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Acts 7:33

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Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

Then {G1161} said {G2036} the Lord {G2962} to him {G846}, Put off {G3089} thy shoes {G5266} from thy {G4675} feet {G4228}: for {G1063} the place {G5117} where {G1722}{G3739} thou standest {G2476} is {G2076} holy {G40} ground {G1093}.

Adonai said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, because the place where you are standing is holy ground.

Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Commentary

Acts 7:33 (KJV) is part of Stephen's defense speech before the Sanhedrin, where he recounts the history of Israel, emphasizing God's faithfulness and the people's repeated disobedience. This particular verse recalls a pivotal moment in the life of Moses: his encounter with God at the burning bush.

Context

Stephen's address in Acts 7 serves as a historical narrative, tracing God's interaction with Israel from Abraham to the building of the Temple. When he reaches the story of Moses, he describes how God appeared to Moses in a burning bush in the wilderness of Mount Sinai (Acts 7:30). The command to remove shoes is a direct quotation from the original account in the Old Testament, specifically Exodus 3:5. This moment marks Moses' divine commissioning to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.

Key Themes

  • Divine Presence and Holiness: The core message is that God's presence renders a place sacred. It's not the ground itself that is inherently holy, but the immediate manifestation of God's glory and power upon it. This concept highlights God's transcendence and His ability to consecrate any space by His presence.
  • Reverence and Humility: The command to "put off thy shoes" was a common cultural gesture of respect and humility in the ancient Near East, especially when entering sacred spaces or in the presence of royalty. For Moses, it signified an acknowledgment of God's supreme authority and holiness, requiring a posture of reverence and submission.
  • Obedience to God's Command: Moses' immediate obedience to this instruction demonstrates his submission to the Lord, setting the stage for his future role as God's chosen leader. It underscores the importance of heeding divine directives, even when the reasons might not be immediately apparent.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "holy ground" (Greek: hagia ge) emphasizes the consecrated nature of the place due to God's immediate presence. The word "holy" (hagios) signifies being set apart, consecrated, or dedicated to God, implying purity and separation from the common or profane. This setting apart is not achieved by human effort but by divine declaration and presence.

Practical Application

The encounter at the burning bush and the command to remove shoes offers enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Recognizing God's Presence: We are called to recognize God's presence not just in designated places of worship, but in all aspects of life. Every place where God's presence is acknowledged and honored can become "holy ground" in a spiritual sense.
  • Cultivating Reverence: This verse reminds us to approach God with profound reverence, humility, and awe. Whether in prayer, worship, or daily living, our attitude should reflect the understanding that we are always in the presence of a holy God.
  • Responding with Obedience: Just as Moses obeyed the command, we are called to respond to God's voice with prompt and willing obedience. This obedience is an act of worship and trust in His divine plan, as seen in John 14:15.

Acts 7:33, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of God's holiness, the proper posture of humanity before Him, and the transformative power of His divine presence.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 3:5 (9 votes)

    And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground.

  • Joshua 5:15 (8 votes)

    And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy. And Joshua did so.

  • 2 Peter 1:18 (4 votes)

    And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.