11
NowעַתָּהI knowיָדַעְתִּיthatכִּיYHWHיְהוָהis greaterגָדוֹלthan allמִכָּלthe gods,הָאֱלֹהִיםforכִּיhe proved it in the matterבַדָּבָרin whichאֲשֶׁרthey acted arrogantlyזָדוּagainst them.”עֲלֵיהֶם
Exodus 18:11
Study it in the app“Now I know that YHWH is greater than all the gods, for he proved it in the matter in which they acted arrogantly against them.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Exodus 18:11, word by word
- I knowיָדַעְתִּיyadati
know
To know something, realize.
Where else “yadati” appears- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- is greaterגָדוֹלgadol
great
Of great size, amount or importance: a river, a city, a king.
Where else “gadol” appears- the godsאֱלֹהִיםelohim
gods
The gods of other peoples.
Where else “elohim” appears- he proved it in the matterדָּבָרdavar
thing
A matter, a thing; with "not", nothing.
Where else “davar” appears- they acted arrogantlyזָדוּzadu
act arrogantly
To defy a command on purpose, proudly.
Where else “zadu” appears
Translation note
The end of the verse is very brief in Hebrew: “for in the matter in which they acted arrogantly against them.” It can be understood that YHWH showed himself greater precisely where the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel.
The context
10Jethro said, “Blessed be YHWH, who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 · This verse (above)
12Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for Elohim; and Aaron came, with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before Elohim.