Now I know that the LORD [is] greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly [he was] above them.
11. greater than all gods ] cf. Exo 15:11.
for in (or by) the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them ] The end of the sentence has accidentally dropped out; and something like he hath destroyed them must be supplied. Jehovah’s superiority to other gods was shewn by His overthrow of the Egyptians; and this was a consequence of their proud pursuit of the Israelites.
dealt proudly against them ] cf. the reminiscence in Neh 9:10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Greater than all gods – See Exo 15:11. The words simply indicate a conviction of the incomparable might and majesty of Yahweh.
For in … above them – i. e. the greatness of Yahweh was shown in those transactions wherein the Egyptians had thought to deal haughtily and cruelly against the Israelites. Jethro refers especially to the destruction of the Egyptian host in the Red Sea.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Now I know, viz. more clearly and by certain experience; as that phrase signifies, Gen 22:12; 1Ki 17:18,24. For otherwise it is more than probable that Jethro had the knowledge of the true God before this time, not only because he was the great-grandchild of Abraham, but also because of his long conversation with a person of so great knowledge, and wisdom, and piety, as Moses was.
Wherein they dealt proudly; either,
1. Their false gods, who wrought strange things in and by their servants the magicians, who contended with Moses, and proudly boasted of their skill as not a whit inferior to that of Moses, but at last were forced to yield up the cause, Exo 8:19; or rather,
2. The Egyptians, spoken of Exo 18:10, who dealt proudly, and scornfully, and tyrannically with the Israelites, but God showed himself to be above them, and above their king; though Pharaoh would not own him for his superior, Exo 5:2, but lift up his horn against God, and against his people: but the Lord brought that proud prince upon his knees, and forced him oft to confess his faults, and to become suppliant to Moses for deliverance from the plagues; and at last, when he continued incorrigible, he drowned him in the sea.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods,…. He knew the Lord before, and that he was the only true God, and greater than all that were so called; but now he had a fresh instance of it, a clear proof and demonstration of it, and so more plainly and fully knew it, and was assured of it, that he was greater than all the idols of the Gentiles, and particularly than the gods of the Egyptians; since he had saved his people Israel out of their hands, and when they could not protect and defend the Egyptians neither from plagues nor from destruction; nay, could not secure themselves, being all destroyed by the mighty Jehovah, see Ex 12:12, as also that he is greater than all that are called gods, kings, princes, and civil magistrates, than Pharaoh and all his nobles, generals, and captains, who were destroyed by him: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them; the idol gods, the gods of the Egyptians, the evil demons, Satan and his principalities, who influenced them, presuming and boasting by their magicians what they could do; but in those things Jehovah in the wonders he wrought appeared to be above them; they were overcome by him, and obliged to acknowledge the finger of God; and this sense stands best connected with the preceding clause: or else in those things, in which the Egyptians dealt proudly with the Israelites, pursuing after them in the pride and vanity of their minds, and giving out that they should overtake them and divide the spoil, and satisfy their lust upon them, when God blew with his wind upon them, the sea covered them, and they sunk as lead in the mighty waters, see
Ex 15:9, and to the drowning of the Egyptians in the Red sea, the Jews commonly apply this: thus the Targum of Jonathan,
“wherein the Egyptians dealt wickedly in judging Israel, by the waters, judgment returned upon them that they might be judged by the waters;”
and to the same sense Jarchi: they suppose here was a just retaliation, that as the Egyptians drowned the Hebrew infants in the waters of the Nile, they were in righteous judgment drowned in the Red sea; this is the very thing, or is the same way they in their pride and malice dealt with the people of Israel; God dealt with them, and showed himself to be both “against them” o, as it may be rendered, and above them.
o “contra eos”, Pagninus, Montanus; “contra illos”, V. L. Tigurine version; so Reinbech “de accent”. Heb. p. 314.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) For in the thing . . . Heb., even in the matter in which they dealt proudly against them. Jehovahs superior power had been shown especially in the matter in which the Egyptians had dealt most proudlyviz., in pursuing the Israelites with an army when they had given them leave to depart, and attempting to re-capture or destroy them.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. He was above them The exact sense of the latter half of this verse is uncertain . The English translators understood the to refer to the false gods, and supplying he was would most naturally make these gods rather than the Egyptians the subject of the verb , acted proudly . But inasmuch as something is to be supplied, it seems better to carry over into this last sentence of the verse the thought expressed in the of the preceding line . It seems probable that some word or words have fallen out before , in the thing, and we take the sentiment to be: Jehovah is greater than all the gods, for he showed this in all the things wherein the Egyptians acted proudly against the Israelites . Comp . Neh 9:10. Reference is to the oppression and persecution which Israel received from the Egyptians, and the pursuit which ended at the Red Sea, where Jehovah triumphed gloriously .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 18:11. For in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, &c. Jethro, in the former part of the verse, expresses his belief in the superiority of Jehovah over all false gods: a belief, confirmed by the reason subjoined; and which shews, that the false gods, to which he more particularly alludes, were the idols of Egypt. Or it may refer to the Egyptians themselves, and mean, for in the thing wherein the Egyptians dealt proudly, (designing entirely to enslave or destroy the people of God,) God proved himself above them, to the salvation of his own people, and to their destruction. And, thus interpreted, all gods must signify false gods in general. The Chaldee paraphrase has it, because in what the Egyptians thought they should judge Israel, in that he hath judged them. The Arabic, Houbigant, &c. interpret in the same manner. Perhaps, however, a better translation may be given, and one more consistent with Neh 9:10 where the same expression is used. The Hebrew particle ki, which we render for, for in the thing, &c. signifies very frequently yea, certainly, even, &c. (for proof of which see Noldius, 4. 6. 9.) and therefore we might read the verse, even by the very thing in which they dealt proudly against them; i.e. I know that the Lord is above all Gods, especially by his so exerting his superiority, as to cause the destruction which the Egyptians intended to bring upon his people, to fall on their own heads. This appears to be the true meaning of the phrase.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 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.
Ver. 11. Now I know. ] See Trapp on “ Exo 18:1 “ So the people knew that Jehovah was God. 1Ki 18:37 See 2Ch 33:13 .
He was above them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
greater. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. Magnitude attributed to God.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Now I: Exo 9:16, 1Ki 17:24, 2Ki 5:15
the Lord: Exo 15:11, 1Ch 16:25, 2Ch 2:5, Psa 95:3, Psa 97:9, Psa 135:5
in the thing: Exo 1:10, Exo 1:16, Exo 1:22, Exo 5:2, Exo 5:7, Exo 14:8, Exo 14:18
proudly: Exo 9:17, Exo 10:3, 1Sa 2:3, Neh 9:10, Neh 9:16, Neh 9:29, Job 40:11, Job 40:12, Psa 31:23, Psa 119:21, Dan 4:37, Luk 1:51, Jam 4:6, 1Pe 5:5
Reciprocal: Exo 14:4 – I will be Num 33:4 – upon their gods Jos 2:9 – I know Jos 22:22 – Lord God 2Sa 22:27 – show thyself unsavoury 2Sa 22:28 – but thine 1Ch 17:20 – none Psa 10:2 – The wicked Psa 31:20 – from Psa 46:10 – know Psa 66:7 – let Psa 76:10 – Surely Psa 92:8 – art most Psa 96:4 – For the Psa 136:2 – the God Psa 138:6 – but the proud Isa 33:5 – The Lord Dan 5:20 – when Luk 18:14 – every Joh 10:29 – is greater Act 13:17 – and with Rom 9:17 – that 1Co 3:19 – He Phi 1:12 – rather
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 18:11. Now know I that JEHOVAH is greater than all gods That the God of Israel is greater than all pretenders All deities, that usurp divine honours: he silences and subdues them all, and is himself the only living and true God. He is also higher than all princes and potentates, who also are called gods, and has both an incontestible authority over them, and an irresistible power to control them; he manageth them all as he pleaseth, and gets honour upon them, how great soever they are. Now know I He knew it before, but now he knew it better; his faith grew up to a full assurance, upon this fresh evidence; for wherein they dealt proudly The magicians or idols of Egypt, or Pharaoh and his grandees, opposing God, and setting themselves up in competition with him; he was above them The magicians were baffled, Pharaoh humbled, his powers broken, and Israel rescued out of their hands.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
18:11 Now I know that the LORD [is] greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly {e} [he was] above them.
(e) For they that drowned the children of the Israelites, perished themselves by water.