Devine Scripture

Acts 7:21

What does Acts 7:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 7:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 7:21 means

When Moses was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and raised him as her own son. The very palace that decreed Hebrew infants’ death becomes the nursery for Israel’s future deliverer. Stephen shows God reversing evil’s intent and bending it to His design. Moses’ upbringing gives him status and access that will later serve God’s purposes. Adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter also distances Moses from the common lot of his people, setting up an identity tension that will surface in his attempt to intervene. Here, providence shines: God prepares His servant within the system that sought to destroy his nation, a reminder of divine sovereignty.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when he was put out, Pharaoh's daughter took him and kept him as her son.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he having been exposed, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up, and did rear him to herself for a son;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when he was exposed, Pharao's daughter took him up and nourished him for her own son.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And when he was cast out, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up, and brought him up for herself [to be] for a son.

Context

Following Moses’ birth and concealment, Stephen notes the turn of events: exposure leads to royal adoption. Verse 22 will explain the training Moses received, marking him as a capable leader. These details lay the groundwork for the crisis at age forty (verses 23–29), where Moses’ initial attempt to deliver Israel is misunderstood and rejected. The flow continues Stephen’s motif—God prepares and sends deliverers, yet Israel often fails to recognize them at first.

v.20At which season Moses was born, and was exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father’s house:

v.21This passage

v.22And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Exodus 2:2

    And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

  • Hebrews 11:24

    By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

  • Deuteronomy 32:26

    I said, I would scatter them afar, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men;

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