Acts 7:11
What does Acts 7:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:11 means
A severe famine struck Egypt and Canaan, bringing great affliction. Stephen notes that the fathers found no sustenance. Even in the promised region, scarcity came, reminding that life in the land did not exempt the covenant family from trials. God used the famine to move the story forward, driving Israel’s family toward Egypt, where He had already positioned Joseph. This verse presents suffering as a stage on which God’s providence works. It prevents complacency about place and underscores dependence on God’s provision wherever He chooses to supply it. Trials are often the means by which God advances His saving purposes.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now there was no food to be had in all Egypt and Canaan, and there was great trouble: and our fathers were not able to get food.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And there came a dearth upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers were not finding sustenance,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now there came a famine upon all Egypt and Chanaan, and great tribulation: and our fathers found no food.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But a famine came upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, and our fathers found no food.
Context
Following Joseph’s exaltation, verse 11 introduces the crisis necessitating reconciliation and relocation. The famine sets up Jacob’s sending to Egypt (verse 12) and Joseph’s eventual disclosure (verse 13). This context shows God weaving together human sin (the brothers’ jealousy) and human need (the famine) to bring about preservation. It reinforces Stephen’s theme: God’s purposes do not hinge on geographic sanctity but on His guiding hand, often through adversity. The narrative will continue toward the family’s move to Egypt (verse 14) and the ensuing generational developments.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 45:5
And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
- Psalms 105:16
And he called for a famine upon the land; He brake the whole staff of bread.
- Genesis 43:1
And the famine was sore in the land.
- Genesis 45:11
and there will I nourish thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast.
- Genesis 47:13
And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
- Genesis 41:54
And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said: and there was famine in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
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