Acts 7 · Verse 25

Acts 7:25

For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
Acts 7:25, King James Version

Acts 7:25 in other translations

BSBHe assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.
WEBHe supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand.
ASVand he supposed that his brethren understood that God by his hand was giving them deliverance; but they understood not.
YLTand he was supposing his brethren to understand that God through his hand doth give salvation; and they did not understand.
DARBYFor he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand was giving them deliverance. But they understood not.
BBEAnd he was hoping that his brothers would see that God had sent him to be their saviour; but they did not see.
WebsterFor he supposed his brethren to understand that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

What does Acts 7:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 7:23-27

23-27. In Ac 7:23, 30, 36, the life of Moses is represented as embracing three periods, of forty years each; the Jewish writers say the same; and though this is not expressly stated in the Old Testament, his age at death, one hundred twenty years (De 34:7), agrees with it. it came into his heart to visit his brethren--his heart yearning with love to them as God's chosen people, and heaving with the consciousness of…

Read the full comment on Acts 7:23-27 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 25. For he supposed. This is not mentioned by Moses; but it is not at all improbable. When they saw him alone contending with the Egyptian, when it was understood that he had come and taken vengeance or one of their oppressors, it might have been presumed that he regarded himself as directed by God to interpose, and save the people.

(1) "For he supposed" "Now"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 He supposed his brethren would have understood, etc. - He probably imagined that, as he felt from the Divine influence he was appointed to be their deliverer, they would have his Divine appointment signified to them in a similar way; and the act of justice which he now did in behalf of his oppressed countryman would be sufficient to show them that he was now ready to enter upon his office, if they were willing to concur.

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 7:25 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.

ἐνόμιζενenomizenHe was supposingG3543
δὲdenowG1161
συνιέναιsunienaito understandG4920
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ἀδελφοὺςadelphousbrothersG80
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
διὰdiathroughG1223
χειρὸςcheiros[the] handG5495
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
δίδωσινdidōsinis givingG1325
σωτηρίανsōtēriansalvationG4991
αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846
οἱhoi<the>G3588
δὲdebutG1161
οὐounotG3756
συνῆκαν.sunēkanthey understood.G4920

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

Cross references for Acts 7:25

  • Luke 9:45

    But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:1

    We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • Luke 18:34

    And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

  • Acts 14:27

    And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

  • 2 Kings 5:1

    Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

  • Psalms 106:7

    Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

  • 1 Samuel 14:45

    And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

  • Mark 9:32

    But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

  • Romans 15:18

    For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

  • Colossians 1:29

    Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:9

    For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For. or, Now. God.
14:27; 15:4,7; 21:19; 1Sa 14:45; 19:5; 2Ki 5:1; Ro 15:18; 1Co 3:9
1Co 15:10; 2Co 6:1; Col 1:29
but.
Ps 106:7; Mr 9:32; Lu 9:45; 18:34

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

Context

  • Acts 7:24

    And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

  • Acts 7:25

    For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

  • Acts 7:26

    And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

Read all of Acts 7

Acts 7:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pero él pensaba que sus hermanos entendían que Dios les había de dar salud por su mano; mas ellos no lo habían entendido.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or il croyait que ses frères comprendraient que Dieu leur donnerait la délivrance par sa main, mais ils ne le comprirent point.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er meinte aber, seine Brüder würden verstehen, daß Gott durch seine Hand ihnen Rettung gebe; sie aber verstanden es nicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Existimabat autem intelligere fratres, quoniam Deus per manum ipsius daret salutem illis: at illi non intellexerunt.