Acts 8:33
What does Acts 8:33 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 8:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 8:33 means
Continuing the passage from Isaiah 53:8, this verse speaks of the suffering servant's humiliation, whose justice was denied, and whose earthly existence was cut short. The rhetorical question, "His generation who shall declare?" implies either that his lineage would be cut off or that his profound suffering and rejection would be indescribable by his contemporaries. This passage profoundly describes Jesus' earthly ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection, which was yet to be fully revealed to the eunuch.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.
KJV
King James Version · 1611In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Being of low degree, his cause was not given a hearing: who has knowledge of his family? for his life is cut off from the earth.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862in his humiliation his judgment was taken away, and his generation--who shall declare? because taken from the earth is his life.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752In humility his judgment was taken away. His generation who shall declare, for his life shall be taken from the earth?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890In his humiliation his judgment has been taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Context
This verse completes the quotation of the Isaiah passage from verse 32, providing the full context of the eunuch's perplexing reading. This entire passage is what prompts the eunuch's pivotal question in verse 34. This detailed scriptural citation sets the stage perfectly for Philip's Spirit-led interpretation, which will directly link this prophecy to Jesus Christ.
v.32Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
v.33This passage
v.34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Habakkuk 1:4
Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.
- Job 27:2
As God liveth, who hath taken away my right, And the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul
- Isaiah 10:2
to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
- Daniel 9:26
And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined.
- John 19:12
Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.
- Isaiah 53:8
By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due?
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