Acts 7 34

Acts 7:34 kjv

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

Acts 7:34 nkjv

I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt." '

Acts 7:34 niv

I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.'

Acts 7:34 esv

I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.'

Acts 7:34 nlt

I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.'

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 34 Meaning

Acts 7:34 is a declaration by God to Moses, quoted by Stephen from Exodus 3:7-10, signifying God's direct observation of His people's suffering, His empathetic response, and His determined action to rescue them. It climaxes with God's commissioning of Moses as His chosen agent for this divine deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The verse encapsulates divine compassion, active intervention, and strategic commissioning within the narrative of salvation history.

Acts 7 34 Context

Acts 7:34 is a pivotal line within Stephen's extensive speech before the Sanhedrin, immediately preceding his martyrdom. Stephen, accused of blasphemy against the Law, Temple, and Moses, responds by recounting a condensed history of Israel. He meticulously traces God's relationship with His people, highlighting their recurring pattern of rejecting God's chosen leaders and divine revelations, from Abraham to Moses to the prophets. This specific verse (Acts 7:34), a direct quotation of God's words to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:7-10 (primarily from the Septuagint translation), is strategically placed to establish Moses' divine commission as a deliverer. By detailing how God chose Moses despite Israel's initial rejection (Acts 7:27-29), Stephen sets a powerful parallel for his audience, implying their similar rejection of Jesus, the ultimate divine Deliverer. The historical context for the original audience is one where Moses and the Law were supremely revered; Stephen's argument aims to show that their veneration missed the true spirit of God's revelation, particularly God's ultimate plan of sending a Deliverer who would be rejected.

Acts 7 34 Word analysis

• I have surely seen (εἶδον εἶδον - eidon eidon): Stephen's Greek uses a double aorist active indicative, emphasizing the absolute certainty and directness of God's perception. This mimics the Hebrew idiomatic repetition "seeing I have seen" (רָאֹה רָאִיתִי - ra'oh ra'iti) in Exod 3:7, indicating intensive, thorough observation, and an undeniable truth. It's not a casual glance but a profound, direct apprehension of the reality.
• the affliction (κάκωσιν - kakōsin): Refers to oppression, distress, evil treatment, and misery. It conveys the depth of suffering inflicted upon the Israelites. In the context of ancient Egypt, this implies harsh slavery, forced labor, and systematic abuse under Pharaoh's hand.
• of my people (τοῦ λαοῦ μου - tou laou mou): Emphasizes the intimate, covenantal relationship between God and Israel. Despite their present distress, they remain His people, affirming God's faithfulness to His promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• who are in Egypt (τοῦ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ - tou en Aigyptō): Identifies the specific location of the suffering. Egypt here represents the place of bondage, foreign dominion, and spiritual darkness, a common biblical motif.
• and I have heard (καὶ τοῦ στεναγμοῦ αὐτῶν ἤκουσα - kai tou stenagmou autōn ēkousa): Signifies God's attentive listening to their cries and groans (στεναγμοῦ - stenagmou: deep sighs, lamentations, the inarticulate sound of extreme anguish). This signifies divine empathy, not just awareness, but a response that includes compassion.
• their groaning (τοῦ στεναγμοῦ αὐτῶν - tou stenagmou autōn): This deep, inarticulate sound indicates their utter distress, where words may fail. God perceives the depths of their suffering beyond mere verbal complaint.
• and I have come down (καταβέβηκα - katabebēka): Perfect active indicative verb, indicating a completed action with lasting effects. God's descent implies a deliberate, direct, and purposeful divine intervention into the human sphere. It underscores His transcendence yet immanence, His willingness to interact directly with human suffering. This contrasts with pagan deities often seen as aloof or indifferent.
• to deliver them (ἐξελέσθαι αὐτούς - exelesthai autous): The purpose clause. Exelesthai means to pick out, rescue, snatch out of danger. It highlights the active, salvific intent of God. It's not just alleviation but a complete removal from the oppressive situation.
• And now come (καὶ νῦν δεῦρο - kai nun deuro): An immediate imperative, signaling the transition from divine observation and decision to human commission. It calls Moses to immediate action. "Now" (νῦν - nun) indicates the appointed time has arrived.
• I will send you (ἀποστελῶ σε - apostelō se): Future active indicative, emphasizing the certainty and authority of the divine commission. Apostelō (from apostellō) is the root of "apostle" (one who is sent), highlighting Moses' role as God's emissary and chosen messenger, empowered by divine authority.
• to Egypt (εἰς Αἴγυπτον - eis Aigypton): Moses is being sent back to the very place from which he fled due to fear (Exod 2:15, Acts 7:29). This reversal underscores God's sovereignty over human fears and the effectiveness of His call. It’s also where the deliverance must manifest.

• "I have surely seen... and I have heard... and I have come down...": This sequence of phrases encapsulates God's compassionate process: from direct, empathetic perception of suffering to decisive, immanent intervention for deliverance. It stresses the active and personal nature of God's care.
• "to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.": This forms the crucial link between divine intent and human agency. God's purpose of deliverance is enacted through His chosen instrument, Moses, commissioning him for the very task for which God has "come down." It's a clear statement of delegation and divine empowerment for a redemptive mission.

Acts 7 34 Bonus section

Stephen's use of "I have surely seen the affliction" aligns perfectly with the Hebrew 'Ra'oh ra'iti,' a literary device often found in the Pentateuch, adding significant weight to God's oath and commitment. This form of divine communication conveys an unchallengeable certainty, laying the groundwork for God's decisive intervention and Moses' subsequent mission. The "groaning" is significant as it indicates suffering so profound that coherent speech is lost, a cry of the spirit heard by God when human ears might not understand or respond. Furthermore, the theme of "coming down" (God descending from heaven to intervene) is a foundational theological concept across Scripture (Gen 11:5; 18:21) signifying God's active involvement in human affairs and His ultimate identification with His suffering people, finding its zenith in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Stephen's historical narrative deliberately points to a divine pattern of calling, rejecting, and ultimately saving through a Divinely appointed and sent Deliverer.

Acts 7 34 Commentary

Acts 7:34 reveals God's profound, empathetic awareness of His people's suffering, echoing through the ages. It underscores that God is not a distant, uncaring deity but One who actively observes and hears the cries of the oppressed. His "coming down" signifies a decisive, immanent act of intervention, illustrating His unwavering commitment to His covenant. Crucially, the verse transitions from divine decision to human agency, as God commissions Moses as His instrument of deliverance. This moment serves as a type for Christ, the ultimate Deliverer sent by God, whom Stephen's audience, like their ancestors with Moses, has rejected. The passage thus reinforces that God's plan of salvation always involves both divine initiative and chosen human vessels.

Examples:

• God's intervention for Israel in Egypt mirrors His constant engagement with His people's trials throughout history (e.g., deliverance from Babylonian exile, Ps 12:5).
• Moses' sending reflects the pattern of God raising up and empowering leaders and prophets (e.g., Samuel, Isaiah) and ultimately sending His Son for salvation.
• The compassionate seeing and hearing highlights God's justice, which eventually responds to all forms of oppression, assuring His people that their suffering is known and will be addressed.