Acts 7:7 kjv
And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
Acts 7:7 nkjv
'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.'
Acts 7:7 niv
But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,' God said, 'and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.'
Acts 7:7 esv
'But I will judge the nation that they serve,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.'
Acts 7:7 nlt
'But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,' God said, 'and in the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.'
Acts 7 verses
(h2) Meaning
Acts 7:7 declares God's solemn promise to Abraham, reiterating His divine intention to judge the nation that would enslave Abraham's descendants. Following this judgment, God vowed to bring His people out of their bondage and enable them to worship and serve Him in the land He had designated for them. Stephen's recounting of this prophecy underscores God's absolute sovereignty over history and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, even in times of severe affliction, leading His people to their ultimate purpose of sacred service.
(h2) Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:13-14 | And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed... shall serve them; and they shall afflict them... And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge... | The direct prophecy spoken to Abraham. |
| Ex 3:7-10 | And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction... I am come down to deliver them... | God's action in response to Israel's cry. |
| Ex 6:5-7 | And I have also heard the groaning... and I will bring you out from under the burdens... | God's commitment to deliverance based on His covenant. |
| Ex 12:41 | And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. | Fulfillment of the liberation promise. |
| Ex 3:12 | ...when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. | The purpose of deliverance is service/worship. |
| Ex 23:25 | And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread... | Service leads to blessing in the land. |
| Lev 25:42 | For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt... | Emphasizes Israel's unique status as God's servants. |
| Deut 6:21-23 | Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen... And the LORD brought us out... | Instruction to remember God's mighty deliverance. |
| Deut 10:12 | And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God... | The ongoing demand for service/worship in the land. |
| Josh 24:14-15 | Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity... choose you this day whom ye will serve... | Call to faithful service after entering the land. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent... | God's immutable nature and faithfulness to His promises. |
| Psa 33:10-11 | The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought... The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever... | God's sovereignty over nations and His eternal purpose. |
| Psa 105:27-38 | They showed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham... He smote also all the firstborn... He brought them forth also with silver and gold... | Details of God's judgment and Israel's wealth at Exodus. |
| Jer 30:9 | But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. | Future ideal of renewed, faithful service under Messiah. |
| Ezek 20:5-6 | ...In the day when I chose Israel... saying, I am the LORD your God; in the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt... | God's sovereign initiative in the Exodus. |
| Isa 1:19 | If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land... | Condition for blessed service in the land. |
| Heb 10:23 | Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. | Encouragement based on God's faithfulness. |
| Acts 7:6 | 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. | Immediate preceding verse in Stephen's speech. |
| Gal 3:8 | And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. | Connects Abrahamic covenant to broader redemption, spiritual bondage. |
| Rom 8:21 | Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. | Ultimate liberation from spiritual bondage through Christ. |
| 1 Cor 7:22 | For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. | Spiritual service as the essence of Christian liberty. |
(h2) Context
Acts 7:7 is a direct quotation from God's promise to Abraham in Gen 15:14, spoken by Stephen during his defense before the Sanhedrin. In the immediate verse, Stephen recounts the prophetic assurance of divine judgment upon Israel's future oppressors and their subsequent liberation, followed by faithful service to God in the promised land.
The broader context of Acts 7 is Stephen's powerful sermon, delivered in response to false accusations of blasphemy against Moses, the Law, and the Temple. Stephen strategically reviews Israel's history from Abraham through Moses to the building of the Temple. His purpose is not merely to narrate history but to expose a consistent pattern of resistance to God's chosen leaders and His will, culminating in Israel's rejection of Jesus, the ultimate "prophet" (Acts 7:37). Stephen demonstrates that God's presence and actions were not limited to a physical temple or location but preceded them, occurring even when Israel was in a foreign land. Historically, Stephen is subtly criticizing the Sanhedrin's misplaced focus on the physical temple and traditions over genuine obedience and recognition of God's unfolding plan.
(h2) Word analysis
- And the nation (Greek: kai to ethnei): "Ethnei" (from ethnos) signifies a distinct people group or nation, here specifically referring to Egypt. It highlights that God's promise targets a specific national entity that would oppress His people, underscoring divine precision in prophecy.
- to whom they shall be in bondage (Greek: hō douleusousin): "Douleusousin" (from douleuō) means "they shall serve" or "be enslaved." It clearly defines the nature of the affliction: a period of involuntary servitude, hardship, and oppression, not merely sojourning. This deepens the suffering foretold and the greatness of God's future intervention.
- will I judge (Greek: krinō egō): "Krinō" means "I will judge, determine, decide, condemn." The emphatic "egō" ("I") highlights God's personal, sovereign role as the righteous judge. This underscores His divine justice, assuring retribution for the oppressor and vindication for the oppressed. It signifies God's active involvement in the unfolding of history and His moral governance over nations.
- said God (Greek: eipen ho theos): This phrase powerfully asserts the divine origin and authority of the prophecy. It is not human speculation but a direct declaration from the Almighty, ensuring its infallible fulfillment and establishing God's covenant reliability.
- and after that shall they come forth (Greek: kai meta tauta exeleusontai): "Exeleusontai" (from exerchomai) means "they shall come out or go forth." This directly refers to the Exodus, emphasizing God's miraculous act of liberation. It signifies the end of their oppression, brought about by God's powerful hand, demonstrating His deliverance.
- and serve me (Greek: kai latreusousin moi): "Latreusousin" (from latreuō) means "they shall render sacred service" or "worship." This word goes beyond mere general service; it implies worship, devotion, and religious acts performed for God. It reveals the ultimate purpose of liberation: not just freedom for its own sake, but freedom to live in covenant relationship, worship, and obedience to God.
- in this place (Greek: en tō topō toutō): "This place" refers specifically to the land promised to Abraham, later known as Canaan/Israel. It is the place where God's covenant people would dwell, worship, and fulfill their calling as a nation consecrated to Him, with Jerusalem and the Temple eventually becoming its spiritual center. It highlights the geographical specificity and fulfillment of God's promise.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage": This phrase precisely identifies the target of divine action – a specific foreign nation (Egypt) – and defines the condition of Israel's suffering as oppressive servitude. It sets the stage for God's impending judgment by highlighting the injustice inflicted.
- "will I judge, said God": This emphasizes God's sovereign authority and personal commitment to justice. His word is irreversible, guaranteeing that judgment will come upon the oppressor. It reveals God as the active orchestrator of history and the moral governor of the world.
- "and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place": This describes the complete divine purpose and outcome of the prophecy: miraculous liberation (the Exodus) leading to sacred worship and service within the promised land. It delineates the journey from suffering to salvation, culminating in the people fulfilling their God-given destiny of devotion and obedience in the physical location designated by God.
(h2) Commentary
Acts 7:7 is a powerful reiteration of God's unyielding commitment to His covenant. Stephen uses this verse to demonstrate that God’s plan unfolds sovereignly, even through periods of immense hardship for His people. The "bondage" of Israel in Egypt was not unforeseen but prophesied, with God already declaring His intention to "judge" their oppressor. This pre-determined divine judgment underlines God's righteousness and active involvement in human affairs, ensuring that no oppression goes unaddressed. The liberation was not merely for freedom but for a higher purpose: "to serve me in this place." This highlights that salvation invariably leads to worship and covenant obedience. Stephen skillfully employed this history to subtly critique his contemporary Jewish audience, suggesting that just as Israel in the past resisted God’s deliverers (like Joseph or Moses) and deviated from true worship, they were now resisting Jesus, the ultimate deliverer, and focusing on external forms rather than genuine, heart-felt service to God in His divine purpose. The true "place" of service extends beyond a physical temple to obedience and devotion wherever God leads.
(h2) Bonus section
Stephen's quoting of Gen 15:14 in Acts 7:7 underscores his deep understanding of God's long-term plan, showing it encompassed both judgment and redemptive service. The phrasing "serve me in this place" (Acts 7:7) implies the land of promise as the sphere of their worship and national identity, which for Stephen, foreshadows a spiritual worship no longer bound by specific locales but by truth (John 4:21-24). His sermon emphasizes that God’s presence (the "glory") and His saving acts (like the Exodus) were active before the Law was given and before the Tabernacle or Temple were built, subtly arguing against an overly centralized or localized view of God among his accusers. This also connects to the idea that ultimate service to God means receiving His designated "Prophet" (Jesus) and following His way, even if it challenges established human traditions or institutions.