealt proudly, he was above them.

What does Exodus 18:11 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 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 knew any thing of Moses, for it is not likely that Moses would have entered into an alliance with this family had they been heathens. Jethro no doubt had the true patriarchal religion. Wherein they dealt proudly - Acting as tyrants over the people of God; enslaving them in the most unprincipled manner, and still purposing more tyrannical acts. He was above them - he showed himself to be infinitely superior to all their gods, by the miracles which he wrought. Various translations have been given of this clause; the above I believe to be the sense.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 18:7-12

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 affected with the favours God had showed to Israel, than many were who received them. Jethro gave the glory to Israel's God. Whatever we have the joy of, God must have the praise. They joined in a sacrifice of thanksgiving…

Read the full comment on Exodus 18:7-12 →

Exodus 18:11 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עַתָּ֣ה'a.TahnowH6258
יָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI knowH3045
כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588
גָד֥וֹלga.Dol[is] greatH1419
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
מִכָּל\־mi.kolmore than allH3605
הָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.Himthe godsH430
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
בַדָּבָ֔רva.da.Varin the matterH1697
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhichH834
זָד֖וּza.Duthey have acted presumptuouslyH2102
עֲלֵיהֶֽם\׃'a.lei.Hemon themH5921

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 18:11

  • Psalms 95:3

    For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

  • Exodus 15:11

    Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

  • 2 Chronicles 2:5

    And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.

  • Psalms 135:5

    For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

  • Luke 1:51

    He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

  • Daniel 4:37

    Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

  • 1 Chronicles 16:25

    For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.

  • Psalms 97:9

    For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

  • Psalms 119:21

    Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

  • James 4:6

    But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

  • 2 Kings 5:15

    And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

  • Nehemiah 9:10

    And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Now I.
9:16; 1Ki 17:24; 2Ki 5:15
the Lord.
15:11; 1Ch 16:25; 2Ch 2:5; Ps 95:3; 97:9; 135:5
in the thing.
1:10,16,22; 5:2,7; 14:8,18
proudly.
9:17; 10:3; 1Sa 2:3; Ne 9:10,16,29; Job 40:11,12; Ps 31:23
Ps 119:21; Da 4:37; Lu 1:51; Jas 4:6; 1Pe 5:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 18:10

    And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

  • Exodus 18:11

    Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

  • Exodus 18:12

    And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

Read all of Exodus 18

Exodus 18:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ahora conozco que Jehová es grande más que todos los dioses; hasta en lo que se ensoberbecieron contra ellos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Maintenant je connais que l’ Éternel est plus grand que tous les dieux; car en cela même en quoi ils ont agi présomptueusement, il a été au-dessus d’eux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nun weiß ich, daß Jehova größer ist als alle Götter; denn in der Sache, worin sie in Übermut handelten, war er über ihnen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nunc cognovi, quia magnus Dominus super omnes deos: eo quod superbe egerint contra illos.