15Jacob went down to Egypt, and he died — he and our fathers — [7:16] and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. [7:17] As the time of the promise drew near — the promise God had solemnly declared to Abraham — the people multiplied and increased in Egypt, [7:18] until a different king arose over Egypt who had not known Joseph. [7:19] He dealt treacherously with our race and ill-treated our fathers, forcing them to expose their infants so they would not survive.
ACT 7:15-19
Israel Oppressed in Egypt
In the world it was spoken into
In Acts 7:15-19, Stephen recounts the oppression of Israel in Egypt, a narrative deeply rooted in Jewish collective memory. For first-century Jewish listeners, this passage would evoke the Exodus story, a foundational narrative of deliverance and divine promise. The mention of Jacob’s burial in Shechem connects to ancestral traditions and the land promised to Abraham, reinforcing the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The term (promise) underscores the certainty of God’s commitment, a concept central to Jewish hope. The (multiplied) of the people in Egypt would be understood as a sign of divine blessing, even amidst hardship. The cunning deceit of the new king who did not know Joseph reflects the precarious position of Jews in diaspora, often subject to the whims of foreign rulers. The exposure of infants was a known practice in the Greco-Roman world, symbolizing the extreme vulnerability of the oppressed. This narrative would resonate with Jewish listeners as a reminder of God’s faithfulness despite historical suffering.
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How other translations render this
ACT 7:15
- KJV
- So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
- BSB
- So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
- Koinōnos
- Jacob went down to Egypt, and he died — he and our fathers —
ACT 7:16
- KJV
- And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
- BSB
- Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.
- Koinōnos
- and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
ACT 7:17
- KJV
- But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
- BSB
- As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
- Koinōnos
- As the time of the promise drew near — the promise God had solemnly declared to Abraham — the people multiplied and increased in Egypt,
ACT 7:18
- KJV
- Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
- BSB
- Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
- Koinōnos
- until a different king arose over Egypt who had not known Joseph.
ACT 7:19
- KJV
- The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
- BSB
- He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.
- Koinōnos
- He dealt treacherously with our race and ill-treated our fathers, forcing them to expose their infants so they would not survive.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 7:17
- promise:The word translated 'promise' here often carried the sense of an official declaration or summons, not just a casual assurance. It implies a binding commitment or decree.
- multiplied:The term used here for 'multiplied' emphasizes a significant and abundant increase, often used in contexts of population growth or overflowing abundance.
ACT 7:19
- having dealt treacherously with:The word translated 'having dealt treacherously with' means to outwit or cunningly deceive someone, often through sophistry or clever schemes, to gain an advantage.
- infants:The word translated 'infants' specifically refers to children who have been 'exposed' or abandoned, often left to die, rather than just any young child.