Acts 7:6 kjv
And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
Acts 7:6 nkjv
But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years.
Acts 7:6 niv
God spoke to him in this way: 'For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated.
Acts 7:6 esv
And God spoke to this effect ? that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years.
Acts 7:6 nlt
God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.
Acts 7 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:13 | Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land... | Original prophecy of sojourn & affliction. |
| Gen 15:16 | But in the fourth generation they shall return here... | Return after affliction mentioned. |
| Gen 46:3-7 | Jacob journeyed with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba... | Arrival in Egypt begins sojourn. |
| Exod 1:8-14 | A new king, who did not know Joseph, rose over Egypt... | Fulfillment of oppression and bondage. |
| Exod 12:40 | The sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. | Total duration including sojourn. |
| Num 20:15 | Israel came to Egypt; and we dwelt in Egypt a long time... | Acknowledges the long stay in Egypt. |
| Deut 26:5 | "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt... | Historical recall of Israel's descent to Egypt. |
| Ps 105:23-25 | Israel also came to Egypt, and Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham. ... He turned their heart to hate His people. | God allows their increase and then affliction. |
| Neh 9:9 | "You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt... | God witnessed Israel's suffering. |
| Isa 52:4 | "My people went down at first into Egypt to sojourn there..." | God remembers their sojourning. |
| Jer 30:10 | "Do not fear, O My servant Jacob," says the Lord, "Nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you... | God's promise of ultimate deliverance. |
| Ezek 20:7 | Then I said to them, 'Each of you throw away the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves... | Egypt as a place of early idolatry. |
| John 8:33 | They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone." | Highlights Israel's selective historical memory. |
| Acts 7:7 | "And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge," said God... | God's promised judgment on the oppressors. |
| Acts 13:17 | The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and made the people prosperous... | God's chosen people, growing in Egypt. |
| Rom 4:13 | For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law... | Emphasis on promise to Abraham's seed. |
| Gal 3:17 | And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot annul the covenant... | Confirms timeframe from promise to law. |
| Heb 11:9-10 | By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob... | Abraham himself as a sojourner. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off... | Sojourners awaiting promised land. |
| 1 Pet 2:11 | Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts... | Believers are spiritual sojourners. |
Acts 7 verses
Acts 7 6 Meaning
Acts 7:6 is a verse from Stephen's sermon, recounting God's prophetic declaration to Abraham concerning the future of his descendants. It states that Abraham's offspring would live as temporary residents in a foreign land, suffer enslavement, and be severely mistreated for a period of four hundred years before their deliverance. This foretold the sojourn and affliction of the Israelites in Egypt.
Acts 7 6 Context
Acts 7:6 is a pivotal verse within Stephen's lengthy speech before the Sanhedrin, which constitutes his defense against charges of blasphemy against Moses and God, and specifically against the Temple and the Law. Stephen is systematically recounting Israel's history from Abraham to Solomon, demonstrating that God's work with His people was often initiated and performed outside of, or before the existence of, the very institutions (Land, Temple, Law) the Sanhedrin held sacrosanct. This verse draws directly from God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:13, establishing the foundational covenant that God made with Israel's progenitor. By beginning with Abraham's call and the prophecy of sojourning and affliction, Stephen highlights God's sovereignty and foreknowledge, as well as the recurring pattern of Israel's journey marked by divine promise, hardship, and ultimately, deliverance through God's intervention, a pattern that subtly critiques the Sanhedrin's rejection of God's final messenger, Jesus.
Acts 7 6 Word Analysis
- And God spake: Greek: καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὁ θεός (kai elalēsen ho theos). This emphasizes the divine origin of the information. It wasn't Abraham's guess but a direct communication from God (Theos). "Spake" (ἐλάλησεν - elalēsen, aorist of λαλέω - laleō) signifies a specific, completed act of utterance, highlighting its authoritative and prophetic nature. This draws attention to God's initiative in revealing His plan.
- on this wise: Greek: τοῦτο (touto). Meaning "this" or "thus." It functions as a concise introduction to the content of the divine speech that follows.
- That his seed: Greek: τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ (to sperma autou). "His seed" refers to Abraham's direct descendants. The term "seed" (σπέρμα - sperma) carries profound biblical weight, representing not just biological offspring but also the inheritors of the covenant promises. In the broader New Testament, "seed of Abraham" ultimately finds its culmination in Christ (Gal 3:16) and those in Him.
- should sojourn: Greek: παροικήσει (paroikēsei). Derived from παροικέω (paroikeō), meaning "to dwell beside," "to live as a temporary resident or foreigner." This term vividly portrays their status as non-citizens, emphasizing their alien and vulnerable position, dependent on the hospitality (or lack thereof) of the native inhabitants. It foreshadows the temporary nature of their stay in Egypt and also speaks to a broader biblical theme of God's people being "strangers and pilgrims" on earth (Heb 11:13, 1 Pet 2:11).
- in a strange land: Greek: ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ (en gē allotria). "Strange land" (γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ - gē allotria) means "foreign land" or "alien territory." This further underscores their lack of ownership and inherent rights in that place, directly recalling Genesis 15:13, which speaks of their living as strangers. It highlights a common theme in the Abrahamic covenant: the promise of a land that is not yet fully theirs.
- and that they should bring them into bondage: Greek: καὶ δουλώσουσιν αὐτό (kai douloōsousin auto). "Bring into bondage" (δουλώσουσιν - douloōsousin, future of δουλόω - douloō) means "to enslave," "to subject to servitude." This directly prophesies the oppression the Israelites would endure under the Egyptians. This severe word predicts an involuntary, harsh subjugation, contrasting sharply with their previous temporary residency.
- and entreat them evil: Greek: καὶ κακώσουσιν (kai kakōsousin). "Entreat evil" (κακώσουσιν - kakōsousin, future of κακόω - kakoō) means "to treat badly," "to afflict," "to harm." This goes beyond mere enslavement, pointing to severe and malicious mistreatment, often including physical violence and humiliation. This prophecy underscores the intensity of their future suffering.
- four hundred years: Greek: ἔτη τετρακόσια (etē tetrakosia). This precise numerical duration (tetrakosia - 400) gives the prophecy a specific timeline for the affliction. While other texts like Exodus 12:40 and Galatians 3:17 mention 430 years, this 400-year period often refers specifically to the time of affliction/sojourn in a strange land, rather than the total period from Abraham's arrival in Canaan or the covenant's sealing until the Exodus. Stephen adheres closely to the timeframe given in Genesis 15:13.
Acts 7 6 Bonus section
The discrepancy between the "400 years" mentioned here (from Gen 15:13) and the "430 years" mentioned in Exod 12:40 and Gal 3:17 is a point of scholarly discussion, but easily reconcilable within a biblical framework. The 400 years likely refers specifically to the duration of the affliction or active sojourning in a strange land as foretold to Abraham. The 430 years encompasses the total time from the point God's promise was given to Abraham (or Jacob's entrance into Egypt, depending on calculation) until the Exodus. Stephen's usage of "400 years" is faithful to the wording of the Abrahamic covenant itself as given in Genesis 15:13. It emphasizes the prophetic aspect of the duration of hardship, fitting his broader narrative of God's specific plans unfolded through time, irrespective of human expectation or institution. This highlights Stephen's meticulous attention to scriptural detail in his defense.
Acts 7 6 Commentary
Acts 7:6 serves as Stephen's historical foundation for arguing that God's plan transcends any fixed location or human-made institution. By starting with God's pre-Mosaic, pre-Temple prophecy to Abraham, Stephen shows that God was sovereignly active and interacted with His people even when they were sojourners, strangers, and in bondage, without a physical Temple or a detailed Law. This specific prophecy highlights three key aspects of God's relationship with Israel: divine foreknowledge and control (God spake this), the pattern of suffering as part of God's plan for His chosen people (sojourning, bondage, evil treatment), and a precise divine timeline (four hundred years).
The mention of the four hundred years of oppression reinforces God's faithful remembrance of His covenant promises despite intervening periods of hardship. Stephen is building a case that Israel's history is one of persistent rejection of God's messengers (even when miraculously raised, like Joseph) and God's consistent patient, redemptive work. The very people who claim heritage through Abraham were once aliens and slaves, delivered by God's mighty hand. This sets the stage for Stephen to argue that their present rejection of Jesus, God's ultimate messenger, is part of a recurring pattern of disobedience and resistance to the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). The prophecy of suffering is not random but divinely purposed, ultimately leading to a promised deliverance that points toward the ultimate salvation through Christ.