July 19th thru July 25th, 2026
17 – Parasha Yithro (יִתְר֨וֹ) — “Yithro”– 5th Month 4th thru 5th Month 10th — (07/25/2026)
17 – Parsha Yithro (יִתְר֨וֹ) — “Yithro”
July 19th thru July 25th, 2026
Torah Portion: Shemoth (Exodus) 18:1 – 20:26
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 6:1–13
Brit Ha’dasha: 1st Kepha (Peter) 2:1-12
Daily Readings
1stday (Sunday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 18:1–12 – Yithro, the priest of Midyan and Mosheh’s father-in-law, hears of אֵת֩ all that Elohiym has done for Yashar’el in delivering them from Mitsrayim and journeys into the wilderness with Mosheh’s wife Tsipporah and their two sons, Gershom and Eliy’ezer; Mosheh recounts אֵת all of Yahuah’s mighty works against Pharaoh and the Mitsriym and how He delivered His people; Yithro rejoices, blesses Yahuah before the elders of Yashar’el, acknowledges that Yahuah is greater than all elohiym, and offers ascending smoke offerings and sacrifices before Elohiym as the leaders of Yashar’el share fellowship together in thanksgiving for Yahuah’s great salvation.
2ndday (Monday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 18:13–27 – On the following day Yithro observes Mosheh judging the people alone from morning until evening and wisely counsels him that such a burden is too great for one man to bear; he instructs Mosheh to continue teaching אֶת the statutes and Torah of Elohiym while appointing able men who fear Elohiym, love truth, and hate covetousness to judge the smaller matters among the people; Mosheh humbly receives the counsel, appoints rulers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and establishes an orderly system of righteous leadership so justice may be administered throughout Yashar’el and Yithro departed in peace.
3rdday (Tuesday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 19:1–15 – In the third month after departing Mitsrayim, the children of Yashar’el arrive at Mount Siynai where Yahuah calls Mosheh up the mountain and reminds His people how He carried them on eagles’ wings and brought them unto Himself; Yahuah declares that if they will obey His voice and guard אֶת His covenant they shall become His peculiar treasure above all nations, a kingdom of priests and a set apart nation; all the people answer together, “All that Yahuah hath spoken we will do,” and Yahuah commands them to sanctify themselves, wash their garments, and be ready against the third day: to come not at their woives.
1st Kepha (Peter) 2:1–12 – Kepha exhorts believers to lay aside malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking, desiring the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby; coming unto Yahusha, the Living Stone rejected by men but chosen of Elohiym, they themselves become living stones built into a spiritual house and a set apart priesthood; as those who believe upon the Chief Corner Stone they become a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a set apart nation, and a peculiar people, called out of darkness into His marvelous light to proclaim His praises while living honourably among the nations through righteous conduct.
4thday (Wednesday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 19:16–25 – On the third day Father Yahuah descends upon Mount Siynai with thunderings, lightnings, thick clouds, fire, smoke, and the exceedingly loud voice of the shofar so that all the people tremble before His presence; Mount Siynai quakes greatly as Mosheh brings the people to stand before Elohiym at the foot of the mountain; Yahuah repeatedly warns both the priests and the people not to break through the boundaries He has established lest judgment come upon them, revealing His perfect setapartness and the necessity of approaching Him according to His commandments.
Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 6:1–13 – Yesha’yahu beholds Yahuah seated upon His exalted throne while the seraphim continually proclaim, “Set apart, set apart, set apart, is Yahuah Tseva’oth”; overwhelmed by Yahuah’s setapartness, the prophet confesses his uncleanness until a live coal from the altar purifies his lips; when Yahuah asks whom He shall send, Yesha’yahu willingly answers, “Here am I; send me,” receiving the commission to proclaim Yahuah’s word to a people who will largely reject His message until only a faithful remnant remains.
5thday (Thursday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 20:1–17 – Elohiym speaks אֵת all these words directly to all Yashar’el, declaring Himself to be Yahuah Elohayka who brought them out of the house of slavery; He commands His people to worship no other elohiym, make no graven images, never make His Name worthless, remember and keep the Shabbath set apart, honour father and mother, to refrain from murder, breaking wedlock (committing adultery), theft, bearing false witness (lying), and covetousness (lusting); these are the beginning of the covenant commandments by which Yahuah establishes the righteous standard by which His set apart people are to walk before Him.
6thday (Friday) – Shemoth (Exodus) 20:18–26 – Witnessing the thunderings, lightnings, voice of the shofar, and smoking mountain, the people stand afar off in fear and ask Mosheh to speak with them instead of Elohiym; Mosheh tells them not to fear and explains that Elohiym has come to prove them so that His fear may remain before their faces to keep them from sinning; Yahuah commands that no idols of silver or gold be made, instructs that altars be built only of earth or uncut stone so that man’s works do not profane His worship, and forbids ascending the altar by steps, concluding the beginning of His giving of His covenant instructions with the main guidelines of fearing only Yahuah, walking in setapartness, and acceptable worship before Him.
Main Themes & Commandments
Preparing Ourselves Before Coming Into the Presence of Yahuah — The First Pattern of Baptism
Before Father Yahuah descended upon Mount Siynai to establish His covenant with Yashar’el, He commanded the people to sanctify themselves, wash their garments, and prepare for the third day. This washing was not merely for physical cleanliness but symbolized inward purification and separation unto Elohiym before entering His presence. It establishes the first clear corporate pattern of immersion (baptism) as preparation for covenant relationship with Father Yahuah. Throughout scripture, water becomes a picture of cleansing, repentance, and preparation for entering Yahuah’s presence. Yochanon the immerser later called Yashar’el to immersion in preparation for the coming of Mashiach, and believers today continue this pattern through baptism as an outward testimony of repentance, covenant, and newness of life. True preparation for Yahuah has always involved both outward obedience and inward sanctification.
Shemoth (Exodus) 19:10-11 – “And Yahuah said unto Mosheh, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day Yahuah will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Siynai.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 19:14 – “And Mosheh went down from the Mount unto the people, and sanctified אֶת the people; and they washed their clothes.”
Yechezq’el (Ezekiel) 36:25-27 – “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you and a new ruach will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Ruach within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall guard My judgments, and do them.”
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 3:11 – “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall immerse you with the Ruach Ha’Qodesh, and with fire.”
Ma’asiym (Acts) 2:38 – “Then Kepha (Peter) said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Ruach Ha’Qodesh.”
**Yahuah calls His people to prepare themselves before coming into His presence. The commandment is to repent, be cleansed, walk in setapartness, and continually sanctify ourselves through obedience to Father Yahuah’s Word as we draw near to Him through His Son Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.
Yahuah Shows Mercy to Those Who Love Him by Guarding All His Commandments
Within the beginning of the commandments, Yahuah reveals both His justice and His abundant mercy. His covenant mercy is not promised indiscriminately, but is extended to those who love Him, and He defines that love as guarding His commandments. Scripture consistently teaches that love for Yahuah is demonstrated through faithful obedience rather than mere profession. His mercy extends throughout generations to those who remain faithful to His covenant.
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:5-6 – “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I Yahuah Elohayka am a jealous El, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and guard My commandments.“
Devariym (Deuteronomy) 7:9 – “Know therefore that Yahuah thy Elohayka, He is Elohiym, the faithful El, which guardeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and guard His commandments to a thousand generations;”
Devariym (Deuteronomy) 10:12-13 – “And now, Yashar’el, what doth Yahuah Elohayka require of thee, but to fear Yahuah Elohayka, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve Yahuah Elohayka with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to guard the commandments of Yahuah and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”
Yochanon (John) 14:15 – “If ye love Me, guard My commandments.”
1st Yochanon (John) 5:2-3 – “For this is the love of Elohiym, that we guard His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.”
**Yahuah has never separated His mercy from covenant faithfulness. The commandment is to love Him with wholehearted devotion by faithfully guarding all that He has commanded.
The Fear of Yahuah Is the Beginning of Wisdom and Guards Us From Sin
When Yahuah Himself spoke from Mount Siynai, the mountain shook, the shofar sounded exceedingly loud, fire descended, and the people trembled with fear. This was not terror meant to drive His people away, but reverent fear that would produce holiness and obedience. Mosheh explained that Elohiym had come so His fear would remain before them and keep them from sinning. Throughout Scripture, the fear of Yahuah is presented as the beginning of wisdom, knowledge, and faithful living.
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:18-20 – “And Mosheh said unto the people, Fear not: for Elohiym is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.”
Mishlei (Proverbs) 1:7 – “The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of knowledge.”
Mishlei (Proverbs) 9:10 – “The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of wisdom.”
Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) 12:13 – “Fear Elohiym, and guard His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Ivriym (Hebrews) 12:28-29 – “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve Elohiym acceptably with reverence and awe: for our Elohiym is a consuming fire.”
**The commandment is to approach Yahuah with reverence, humility, and holy fear, allowing His majesty to produce faithful obedience and a hatred of sin.
The First Ten Commandments Reveal How to Love Yahuah and Love Your Neighbor
The first ten commandments of the covenant form the foundation of the entire Torah. The first four commandments teach how to love Yahuah with undivided devotion: worship Him alone, reject idols, honor His Name, and keep His set-apart Shabbath. The remaining six commandments teach how love is expressed toward others: honoring parents, protecting life, preserving marriage, respecting property, speaking truth, and rejecting covetousness. Yahusha later summarized the entire Torah under these two great commandments because every commandment flows from either loving Yahuah or loving one’s neighbor.
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:2-17 – The first ten commandments establish the covenant foundation for loving Elohiym and loving others.
Devariym (Deuteronomy) 6:5 – “And thou shalt love אֶת Yahuah thy Elohayka with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
Vayiqra (Leviticus) 19:18 – “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am Yahuah.”
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 22:37-40 – “On these two commandments hang all the Torah and the Prophets.”
Romaiym (Romans) 13:9-10 – “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the Torah.”
**The commandment is to love Yahuah completely and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for every commandment of Torah is fulfilled through these two great expressions of covenant love.
Yahuah Desires Humble Worship According to His Instructions, Not Human Innovation
Immediately after giving the first ten commandments, Yahuah instructed Yashar’el how they were to worship Him. They were forbidden from making gods of silver or gold, and even the altar itself was to remain simple—made of earth or uncut stones. Human craftsmanship was not to improve or replace what Yahuah had ordained. Worship acceptable to Yahuah is never determined by human creativity or tradition but by humble obedience to His revealed instructions. Throughout Scripture, Yahuah rejects worship invented by man while delighting in those who worship Him according to His Word.
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:22-26 – “Ye shall not make with Me elohiym of silver… An altar of earth thou shalt make unto Me… If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”
Devariym (Deuteronomy) 12:32 – “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
1st Shemu’el (Samuel) 15:22 – “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
Yochanon (John) 4:23-24 – “The true worshippers shall worship the Father in Ruach and in Truth.”
Qolasiym (Colossians) 2:23 – “Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”
**Yahuah alone determines how He is to be worshiped. The commandment is to reject man-made religion, traditions, and innovations that replace His instructions, and instead worship Him with humility, truth, and faithful obedience according to His Word.
Hebrew Link Words
Qadosh (qadosh) (קָדוֹשׁ) — “Set apart” — Strong’s Hebrew word 6918 [e]
The Hebrew word קָדוֹשׁ (Qadesh) which means to be set-apart. In today’s world, the word is most often translated as “holy”. The first two definitions are holy and sacred, which are words that have always seemed to be enchanted with elusive definitions, that seem to me, to convey deep esoteric meanings that I really didn’t understand and neither do most of the people when I have asked them to to define the words. Then I looked at the definition in Ivriyt and there it was, plain and simple…it means to be set-apart, but set-apart from what? In Shemoth 19:6, Yahuah says that we shall be unto Him a kingdom of priests, and a set-apart nation. So that’s it!! We are to be a set-apart nation from the other nations (gentiles) of the world, set-apart people from the rest of the people of the world.
Kohen (kohen) (כֹּהֵן) — “Priest” — Strong’s Hebrew word 3548 [e]
The Hebrew word כֹּהֵן (kohen) which means a priest. A priest is an authorized minister of deity who officiates at the altar and in other rites associated with worshipping of a deity. In Shemoth chapter 19, Yahuah calls all of the children of Yashar’el to be a set-apart nation of priest. This call was later revoked due to the disobedience of Yashar’el, but was reinstituted in the Brit Hadasha under the renewed eternal covenant through Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.
Yahusha Ha’Mashiach in the Torah Portion
- He is Yahuah who spoke directly unto Mosheh, declaring, “Yahuah will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Siynai,” revealing Yahusha Ha’Mashiach as the visible Yahuah who announced the manifestation of Father Yahuah upon the mountain.
Shemoth (Exodus) 19:10-11 – “And Yahuah said unto Mosheh, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day Yahuah will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Siynai.” - He is Yahuah who called Mosheh unto the top of Mount Siynai, revealing Mashiach as the One who continually calls His servants into covenant fellowship and faithful obedience.
Shemoth (Exodus) 19:20 – “And Yahuah came down upon Mount Siynai, on the top of the Mount: and Yahuah called Mosheh up to the top of the Mount; and Mosheh went up.” - He is Yahuah who repeatedly warned the people not to break through unto Father Yahuah, revealing Yahusha Ha’Mashiach as the Mediator who stood between the holiness of the Father and the children of Yashar’el.
Shemoth (Exodus) 19:21–24 – “And Yahuah said unto Mosheh, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto Yahuah to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to Yahuah, sanctify themselves, lest Yahuah break forth upon them. And Mosheh said unto Yahuah, The people cannot come up to Mount Siynai: for Thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the Mount, and sanctify it. And Yahuah said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aharon with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto Yahuah, lest He break forth upon them.” - He is the Living Word through whom Father Yahuah declared the commandments of the eternal covenant unto Yashar’el, revealing Yahusha Ha’Mashiach as the eternal Word by whom the Father’s covenant has always been made known unto mankind.
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:1–2 – “And Elohiym spake אֶת all these words, saying, I am Yahuah Elohayka, which have brought thee out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of bondage.”
Yochanon (John) 1:1–3, 14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohiym, and the Word was Elohiym. The same was in the beginning with Elohiym. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.“ - He is Yahuah who spoke unto Mosheh after the giving of the beginning of the covenant commandments, instructing Yashar’el concerning true worship, revealing Mashiach as the One through whom Father Yahuah has continually instructed His people in righteousness and covenant obedience.
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:22 – “And Yahuah said unto Mosheh, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Yashar’el, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.” - He is the One through whom Father Yahuah received the worship and confession of Yithro, who declared, “Now I know that Yahuah is greater than all elohiym,” revealing that all the nations will one day acknowledge the greatness of Mashiach Yahusha.
- He is the Wisdom of Elohiym who established righteous government among His covenant people by raising up faithful judges to shepherd Yashar’el with truth, justice, and the fear of Elohiym.
- He is the One through whom Father Yahuah taught His statutes and His Torah unto Yashar’el, for Mosheh declared, “I do make them know אֶת the statutes of Elohiym, and His Torah,” revealing Yahusha as the Living Torah and the eternal Word made flesh.
- He is the One who brought Yashar’el unto Father Yahuah, fulfilling the declaration, “I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself,” revealing Mashiach as the Shepherd who gathers His redeemed people into covenant fellowship with the Father.
- He is the Mediator foreshadowed by Mosheh, ascending the mountain to receive the words of Father Yahuah and descending to faithfully declare them unto the people.
- He is the One through whom Father Yahuah established His covenant with Yashar’el, declaring them to be “a peculiar treasure,” “a kingdom of priests,” and “a set apart nation,” revealing the covenant people whom Mashiach is gathering unto Himself.
- He is the One before whom Yashar’el sanctified themselves, washed their garments, and prepared to meet Father Yahuah, foreshadowing the cleansing and sanctification that come through Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.
- He is the Voice of Elohiym that thundered from Mount Siynai, causing the mountain to quake and all the people to tremble before the holiness and majesty of Father Yahuah.
- He is the Living Word through whom Father Yahuah spoke אֵת all these words, revealing the eternal Torah as the expression of His righteous character and perfect will.
- He is the Aleph-Tav revealed throughout the giving of the covenant as Father Yahuah spoke אֵת all these words, sanctified אֶת His people, commanded them to guard אֶת His covenant, and declared אֶת His holy commandments, revealing Mashiach as the Beginning and the End of the everlasting covenant.
- He is the One who perfectly fulfilled the first Ten Commandments, loving Father Yahuah with all His heart, soul, mind, and strength, while perfectly loving His neighbor, revealing the complete righteousness to which the Torah has always pointed.
- He is the Chief Corner Stone foreshadowed by the altar of uncut stone, untouched by human hands, revealing that the foundation of Father’s redemption is established entirely by Elohiym and not by the works or traditions of men.
Reflection & Self-Study Questions
- Yithro rejoiced in all that Yahuah had done for Yashar’el and openly confessed that Yahuah is greater than all elohiym.
Do I openly acknowledge Yahuah’s greatness and give Him glory for His blessings, or do I often receive His goodness without publicly giving Him thanks and praise? - Yithro wisely counseled Mosheh to appoint faithful men who feared Elohiym, loved truth, and hated covetousness to help judge the people.
Am I cultivating the character qualities of fearing Elohiym, loving truth, and rejecting covetousness so that I may faithfully serve whenever Yahuah calls me? - Yahuah declared, “If ye will obey My voice indeed, and guard אֶת My covenant,” then Yashar’el would become His peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests, and a set apart nation.
Is my identity found in belonging to Yahuah through faithful obedience, or do I allow the values and priorities of the world to shape who I am? - Before Yahuah descended upon Mount Siynai, He commanded the people to sanctify themselves and wash their garments in preparation for His presence.
Do I intentionally prepare my heart each day to meet with Yahuah through repentance, prayer, and obedience, or do I approach Him carelessly without examining my life? - When Yahuah spoke from Mount Siynai, the people trembled before His setapartness and power.
Have I maintained a reverent fear of Yahuah that leads me away from sin, or has His holiness become too familiar in my thinking? - Yahuah declared that He shows mercy unto thousands who love Him and guard His commandments.
Is my love for Yahuah demonstrated by faithfully guarding His commandments, or is it expressed only through words without consistent obedience? - The first Ten Commandments reveal both how to love Yahuah completely and how to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Which of these commandments most challenges my walk today, and what practical changes do I need to make so that my love for Yahuah and others is demonstrated through faithful obedience? - Yahuah forbade His people from adding their own inventions to His worship, commanding that even His altar remain according to His instructions.
Have I allowed traditions, personal preferences, or the opinions of others to shape my worship more than the clear instructions of Yahuah’s Word?