King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
When Moses saw [it], he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold [it], the voice of the Lord came unto him,
Complete Jewish Bible:
When Moshe saw this, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to get a better look, there came the voice of Adonai,
Berean Standard Bible:
When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:
American Standard Version:
And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
When{G1161} Moses{G3475} saw{G1492} it, he wondered{G2296} at the sight{G3705}: and{G1161} as he{G846} drew near{G4334} to behold{G2657} it, the voice{G5456} of the Lord{G2962} came{G1096} unto{G4314} him{G846},
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 3:3
- And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
Exodus 3:4
- And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Acts 7:31
Acts 7:31 is part of the longer speech given by Stephen before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious court, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. In this verse, Stephen recounts the story of Moses, a central figure in Jewish history, to illustrate themes of God's guidance and the rejection of His messengers.
The verse specifically references a pivotal moment in Moses' life when he encounters the burning bush on Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai). The historical context of this event is found in Exodus 3, where Moses, having fled from Egypt after killing an Egyptian, is tending his father-in-law's flock. The sight of a bush that burns without being consumed captivates Moses, prompting him to investigate. It is at this moment of wonder and curiosity that "the voice of the Lord" speaks to him, initiating Moses' calling to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
The themes present in Acts 7:31 include divine revelation, as God reveals Himself to Moses in a miraculous way, and the call to service, as Moses is being prepared to fulfill his role as a deliverer and lawgiver. This moment is also emblematic of God's sovereignty and the way He often chooses to reveal Himself in unexpected ways, compelling individuals to undertake tasks that are beyond their natural abilities. Stephen uses this narrative to remind the Sanhedrin of their history and the pattern of resistance to God's chosen leaders, a pattern he is currently experiencing as he faces false accusations and eventual martyrdom.
In summary, Acts 7:31 encapsulates the profound moment when Moses, drawn by the mysterious sight of the burning bush, is called by God to a life of service and leadership. This event, as recounted by Stephen, serves to highlight themes of divine encounter, God's guidance, and the often tumultuous relationship between God's messengers and those they are sent to guide or deliver.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English). - Strong's Number: G3475
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Μωσεύς
Transliteration: Mōseús
Pronunciation: mo-oo-sace'
Description: of Hebrew origin; (מֹשֶׁה); Moseus, Moses, or Mouses (i.e. Mosheh), the Hebrew lawgiver:--Moses. - Strong's Number: G1492
There are 626 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἴδω
Transliteration: eídō
Pronunciation: i'-do
Description: a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent ὀπτάνομαι and ὁράω; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare ὀπτάνομαι. - Strong's Number: G2296
There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: θαυμάζω
Transliteration: thaumázō
Pronunciation: thou-mad'-zo
Description: from θαῦμα; to wonder; by implication, to admire:--admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder. - Strong's Number: G3705
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅραμα
Transliteration: hórama
Pronunciation: hor'-am-ah
Description: from ὁράω; something gazed at, i.e. a spectacle (especially supernatural):--sight, vision. - 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. - Strong's Number: G4334
There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: προσέρχομαι
Transliteration: prosérchomai
Pronunciation: pros-er'-khom-ahee
Description: from πρός and ἔρχομαι (including its alternate); to approach, i.e. (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to:--(as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near, to, unto). - Strong's Number: G2657
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κατανοέω
Transliteration: katanoéō
Pronunciation: kat-an-o-eh'-o
Description: from κατά and νοιέω; to observe fully:--behold, consider, discover, perceive. - Strong's Number: G5456
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: φωνή
Transliteration: phōnḗ
Pronunciation: fo-nay'
Description: probably akin to φαίνω through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language:--noise, sound, voice. - Strong's Number: G2962
There are 687 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κύριος
Transliteration: kýrios
Pronunciation: koo'-ree-os
Description: from (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir. - Strong's Number: G1096
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: γίνομαι
Transliteration: gínomai
Pronunciation: ghin'-om-ahee
Description: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought. - Strong's Number: G4314
There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πρός
Transliteration: prós
Pronunciation: pros
Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.