Acts 17:25

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Complete Jewish Bible:

nor is he served by human hands, as if he lacked something; since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything to everyone.

Berean Standard Bible:

Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

American Standard Version:

neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Neither^{G3761} is worshipped^{G2323} with^{G5259} men's^{G444} hands^{G5495}, as though he needed^{G4326} any thing^{G5100}, seeing he^{G846} giveth^{G1325} to all^{G3956} life^{G2222}, and^{G2532} breath^{G4157}, and^{G2596} all things^{G3956};

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Commentary for Acts 17:25

Acts 17:25 is part of the Apostle Paul's speech delivered on the Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill, in Athens. This event is set within the historical context of Paul's second missionary journey, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The verse is a component of his message to a group of Athenian philosophers and other interested individuals who had brought him to the Areopagus to explain his teaching about Jesus and the resurrection—a teaching that was quite foreign to the Greek intellectual milieu.

In this verse, Paul addresses a fundamental aspect of the nature of God. He emphasizes that God is not an idol made by human hands, nor does He require sustenance or service from humanity as if He were lacking in anything. Instead, Paul asserts that God is the giver of life, breath, and everything else. This statement is a direct challenge to the prevailing polytheistic religious practices of the time, which involved the worship of multiple deities often represented by idols and statues. These idols were believed to require care and offerings from their devotees to remain favorable.

The themes present in Acts 17:25 include the sovereignty and self-sufficiency of God, the futility of idolatry, and the correct understanding of God as the source of all existence. Paul's message serves to elevate the Athenians' understanding of deity from the limited, needy gods of Greek mythology to the one, true God who is independent of creation and yet intimately involved as its sustainer. By affirming God's generosity and providence, Paul lays the groundwork for the Gospel message, which is based on the grace and initiative of God in reaching out to humanity through Jesus Christ.

In summary, Acts 17:25 is a succinct refutation of the need for idolatry, highlighting the true nature of God as the self-existent Creator who provides for all the needs of His creation. It serves as a bridge between Greek philosophical thought and the Christian understanding of God, inviting the Athenians to reconsider their notions of divinity and worship in light of the living God revealed through Jesus.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G3761
   There are 125 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: οὐδέ
   Transliteration: oudé
   Pronunciation: oo-deh'
   Description: from οὐ and δέ; not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even:--neither (indeed), never, no (more, nor, not), nor (yet), (also, even, then) not (even, so much as), + nothing, so much as.
   
2. Strong's Number: G2323
   There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: θεραπεύω
   Transliteration: therapeúō
   Pronunciation: ther-ap-yoo'-o
   Description: from the same as θεράπων; to wait upon menially, i.e. (figuratively) to adore (God), or (specially) to relieve (of disease):--cure, heal, worship.
   
3. Strong's Number: G5259
   There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὑπό
   Transliteration: hypó
   Pronunciation: hoop-o'
   Description: a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.
   
4. Strong's Number: G444
   There are 614 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἄνθρωπος
   Transliteration: ánthrōpos
   Pronunciation: anth'-ro-pos
   Description: from ἀνήρ and (the countenance; from ὀπτάνομαι); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.
   
5. Strong's Number: G5495
   There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: χείρ
   Transliteration: cheír
   Pronunciation: khire
   Description: perhaps from the base of χειμών in the sense of its congener the base of χάσμα (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument):--hand.
   
6. Strong's Number: G4326
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: προσδέομαι
   Transliteration: prosdéomai
   Pronunciation: pros-deh'-om-ahee
   Description: from πρός and δέομαι; to require additionally, i.e. want further:--need.
   
7. Strong's Number: G5100
   There are 419 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τὶς
   Transliteration: tìs
   Pronunciation: tis
   Description: an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).
   
8. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
9. Strong's Number: G1325
   There are 377 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δίδωμι
   Transliteration: dídōmi
   Pronunciation: did'-o-mee
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
   
10. Strong's Number: G3956
    There are 1075 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πᾶς
    Transliteration: pâs
    Pronunciation: pas
    Description: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
    
11. Strong's Number: G2222
    There are 126 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ζωή
    Transliteration: zōḗ
    Pronunciation: dzo-ay'
    Description: from ζάω; life (literally or figuratively):--life(-time). Compare ψυχή.
    
12. Strong's Number: G2532
    There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: καί
    Transliteration: kaí
    Pronunciation: kahee
    Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
    
13. Strong's Number: G4157
    There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πνοή
    Transliteration: pnoḗ
    Pronunciation: pno-ay'
    Description: from πνέω; respiration, a breeze:--breath, wind.
    
14. Strong's Number: G2596
    There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κατά
    Transliteration: katá
    Pronunciation: kat-ah'
    Description: a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from … to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), … by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.