Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.
Parallel translations
- WEB Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
- KJV Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
- BSB At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.
- NASB At this remark, Moses fled and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he fathered two sons.
- NLT When Moses heard that, he fled the country and lived as a foreigner in the land of Midian. There his two sons were born.
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
Moses fled to Midian, becoming a stranger there and fathering two sons. The rejected deliverer entered a long season of exile and waiting.
Overview
Stephen notes Moses' flight to Midian, where he lived as a sojourner and had two sons (Exodus 2:15-22). This exile of the rejected deliverer becomes a time of God's hidden preparation. The pattern of the rejected one being later exalted by God runs through Scripture and culminates in Christ's rejection, death, and resurrection.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Exod 18:2–4Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,
- Exod 2:14–22He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known.”
- Exod 4:19–20Yahweh said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return into Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 7:29 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.