Devine Scripture

Acts 7:33

What does Acts 7:33 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 7:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 7:33 means

The Lord commands Moses to remove his sandals because the ground is holy. Holiness is not tied to a sanctuary built by hands but to God’s presence. Stephen uses this detail to show that God’s sacred presence sanctified a patch of wilderness. The instruction calls for humility and readiness to obey. Moses is being reshaped, not merely informed. This holy encounter confers authority upon him and reorients his life. The command also signals that God is initiating a new phase in His covenant dealings, and His servant must approach with reverence. Stephen thus reinforces that reverence for God is not limited to temple precincts.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the Lord said, Take off the shoes from your feet, for the place where you are is holy.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the Lord said to him, Loose the sandal of thy feet, for the place in which thou hast stood is holy ground;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the Lord said to him: Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place wherein thou standest is holy ground.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the Lord said to him, Loose the sandal of thy feet, for the place on which thou standest is holy ground.

Context

After God identifies Himself (verse 32), He instructs Moses on how to respond in reverence. The ground’s holiness prepares for God’s declaration of Israel’s suffering and the commission to deliver in verse 34. The sequence—revelation, reverence, commission—provides the foundation for Moses’ authority and mission. Stephen will draw on this to argue that the leader earlier rejected was authentically sent by God, anticipating Israel’s repeated resistance to God’s chosen servants.

v.32I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

v.33This passage

v.34I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them: and now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

Cross references

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

  • Ecclesiastes 5:1

    Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

  • Exodus 3:5

    And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

  • 2 Peter 1:18

    and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.

  • Joshua 5:15

    And the prince of Jehovah’s host said unto Joshua, Put off thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

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