Acts 7:21

KJV

And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} when he {G846} was cast out {G1620}, Pharaoh's {G5328} daughter {G2364} took {G337} him {G846} up {G337}, and {G2532} nourished {G397} him {G846} for {G1519} her own {G1438} son {G5207}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and when he was put out of his home, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.

Berean Standard Bible

When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.

American Standard Version

and when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 7:21, part of Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin, recounts a pivotal moment in the early life of Moses: his miraculous rescue and adoption by Pharaoh's daughter. Despite the genocidal decree against Hebrew male infants, God's sovereign hand orchestrated Moses' preservation and upbringing within the very heart of the Egyptian royal court, an improbable environment that would uniquely prepare him for his future role as Israel's deliverer. This verse powerfully illustrates divine providence at work, turning a desperate situation into a foundational step in God's redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Stephen's lengthy and polemical speech in [Acts 7](/acts/7 "Acts 7 - Stephen's Speech"), delivered as his defense against charges of blasphemy before the Sanhedrin. Stephen systematically recounts Israel's history from Abraham to Solomon, emphasizing God's faithfulness despite Israel's persistent rebellion and rejection of His chosen leaders, particularly Moses. Acts 7:21 specifically details the miraculous preservation of Moses' life, setting the stage for his unique preparation and eventual calling as the deliverer. Stephen uses Moses' life, especially his rejection by his own people despite being God's chosen instrument, as a parallel to the Sanhedrin's rejection of Jesus, the ultimate deliverer. The narrative here aligns closely with the account in [Exodus 2](/exodus/2 "Exodus 2 - The Birth and Early Life of Moses"), demonstrating Stephen's deep knowledge of the Old Testament.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the severe oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, where their rapid population growth led Pharaoh to implement a decree to kill all male Hebrew infants ([Exodus 1:22](/exodus/1-22 "Exodus 1:22 - Pharaoh's Decree")). Moses' mother, Jochebed, desperate to save her child, placed him in a papyrus basket (an "ark") on the Nile River, a place that was both a means of escape and extreme danger ([Exodus 2:3](/exodus/2-3 "Exodus 2:3 - Moses Placed in the Ark")). The Nile was central to Egyptian life and religion, often associated with the god Hapi. The discovery of Moses by Pharaoh's daughter, a member of the royal household, was an extraordinary and highly improbable event, especially given the anti-Hebrew sentiment of the time. Her decision to "take him up" and "nourish him for her own son" meant Moses would be raised with the privileges, education, and status of an Egyptian prince, a stark contrast to his Hebrew heritage, yet a crucial part of God's unconventional preparation for his leadership.
* **Key Themes:** Acts 7:21 contributes significantly to several major themes within Stephen's speech and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Divine Providence**, showcasing God's sovereign hand at work even in the most perilous and seemingly hopeless circumstances. Despite Pharaoh's decree to destroy Hebrew male infants, God orchestrated Moses' survival through an unlikely rescuer—Pharaoh's own daughter. This demonstrates how God can use anyone, even those seemingly opposed to His plans, to fulfill His purposes, echoing the truth that God works "all things together for good" for those who love Him ([Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works All Things for Good")). Secondly, the verse highlights **Unconventional Preparation**. Moses' rescue by Pharaoh's daughter led to him being raised in the opulent and influential Egyptian court. This upbringing was not merely about survival; it was a crucial part of God's preparation for Moses' future role as the leader who would bring the Israelites out of slavery. He would have received the best education and training available in Egypt, as explicitly stated in [Acts 7:22](/acts/7-22 "Acts 7:22 - Moses' Education in Egypt"), equipping him with knowledge and skills essential for his immense task. Thirdly, it underscores **God's Unexpected Paths**. The very daughter of the monarch who sought to destroy the Hebrew people became the instrument of their future deliverer's salvation and upbringing. This emphasizes that God's ways are often beyond human comprehension, demonstrating His power to turn dire situations into opportunities for His glory and to achieve His purposes through surprising and ironic means.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **cast out (Greek, _ektíthēmi'_):** This term (G1620) means "to expose" or "to declare." In this context, it refers to Moses being put out into the Nile, a desperate act by his mother to save him from Pharaoh's decree. It implies a vulnerable, abandoned state, highlighting the extreme peril of his infancy and the seemingly impossible circumstances of his survival.
* **took him up (Greek, _anairéō'_):** The word (G337) literally means "to take up" or "to adopt." This highlights Pharaoh's daughter's compassionate and decisive act of rescuing the infant Moses from the river. Her action was one of immediate intervention and, by implication, acceptance into her care and the royal household, defying the prevailing decree.
* **nourished (Greek, _anatréphō'_):** This verb (G397) signifies "to rear" or "to bring up," both physically and mentally. It emphasizes the comprehensive care, education, and status Moses received within the Egyptian palace. This "nourishing" was not merely sustenance but a full integration into a royal life, providing him with the unique skills and knowledge necessary for his future role as Israel's deliverer.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when he was cast out":** This phrase refers to Moses being placed in the basket on the Nile River, an act of desperate faith by his mother to circumvent Pharaoh's genocidal decree against Hebrew male infants. It underscores the immediate peril of Moses' infancy and the seemingly impossible circumstances of his survival, highlighting the dire context from which God's miraculous intervention would emerge.
* **"Pharaoh's daughter took him up":** This highlights the miraculous and profoundly ironic intervention of divine providence. The very lineage responsible for the decree against Hebrew boys became the instrument of Moses' salvation. Her act of "taking him up" (G337, _anairéō_) implies not just rescue from the water but adoption and protection, bringing him into the highest echelons of Egyptian society.
* **"and nourished him for her own son":** This final clause reveals the extent of Moses' integration into the Egyptian royal family. To "nourish" (G397, _anatréphō_) him as her "own son" (G5207, _huiós_) meant he received the full privileges, education, and status of an Egyptian prince. This unconventional upbringing, in the very palace he would later challenge, was a critical and divinely orchestrated preparation for his immense task as Israel's deliverer.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 7:21 masterfully employs **Irony** and **Foreshadowing**. The supreme **irony** lies in the fact that the daughter of the very monarch who decreed the death of all Hebrew male infants becomes the instrument of salvation and upbringing for the future deliverer of those same Hebrew people. This reversal of expectation underscores God's ability to subvert human plans and use unlikely agents to accomplish His will. Furthermore, the verse contains elements of **Foreshadowing**. Moses' miraculous preservation and unique upbringing in the royal court, despite being an outsider, foreshadows his future role as a leader who would bridge two worlds—the oppressed Hebrews and the powerful Egyptians—and ultimately lead his people out of bondage. His unlikely path to power and influence, orchestrated by God, hints at the unconventional nature of divine leadership and salvation throughout biblical history.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 7:21 serves as a powerful testament to God's meticulous and often surprising providence in the lives of His chosen servants and His people. It demonstrates that even in moments of extreme vulnerability and seemingly insurmountable opposition, God is actively working behind the scenes, orchestrating events to fulfill His redemptive purposes. Moses' adoption into Pharaoh's household, a place of power and privilege, was not a random occurrence but a divinely appointed means of preparing him with the wisdom, education, and understanding of the Egyptian system that would be crucial for his future leadership. This narrative reassures believers that God's plans are unthwartable, and He can use any circumstance, even those intended for harm, for His ultimate good.

* [Psalm 139:13-16](/psalms/139-13-16 "Psalm 139:13-16 - God's Intimate Knowledge and Formation")
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Ways are Higher")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works All Things for Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 7:21 offers profound encouragement for believers today, reminding us that even when circumstances seem hopeless or hostile, God is actively working behind the scenes. We can find deep comfort and trust in His divine providence, knowing that He can use unlikely individuals and surprising situations to accomplish His will. This verse also speaks powerfully to God's preparation of His servants; He often uses unique experiences and environments, even those that seem contrary to our expectations, to equip us for the specific purposes He has for our lives. Just as Moses was prepared in an unexpected place, we can have confidence that God is shaping us through our varied experiences, even the difficult ones, for His glory and our good. Our task is to remain faithful, open to His leading, and watchful for His hand in the unexpected turns of life.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life have you seen God's unexpected providence at work, turning a difficult situation into an opportunity for His purposes?**
* **How might God be using your current circumstances, even challenging ones, to uniquely prepare you for a future role or ministry?**
* **What does Moses' story in Acts 7:21 teach you about trusting God's timing and methods, even when they seem unconventional or beyond human understanding?**

### FAQ
**Why was it significant that Pharaoh's daughter, rather than another Egyptian, found and adopted Moses?**

Answer: The significance lies in the profound **irony** and divine orchestration. Pharaoh was the very ruler who had decreed the systematic murder of all Hebrew male infants ([Exodus 1:22](/exodus/1-22 "Exodus 1:22 - Pharaoh's Decree")). For his own daughter to be the one to find, pity, and adopt Moses—the future deliverer of the Hebrews—demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over human rulers and their oppressive decrees. It highlights that God can use the most unlikely and even adversarial agents to fulfill His purposes, subverting the enemy's plans from within their own household. This act not only saved Moses' life but also placed him in the highest echelons of Egyptian society, providing him with an education and understanding of the royal court that would be invaluable for his future confrontation with Pharaoh.

**How does Moses' upbringing in Pharaoh's household contribute to his preparation as Israel's deliverer?**

Answer: Moses' upbringing in Pharaoh's household was a crucial and unconventional part of God's preparation for his immense task. As [Acts 7:22](/acts/7-22 "Acts 7:22 - Moses' Education in Egypt") states, Moses was "instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds." This means he received the best education available in the ancient world, encompassing administration, military strategy, law, and perhaps even magic or religious practices of Egypt. This knowledge equipped him with the intellectual and practical skills necessary to lead a large nation, negotiate with a powerful empire, and understand the cultural and religious context from which he would deliver his people. Furthermore, being raised as a prince gave him access, authority, and a certain level of confidence that a mere slave would not possess, preparing him to stand boldly before Pharaoh.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 7:21, in its depiction of Moses' miraculous preservation and unconventional upbringing, powerfully foreshadows the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Just as Moses, a deliverer, was saved from a decree of death by a king ([Matthew 2:16](/matthew/2-16 "Matthew 2:16 - Herod's Slaughter of the Innocents") parallels Herod's decree with Pharaoh's), so too was Jesus, the ultimate Deliverer, protected by divine providence from Herod's murderous intent by being taken to Egypt ([Matthew 2:13-15](/matthew/2-13-15 "Matthew 2:13-15 - Flight to Egypt")). Moses' adoption into Pharaoh's household, an unexpected path to preparation for leadership, mirrors Christ's humble birth and upbringing, yet His true identity as the Son of God, destined for ultimate kingship ([Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32-33 "Luke 1:32-33 - Jesus' Kingship")). Both figures were raised in environments that, from a human perspective, seemed unlikely for their divine callings, yet God sovereignly used these circumstances to prepare them. Moses' life, marked by divine rescue and unique preparation to lead Israel out of bondage, serves as a type of Christ, who through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, delivers all who believe from the bondage of sin and death into the freedom of God's kingdom ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "The Son Sets You Free"); [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Christ's Deliverance from Death")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 11:24

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Deuteronomy 32:26

¶ I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

Exodus 2:2

And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he [was a] goodly [child], she hid him three months.

Exodus 2:10

And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.