Acts 13 · Verse 34

Acts 13:34

And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Acts 13:34, King James Version

Acts 13:34 in other translations

BSB	In fact, God raised Him from the dead, never to see decay. As He has said: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
WEB	“Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
ASV	And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.
YLT	‘And that He did raise him up out of the dead, no more to return to corruption, he hath said thus--I will give to you the faithful kindnesses of David;
DARBY	But that he raised him from among the dead, no more to return to corruption, he spoke thus: I will give to you the faithful mercies of David.
BBE	And about his coming back from the dead, never again to go to destruction, he has said these words, I will give you the holy and certain mercies of David.
Webster	And as concerning that he raised him from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

What does Acts 13:34 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 13:34-37

34-37. now no more to return to corruption--that is, to the grave where death reigns; and compare Ro 6:9, "Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him." I will give you the sure mercies of David--(Is 55:3). The word rendered "mercies" is peculiar, denoting the sanctity of them, as comprehending the whole riches of the new covenant; while the other word, "sure," points to the certainty with which they would, through David's Seed, be at length all substantiated. See on Joh 1:14. But how do these words prove the resurrection of Christ? "They presuppose it; for since an eternal kingdom was promised to David, the Ruler of this kingdom could not remain under the power of death. But to strengthen the indefinite prediction by one more definite, the apostle adduces Psa 16:10, of which Peter had given the same explanation (see on Ac 2:27; Ac 2:30, 31), both apostles denying the possibility of its proper reference to David" [Olshausen].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 34. And as concerning. In further proof of that. To show that he actually did it, he proceeds to quote another passage of Scripture.

No more to return to corruption. The word corruption is usually employed to denote putrefaction, or the mouldering away of a body in the grave; its returning to its native dust. But it is certain Acts 13:35; Acts 2:27 that the body of Christ never in this sense saw corruption. The word is therefore used to denote death, or the grave, the cause and place of corruption, The word is thus used in the Septuagint. It means here simply that he should not again die.

He said on this wise. He said thus, ουτως.

I will give you. This quotation is made from Isa 55:3. It is quoted from the Septuagint, with a change of but one word, not affecting the sense. In Isaiah the passage does not refer particularly to the resurrection of the Messiah; nor is it the design of Paul to affirm that it does. His object in this verse is not to prove that he would rise from the dead; but that being risen, he would not again die. That the passage in Isaiah refers to the Messiah there can be no doubt, Isa 55:1,4. The passage here quoted is an address to the people, an assurance to them that the promise made to David should be performed; a solemn declaration that he would make an everlasting covenant with them through the Messiah, the promised descendant of David.

The sure mercies of David. The word mercies here refers to the promise made to David; the mercy or favour shown to him by promising to him a successor, that should not fail to sit on his throne, 2Sam 7:16, Ps 89:4,6, 132:11,12. These mercies and these promises are called "sure," as being true, or unfailing; they should certainly be accomplished. Comp. 2Cor 1:20. The word David here does not refer, as many have supposed, to the Messiah, but to the king of Israel God made to David a promise, a certain pledge; he bestowed on him this special mercy, in promising that he should have a successor who should sit for ever on his throne. This promise was understood by the Jews, and is often referred to in the New Testament, as relating to the Messiah. And Paul here says that that promise here is fulfilled. The only question is, how it refers to the subject on which Paul was immediately discoursing. That point was not mainly to prove his resurrection, but to show particularly that he would never die again, or that he would for ever live and reign. And the argument is, that as God had promised that David should have a successor who should sit for ever on his throne; and as this prediction now terminated in the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, it followed that, as that promise was sure and certain, he would never die again. He must live, if the sure promise was fulfilled. And though he had been put to death, yet under that general promise was the certainty that he would live again. The meaning is, it was impossible that the Messiah, the promised successor of David, the perpetual occupier of his throne, should remain under the power of death. Under this assurance the church now reposes its hopes. Zion's King now lives, ever able to vindicate and save his people.

(*) "this wise" "thus" (1) ταοσια or, just things; which word the Seventy, both in the place of Isa 55:3, and in many others, use for that which in the Hebrew, mercies

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 34 No more to return to corruption - To the grave, to death, the place and state of corruption; for so we should understand the word διαφθοραν in the text. The sure mercies of David - Τα ὁσια Δαβιδ τα πιϚα. These words are quoted literatim from the Septuagint version of Isa 55:3; where the Hebrew is חסדי דוד הנאמנים chasdey David ha-neemanim, of which the Greek is a faithful translation; and which sure mercies of David St. Paul considers as being fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ. From this application of the words, it is evident that the apostle considered the word David as signifying the Messiah; and then the sure or faithful mercies, being such as relate to the new covenant, and the various blessings promised in it, are evidently those which are sealed and confirmed to mankind by the resurrection of Christ; and it is in this way that the apostle applies them. Had there not been the fullest proof of the resurrection of Christ, not one of the promises of the new covenant could have been considered as sure or faithful. If he did not rise from the dead, then, as said the apostle, your faith and our preaching are vain, 1Cor 15:14. The following observations of Bp. Pearce are judicious: "For the sense of these words, we must have recourse to what God said to David in 2Sam 7:11, 2Sam 7:12, etc., explained by what is said in Psa 89:3, Psa 89:4, Psa 89:28, Psa 89:29, Psa 89:36, where frequent mention is made of a covenant established by God with David, and sworn to by God, that David's seed should endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven, and as the sun, to all generations. This covenant and this oath are the sure and sacred things of which Isaiah, Isa 55:3, speaks; and Luke in this place. And Paul understood them as relating to the kingdom of Jesus, (the Son of David), which was to be an everlasting kingdom; and if an everlasting one, then it was necessary that Jesus should have been (as he was) raised from the dead; and, to support this argument, Paul, in the next verse, strengthens it with another, drawn from Psa 16:10."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 13:32-37

The resurrection of Christ was the great proof of his being the Son of God. It was not possible he should be held by death, because he was the Son of God, and therefore had life in himself, which he could not lay down but with a design to take it again. The sure mercies of David are that everlasting life, of which the resurrection was a sure pledge; and the blessings of redemption in Christ are a certain earnest…

Read the full comment on Acts 13:32-37 →

Acts 13:34 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅτιhotiforG3754

δὲdethenG1161

ἀνέστησενanestēsenHe raisedG450

αὐτὸνautonHimG846

ἐκekout fromG1537

νεκρῶνnekrōn[the] deadG3498

μηκέτιmēketino moreG3371

μέλλονταmellontabeing aboutG3195

ὑποστρέφεινhupostrepheinto returnG5290

εἰςeistoG1519

διαφθοράν,diaphthorandecay,G1312

οὕτωςhoutōsthusG3779

εἴρηκενeirēkenHe has spokenG2046

ὅτιhotithatG3754

δώσωdōsōI will giveG1325

ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771

τὰtatheG3588

ὅσιαhosiaholy [blessings]G3741

ΔαυὶδDauidof DavidG1138

τὰtatheG3588

πιστά.pistasure [blessings].’G4103

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 13:34

Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Psalms 89:2-4
For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
Romans 6:9
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Psalms 89:19-37
Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. …
Ezekiel 34:23-24
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.
2 Samuel 7:14-16
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Jeremiah 33:15-17
In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness. For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
Jeremiah 33:26
Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.
Acts 13:37
But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
Amos 9:11
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Ezekiel 37:24-25
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
Zechariah 12:8
In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

now.
Ro 6:9
I will.
Isa 55:3
the sure.
2Sa 7:14-16; 23:5; Ps 89:2-4,19-37; Jer 33:15-17,26; Eze 34:23,24
Eze 37:24,25; Ho 3:5; Am 9:11; Zec 12:8
mercies."Gr. [ta hosios ,] holy, or just, things; which word the LXX., both in the place of Isa 55:3, and in many others, use for that which is in the Heb. mercies."

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 13:33
God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Acts 13:34
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
Acts 13:35
Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Read all of Acts 13

Acts 13:34 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y que le levantó de los muertos para nunca más volver á corrupción, así lo dijo: Os daré las misericordias fieles de David.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or qu’il l’ait ressuscité d’entre les morts, pour ne devoir plus retourner à la corruption, il l’a dit ainsi: « Je vous donnerai les grâces assurées de David ».
German Elberfelder 1871	Daß er ihn aber aus den Toten auferweckt hat, um nicht mehr zur Verwesung zurückzukehren, hat er also ausgesprochen: "Ich werde euch die gewissen Gnaden Davids geben".
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quod autem suscitavit eum a mortuis, amplius jam non reversurum in corruptionem, ita dixit: Quia dabo vobis sancta David fidelia.