And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so [Abraham] begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac [begat] Jacob; and Jacob [begat] the twelve patriarchs.
And {G2532} he gave {G1325} him {G846} the covenant {G1242} of circumcision {G4061}: and {G2532} so {G3779} Abraham begat {G1080} Isaac {G2464}, and {G2532} circumcised {G4059} him {G846} the eighth {G3590} day {G2250}; and {G2532} Isaac {G2464} begat Jacob {G2384}; and {G2532} Jacob {G2384} begat the twelve {G1427} patriarchs {G3966}.
And he gave him b’rit-milah. So he became the father of Yitz’chak and did his b’rit-milah on the eighth day, and Yitz’chak became the father of Ya‘akov, and Ya‘akov became the father of the Twelve Patriarchs.
Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.
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Genesis 17:9
And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. -
Genesis 17:14
And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. -
Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: -
Genesis 35:26
And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these [are] the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram. -
Genesis 35:16
¶ And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. -
Acts 2:29
Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. -
Romans 9:9
For this [is] the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
Commentary on Acts 7:8
Acts 7:8 is part of Stephen's powerful defense speech before the Sanhedrin, where he recounts the history of Israel to demonstrate God's consistent work among His people, often in the face of their rebellion. This verse specifically highlights the establishment of the covenant of circumcision through Abraham and the subsequent lineage that formed the foundation of the nation of Israel.
Context
In this portion of his speech, Stephen is tracing the historical narrative of God's relationship with His chosen people, beginning with Abraham. He emphasizes God's initiative in establishing covenants and promises, even before the Law was given at Sinai. The mention of the "covenant of circumcision" serves as a foundational moment, demonstrating God's faithfulness in setting apart a people for Himself and fulfilling His promises through successive generations, from Abraham to the twelve patriarchs.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word for "covenant" here is diathēkē (διαθήκη), which often implies a divine disposition or arrangement, a testament or will, rather than a mutual agreement. It highlights God's sovereign act in establishing this relationship and its terms. The term "patriarchs" (πατριάρχας - *patriarchas*) refers to the revered heads of the family or tribe, emphasizing their foundational role in the history of Israel.
Practical Application
Acts 7:8 reminds us of God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises across generations. Even in the Old Testament, God established visible signs of His covenant. For believers today, this historical account points to a deeper, spiritual reality. The physical circumcision of the Old Covenant foreshadowed the "circumcision of the heart" that comes through faith in Christ (Colossians 2:11-12). It teaches us that true belonging to God's people is not merely external but an internal transformation brought about by God's grace, continuing His redemptive work through all who believe.