Acts 7:8
What does Acts 7:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 7:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 7:8 means
God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, a physical sign sealing His promises. Stephen notes the lineage: Abraham begat Isaac, circumcised on the eighth day; Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. The covenant marked a distinct people set apart for God’s purposes. Stephen affirms Israel’s sacred identity, not to deny it, but to show how it pointed forward to greater fulfillment. The promise-bearing line did not begin with the Law at Sinai but with Abraham’s covenant. This helps Stephen counter claims that he despises the Law or the Temple; instead, he places them within God’s larger, promise-centered storyline established from the patriarchs.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he made with him the agreement of which circumcision was the sign. And so Abraham had a son, Isaac, and gave him circumcision on the eighth day; and Isaac had a son, Jacob, and Jacob was the father of the twelve heads of the families of Israel.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And He gave to him a covenant of circumcision, and so he begat Isaac, and did circumcise him on the eighth day, and Isaac <FI>begat<Fi> Jacob, and Jacob--the twelve patriarchs;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so he begot Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day: and Isaac begot Jacob: and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he gave to him [the] covenant of circumcision; and thus he begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.
Context
Concluding the Abraham section, verse 8 ties God’s promise to a sign and tracks the family line to the twelve patriarchs, the tribes’ progenitors. The narrative will now shift to Joseph (verses 9–16), showing how God preserved the covenant family through rejection, suffering, and exaltation. This transition is key: having established the covenant people, Stephen will show that their history contains both God’s faithfulness and human sin—especially resistance to God’s chosen instruments. That theme will recur with Moses and ultimately with the Righteous One, sharpening Stephen’s overall argument.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 29:31
And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
- Romans 9:9
For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
- 1 Chronicles 1:34
And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau, and Israel.
- Matthew 1:2
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren;
- Genesis 35:18
And it came to pass, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.
- Romans 4:10
How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:
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