Acts 7 8

Acts 7:8 kjv

And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

Acts 7:8 nkjv

Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

Acts 7:8 niv

Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

Acts 7:8 esv

And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Acts 7:8 nlt

"God also gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision at that time. So when Abraham became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day. And the practice was continued when Isaac became the father of Jacob, and when Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation.

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 8 Meaning

Acts 7:8 explains God's direct initiative in establishing a covenant with Abraham, specifically marked by the sign of circumcision. This covenant led to the promised birth and circumcision of Isaac on the eighth day. The verse then traces the continuation of this divinely chosen lineage through Isaac begetting Jacob, and Jacob in turn begetting the twelve patriarchs, laying the foundational family of the nation of Israel as part of God's unfolding redemptive plan.

Acts 7 8 Context

Acts 7:8 is part of Stephen's extensive defense before the Sanhedrin. Accused of speaking against the Temple and the Law, Stephen recounts Israel's history from Abraham onward. He highlights God's sovereignty and His working through covenants and chosen individuals before the giving of the Mosaic Law or the building of the Temple. This verse underscores God's initiation of His covenant people through Abraham and his descendants, laying the groundwork for Israel's identity. Stephen implicitly argues against a narrow, nationalistic view that tied God exclusively to the Jerusalem Temple or solely to a physical adherence to the Mosaic Law, demonstrating God's consistent but progressively unfolding plan of salvation, which began long before the Mosaic system and would culminate beyond it. He emphasizes that God's actions often transcended geographical boundaries and established institutions.

Acts 7 8 Word analysis

• "And He gave him":
  • Signifies God's divine initiative and sovereignty. God is the active giver; Abraham is the recipient. This points to grace—a gift not earned.
• "the covenant" (διαθήκη - diathēkē):
  • Refers to a solemn, divinely instituted agreement. It is often a disposition or testament set by a superior, implying God's unchanging and unilateral promises. This is distinct from a mere reciprocal contract.
• "of circumcision" (περιτομή - peritomē):
  • The specific, physical sign commanded by God for Abraham and his male descendants. It marked them as participants in God's covenant with Abraham. It symbolized dedication, separation, and was meant to serve as a perpetual reminder of their unique relationship with God. In a deeper sense, it pointed to a need for cleansing and an inward cutting off of the flesh (Rom 2:29).
• "and so Abraham begot Isaac":
  • Highlights the miraculous fulfillment of God's promise. Isaac's birth was not by natural means in Abraham's old age (Gen 17:19, 21:1-2), emphasizing divine power and faithfulness in upholding the covenant. "Begot" (ἐγέννησεν - egennēsen) emphasizes the physical fathering within the promised lineage.
• "and circumcised him on the eighth day":
  • Specific command given by God (Gen 17:12). The "eighth day" held theological significance beyond hygiene; it pointed to a new beginning, beyond the seven days of creation and completion, hinting at renewal or resurrection themes, and separating the individual into covenant life. This immediate obedience by Abraham reinforced the significance of the sign.
• "and Isaac begot Jacob":
  • Continues the tracing of the covenant lineage, demonstrating God's careful guidance in selecting heirs according to His sovereign plan, bypassing Esau.
• "and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs" (πατριάρχας - patriarchas):
  • Refers to the twelve sons of Jacob (later Israel), who became the heads and founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. This marks the transition from a chosen family line to the formation of a distinct nation, foundational to God's plan for His people. They are "ancestral fathers" through whom God's promises would unfold.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "He gave him the covenant of circumcision": This emphasizes that circumcision was not a human invention but a divine gift and command, part of God's initiative in establishing His covenant people. It highlights God's agency in initiating His relationship with humanity.
  • "Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day": This group shows the direct, faithful fulfillment of God's promise (birth) and command (circumcision). It exemplifies Abraham's obedient response to God's specific instructions concerning the covenant sign for the promised heir.
  • "Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs": This sequence underscores the progressive unfolding of God's redemptive history through a specific, chosen lineage. It shows how the promise initiated with one man (Abraham) expanded to a family (Isaac, Jacob) and then laid the foundation for a nation (the twelve patriarchs/tribes), all guided by God's providence to prepare for the ultimate Messiah.

Acts 7 8 Bonus section

The recurrent theme in Acts 7, of God working outside of typical human expectations or perceived 'holy places' (like Ur of the Chaldeans before Canaan, then Egypt, wilderness tabernacle before the Temple), resonates strongly in this verse. The covenant given to Abraham precedes any established Mosaic Law or specific holy site. This point serves as an implicit polemic against those who strictly confined God's presence or action to the Jerusalem Temple. The 'eighth day' circumcision of Isaac is often seen typologically. While commanded as part of the covenant, early Christian thought sometimes linked it to resurrection (new creation on the "first day" of the new week, making it the "eighth day" from creation), prefiguring new life in Christ through baptism (which replaces physical circumcision as the New Covenant sign of entry into God's family). This also subtly emphasizes that true sonship to Abraham comes not merely from physical descent or ritual (circumcision of the flesh) but through faith, as exemplified by Abraham's prior belief (Rom 4).

Acts 7 8 Commentary

Stephen’s concise historical summary in Acts 7:8 is potent. It underscores God's active, covenant-making nature, initiating His relationship with humanity from the very beginning. The "covenant of circumcision" marked God's chosen people, not as a means of earning salvation, but as an external sign of an inner relationship and promise, serving as a reminder of their divine election and future role. Abraham's obedient action in circumcising Isaac demonstrates a faith response to God’s specific commands regarding the covenant. The tracing of the lineage through Isaac and Jacob to the twelve patriarchs highlights God’s meticulous and faithful preservation of the promised line, even through various trials and human weaknesses. This consistent divine orchestration formed the very fabric of Israel, preparing the way for the greater spiritual reality fulfilled in Jesus Christ, where true "circumcision" is of the heart, by the Spirit, not the flesh (Rom 2:29). It counters any belief that God's activity was confined or dependent on human-built structures, instead rooting it in divine promises and historical, often challenging, unfoldings.