Limitless Word
At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house.
Acts 7:20 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father’s house.
  • KJV In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:
  • NKJV At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months.
  • NASB At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful to God. He was nurtured for three months in his father’s home.
  • NLT “At that time Moses was born—a beautiful child in God’s eyes. His parents cared for him at home for three months.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

At this dire moment Moses was born, a beautiful child hidden three months by his parents. His birth signals God's provision of a deliverer amid oppression.

Overview

Stephen notes that Moses was born when Israel's suffering was greatest, and that he was 'exceedingly handsome' or fair before God (Exodus 2:1-2; Hebrews 11:23). His parents' faith in hiding him shows trust in God against Pharaoh's decree. Moses' preservation prefigures Christ, the greater Deliverer whom God also protected in infancy to accomplish redemption.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 3

  • Heb 11:23By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.
  • Exod 2:2–10and she conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months.
  • 1 Sam 16:12So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 7:20YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 7:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.