Acts 7 · Verse 19

Acts 7:19

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.
Acts 7:19, King James Version

Acts 7:19 in other translations

BSBHe exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.
WEBThe same took advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to abandon their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive.
ASVThe same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live.
YLTthis one, having dealt subtilely with our kindred, did evil to our fathers, causing to expose their babes, that they might not live;
DARBYHe dealt subtilly with our race, and evil entreated the fathers, casting out their infants that they might not live.
BBEHe, having evil designs against our nation, was cruel to our fathers, and they were forced to put out their young children, so that they might not go on living.
WebsterThe same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and ill-treated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

What does Acts 7:19 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. Dealt subtilly. He acted deceitfully; he used fraud, The cunning or deceitful attempt which is referred to, is his endeavour to weaken and destroy the Jewish people by causing their male children to be put to death, Ex 1:22.

Our kindred. Our nation, or our ancestors.

And evil entreated. Was unjust and cruel towards them.

So that, etc. For that purpose, or to cause them to cast them out. He dealt with them in this cruel manner, hoping that the Israelites themselves would destroy their own sons, that they might not grow up to experience the same sufferings as their fathers had. The cunning or subtilty of Pharaoh extended to everything that he did to oppress, to keep under, and to destroy the children of Israel.

(c) "so that they cast out" Ex 1:22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 The same dealt subtilty - Οὑτος κατασοφισαμενος, A word borrowed from the Septuagint, who thus translate the Hebrew נהחכמה לו nithchokmah lo, let us deal wisely with it, i.e. with cunning and deceit, as the Greek word implies; and which is evidently intended by the Hebrew. See Gen 27:35, Thy brother came with subtilty, which the Targumist explains by בחוכמא be-chokma, with wisdom, that is, cunning and deceit. For this the Egyptians were so remarkable that αιγυπτιαζειν, to Egyptize, signified to act cunningly, and to use wicked devices. Hence the Jews compared them to foxes; and it is of them that Canticles, Sol 2:15, is understood by the rabbins: Take us the little foxes which spoil our vines; destroy the Egyptians, who, having slain our male children, sought to destroy the name of Israel from the face of the earth. To the end they might not live - Might not grow up and propagate, and thus build up the Hebrew nation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 7:17-29

Let us not be discouraged at the slowness of the fulfilling of God's promises. Suffering times often are growing times with the church. God is preparing for his people's deliverance, when their day is darkest, and their distress deepest. Moses was exceeding fair, "fair toward God;" it is the beauty of holiness which is in God's sight of great price. He was wonderfully preserved in his infancy; for God will take…

Read the full comment on Acts 7:17-29 →

Acts 7:19 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.

οὗτοςhoutosHeG3778
κατασοφισάμενοςkatasophisamenoshaving dealt treacherously withG2686
τὸtotheG3588
γένοςgenosraceG1085
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
ἐκάκωσενekakōsenhe mistreatedG2559
τοὺςtoustheG3588
πατέραςpaterasfathersG3962
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ποιεῖνpoieinmaking [them]G4160
τὰtatheG3588
βρέφηbrephēinfantsG1025
ἔκθεταekthetaabandonG1570
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
εἰςeisuntoG1519
τὸtotheG3588
μὴmēnotG3361
ζῳογονεῖσθαι.zōogoneisthaito be given life.G2225

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

Cross references for Acts 7:19

  • Psalms 105:25

    He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

  • Exodus 1:9-22

    And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. …

  • Revelation 12:4-5

    And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

  • Psalms 83:4-5

    They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

  • Psalms 129:1-3

    A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ex 1:9-22; Ps 83:4,5; 105:25; 129:1-3; Re 12:4,5

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

Context

  • Acts 7:18

    Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

  • Acts 7:19

    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.

  • Acts 7:20

    In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:

Read all of Acts 7

Acts 7:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Este, usando de astucia con nuestro linaje, maltrató á nuestros padres, á fin de que pusiesen á peligro de muerte sus niños, para que cesase la generación.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Celui-ci, usant de ruse contre notre race, maltraita les pères jusqu’à leur faire exposer leurs enfants pour qu’ils ne demeurent pas en vie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dieser handelte mit List gegen unser Geschlecht und mißhandelte die Väter, so daß sie ihre Kindlein aussetzen mußten, damit sie nicht am Leben blieben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hic circumveniens genus nostrum, afflixit patres nostros ut exponerent infantes suos, ne vivificarentur.