“Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.”
— Exodus 18:21
"Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister" — Jesus redefined leadership downward, and every verse below inherits that inversion. The fifteen verses below are the Bible's direct address to that situation, shown in full KJV text from Exodus 18:21 to 1 Peter 5:2.
Quick answer: The best-known verse about leadership here is Exodus 18:21: "Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of…" 2 Samuel 23:3 follows close behind: "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." Both are public-domain translations, shown in full on the cards below with a modern-English toggle.
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
Exodus 18:21
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
2 Samuel 23:3
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
1 Kings 3:9
That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man and feared God above many.
Nehemiah 7:2
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
Proverbs 11:14
Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 15:22
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Proverbs 16:12
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Proverbs 29:2
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 20:26
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28
And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Whoever of you wants to become first among you shall be bondservant of all.
Mark 10:44
But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
But not so with you. Rather, the one who is greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.
Luke 22:26
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.
1 Timothy 3:1
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:17
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly;
1 Peter 5:2
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