Acts 7:33 kjv
Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
Acts 7:33 nkjv
'Then the LORD said to him, "Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
Acts 7:33 niv
"Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
Acts 7:33 esv
Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
Acts 7:33 nlt
"Then the LORD said to him, 'Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.
Acts 7 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod. 3:5 | "Do not come any closer. Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." | Direct command; establishes holiness of ground |
| Josh. 5:15 | "The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” And Joshua did so." | Repeats command to Joshua |
| Isa. 6:1-5 | Isaiah sees God enthroned, cries "Woe is me!" realizing his uncleanness. | Holiness reveals uncleanness |
| Lev. 19:30 | "Observe my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary. I am the LORD." | Reverence for sacred places |
| Psa. 99:5 | "Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy." | God’s holiness |
| Psa. 96:9 | "Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth." | Worship due to holiness |
| Jer. 17:22 | God warns against carrying burdens on the Sabbath, associating it with holiness. | Sabbath and holiness |
| Matt. 10:34 | Jesus speaks of not bringing peace but a sword; detachment. | Preparation for mission |
| 1 Cor. 7:29 | "What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time that remains is short." | Temporal aspects of earthly things |
| Heb. 12:28 | "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..." | Reverence for God’s kingdom |
| Rev. 22:8-9 | John falls to worship angel, told to worship God. | Angelic prohibitions; God’s supremacy |
| Ezek. 3:17 | Ezekiel appointed a watchman. | Divine appointment, preparation |
| Ps. 119:130 | "The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." | Divine revelation gives understanding |
| John 1:14 | "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." | Divine presence on earth |
| Gal. 3:19 | Law was added because of transgressions. | Law’s function |
| Exod. 20:18-19 | Israel at Sinai, tremble and fear God's voice. | Fear in God’s presence |
| Deut. 5:22-23 | Israel's request for Moses to mediate God's voice. | Israel's response to divine voice |
| Amos 3:7 | God reveals his plans to his prophets. | Divine revelation to prophets |
| John 8:58 | Jesus claims to be "I AM" before Abraham. | Divine identity |
| Rev. 1:4 | Greeting to the seven churches from God. | God’s eternal being |
Acts 7 verses
Acts 7 33 Meaning
The voice of God declares that the sandals of Moses must be removed because the ground he stands upon is holy. This divine command signifies a moment of profound sacredness, demanding reverence and submission from Moses in the presence of God. It's a symbolic act of cleansing and preparation for a divine encounter.
Acts 7 33 Context
This verse occurs within Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin. He is recounting the history of Israel, specifically focusing on God's interaction with Moses at the burning bush. Stephen is leading up to the point where the Israelites, despite God's deliverance, consistently resisted the Holy Spirit and rejected God's messengers, including Jesus. This particular detail of Moses removing his sandals highlights a critical aspect of Israel's heritage and God's initial calling of His servant. It sets a precedent for how God communicates and expects obedience from those He calls to Himself.
Acts 7 33 Word analysis
- καὶ (kai): "and" - A simple conjunction connecting phrases or clauses.
- ἀφεῖλεν (apheilen): "he took off" - Aorist active indicative third person singular of ἀφέλημ (aphelom). It signifies a completed action in the past.
- τὸν (ton): "the" - Definite article.
- ὑποδῆμα (hypodēma): "sandal" - Refers to footwear, typically made of leather, worn on the feet. In ancient times, footwear was often removed in the presence of royalty or in sacred places as a sign of respect and humility.
- ἐκ (ek): "from" - A preposition indicating separation or origin.
- τῶν (tōn): "the" - Definite article, plural genitive.
- ποδῶν (podōn): "feet" - Genitive plural of πούς (pous).
- αὐτοῦ (autou): "his" - Possessive pronoun, genitive singular.
- ὅτι (hoti): "because" or "for" - A conjunction introducing a reason or cause.
- ὁ (ho): "the" - Definite article.
- τόπος (topos): "place" - Noun, nominative singular.
- ἐφ’ (eph'): "on which" or "upon which" - Contraction of ἐπί (epi) "upon" and the following word.
- ᾧ (hō): "which" - Relative pronoun, dative singular masculine, referring to 'topos' (place).
- ἵστατο (histato): "he was standing" - Imperfect middle indicative third person singular of ἵστημι (histēmi). The imperfect tense emphasizes the continuous nature of Moses standing there.
- ἦν (ēn): "was" - Imperfect indicative third person singular of εἰμί (eimi).
- luoghi (logios): "holy" - Adjective, nominative singular masculine, agreeing with 'topos'. This word comes from ἅγιος (hagios), meaning set apart, sacred, and pure.
Acts 7 33 Bonus Section
This incident echoes similar commands given in the Old Testament regarding approaching God's presence. The earth being "holy" is a manifestation of God’s immediate presence making the common place sacred. The choice of "standing" emphasizes Moses' attentiveness and readiness to receive God’s direct communication, unlike the Israelites later at Mount Sinai who wished to hear God through a mediator because the presence was too overwhelming. Stephen uses this example to illustrate the ongoing requirement of humility and reverence in relating to God, contrasting it with the Sanhedrin's rejection of the Holy Spirit and Christ.
Acts 7 33 Commentary
The removal of sandals here is not merely a hygienic custom but a deeply symbolic act recognized across various ancient cultures. It signifies leaving the ordinary behind and entering a sphere of sanctity and divine encounter. By stating the ground was holy, God immediately establishes His presence as unique and set apart. Moses’ obedience in removing his sandals demonstrates his willingness to humble himself and submit to God’s command, preparing him to receive God’s word and commission. This event prefigures a recurring theme in Scripture: approaching God requires reverence and awareness of His absolute holiness.