Acts 7:7
What does Acts 7:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:7 means
God promised to judge the nation that would enslave Abraham’s seed and then bring them out to serve Him in this place. Deliverance has a goal: worship and service to God. Stephen stresses that God not only foreknew the oppression but announced the outcome—judgment on the oppressor and restored worship. This vindicates God’s justice and faithfulness. It also ties geography to theology: the people were brought out to serve God in the promised context, yet the emphasis remains on God being the One who acts. Stephen is building a case that God’s presence and purposes are not confined by human power, location, or opposition.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I will be the judge, said God, of that nation which made them servants: and after that, they will come out and give me worship in this place.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the nation whom they shall serve I will judge, said God; and after these things they shall come forth and shall do Me service in this place.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the nation which they shall serve will I judge (said the Lord): and after these things they shall go out and shall serve me in this place.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, saidGod; and after these things they shall come forth and serve me in this place.
Context
Verse 7 completes the threefold pattern: promise (verse 5), predicted affliction (verse 6), and assured deliverance leading to worship (verse 7). This prepares for the covenant sign in verse 8, marking the people who will experience these events. The wider flow will then turn to Joseph (verses 9–16) as an instance of God bringing good through rejection and suffering, anticipating the Moses section (verses 17–36). Stephen’s structure highlights the consistent rhythm of God’s plan through history—promise, opposition, divine intervention, and renewed worship—culminating in the Righteous One.
v.6And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should bring them into bondage, and treat them ill, four hundred years.
v.7This passage
v.8And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 135:8
Who smote the first-born of Egypt, Both of man and beast;
- Psalms 74:12
Yet God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
- Exodus 7:1
And Jehovah said unto Moses, See, I have made thee as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
- Psalms 136:10
To him that smote Egypt in their first-born; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
- Isaiah 51:9
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah; awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Is it not thou that didst cut Rahab in pieces, that didst pierce the monster?
- Psalms 105:27
They set among them his signs, And wonders in the land of Ham.
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