Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 7:34
I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
34. I have seen, I have seen ] The Greek is an attempt to imitate an emphatic Hebrew construction, and is literally “having seen, I have seen,” which in idiomatic English = “I have surely seen,” by which words the Hebrew is rendered (Exo 3:7).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I have seen … – The repetition of this word is in accordance with the usage of the Hebrew writers when they wish to represent anything emphatically.
Their groaning – Under their oppressions.
Am come down – This is spoken in accordance with human conceptions. It means that God was about to deliver them.
I will send thee … – This is a mere summary of what is expressed at much greater length in Exo 3:7-10.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
I have seen, I have seen; seeing I have seen, I have attentively seen and considered; it is doubled to show the certainty of it: if earthly parents, especially, look after their children when weak, much more our heavenly Father.
I have heard their groaning; though but sighs, and scarce framed into words.
Am come down; spoken after the manner of inch, according unto which God is said to come down unto any when he delivers them from their troubles, and to go from them when he leaves them in them: see Exo 3:7,8, from which place, according to the reading of the Septuagint, these words are taken.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
I have seen, I have see the affliction of my people, c] The repetition of the phrase denotes the certainty of it, the exquisite and exact knowledge the Lord took of the affliction of his people, and how much his heart was affected with it:
which is in Egypt from whence Moses had fled and had left them, he being now in the land of Midian, which was the place of his sojourning: and
I have heard their groaning; under their various oppressions and burdens, and by reason of the cruel usage of their taskmasters:
and am come down to deliver them; not by local motion, or change of place, God being omnipresent, who fills all places at all times; but by the effects of his grace and power.
And now come, I will send thee into Egypt; to Pharaoh, the king of it, Ex 3:10 to require of him to let the children of Israel go, and to deliver them out of their bondage.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
I have surely seen ( ). Imitation of the Hebrew infinitive absolute, (Ex 3:7) “Seeing I saw” (cf. Heb 6:14).
The affliction ( ). From , to treat evilly (from , evil). Old word, here only in the N.T. and from Ex 3:7.
Groaning (). Old word from , to sigh, to groan. In the N.T. only here and Ro 8:26. Root in our word stentorian.
I am come down (). Second aorist active indicative of , I came down.
To deliver (). Second aorist middle infinitive of , to take out for myself.
I will send (). First aorist active subjunctive (hortatory of , “Let me send”).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
I have seen, I have seen [ ] . Lit., having seen I saw. A Hebraism. See Exo 3:7 (Sept.). Compare Jud 1:28 : utterly drive them out; lit., removing did not utterly remove. Jud 4:9 : going I will go; i e., I will surely go. Gen 37:8 : reigning shalt thou reign; i e., shalt thou indeed reign. So Rev. here, “I have surely seen.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “I have seen, I have seen,” (idon eidon) “Seeing uninterruptedly or continually, I saw,” expressing a divine intense, compassionate observation: Note, Hebrews 1) Saw, and 2) Heard, and 3) Came down to deliver, to rescue his people; Deep concern or care is here expressed, as he beholds and cares, 1Pe 5:7; Psa 37:5.
2) ” The affliction of my people which is in Egypt,” (ten kakosin tou laou mou tou en Aigupto) “The ill-treated (cruel treatment) of my people in Egypt,” Exo 2:25; Neh 9:9.
3) “And I have heard their groaning,” (kai tou stenagmou autou ekousa) “And the groan of my people I have heard;” God is both a “seeing,” and “hearing” God who compassionately beholds and listens to the cries of His people, Exo 23:24; 2Co 1:3-4.
4) “And am come down to deliver them,” (kai kateben ekselesthai autous) “And I came down to rescue them,” to begin a continuing rescue mission till they are rescued from their afflictions, Exo 3:8; Jos 24:11.
5) “And now come, I will send thee into Egypt,”(kai nun duro apostello se eis Aigupton) “And now and hereafter from this moment, I will send (commission or deputize you) to Egypt,” Exo 3:7. And he became a special apostle (or sent one) into Egypt. He sent Moses to become a General when was 80 years of age and succeeded, Exo 7:6-7.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
34. In seeing I have seen. God promiseth now that he will deliver his people, that he may appoint Moses to be his minister afresh, because the former objection was taken away by so long space of time. For God is said to see our miseries when he hath respect to us, and is careful for our safety; as he is said again to shut his eyes, and turn his back, when as he seemeth to set light by our cause. In like sort is he said to come down. He needeth not to move out of his place to help us, for his hand reacheth throughout the heaven and earth; but this is referred unto our understanding. For, seeing that he did not deliver his people from their affliction, he might seem that he was afar off, and was busied about some other thing in heaven. Now he saith that the Israelites shall perceive that he is nigh unto them. The sum tendeth to this end, that Moses knowing the will of God, may not doubt to follow him as a guide, and the more boldly to employ himself about the delivery of the people, which he knew was the work of God. For we must note that he saith that he heard the mourning of the people. For although he hath respect unto those which are in misery and unjustly oppressed, yet when we lay our mournings and complaints in his lap, he is especially moved to have mercy; although this word may be taken for those blind and confused complaints which are not directed unto God, as it is taken oftentimes elsewhere.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
34. I have seen, I have seen Literally, seeing I have seen. A Hebrew idiom. The English translation well conveys the idea of the continuance and intensity of the divine contemplation of the sufferings of Israel.
Am come down The words express in terms what the vision expressed in symbol, namely, God’s dealing with Israel as if He were a mighty Being who from the height of heaven was just coming down to Israel’s rescue upon earth.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
34. Answered Responded to some previous remark not given by this question.
Of himself Very probably the eunuch, had heard the Jewish tradition that Isaiah was martyred by sawing asunder at the command of the wicked king Manasseh, and so supposed that the prophet might have predicted his own death.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 7:34 . ] LXX. Exo 3:7 . Hence here an imitation of the Hebrew form of expression. Comp. Mat 13:14 ; Heb 6:14 . Similar emphatic combinations were, however, not alien to other Greek. See on 1Co 2:1 ; Lobeck, Paralip. p. 532. is found in Lucian, Dial. Mar. iv. 3.
] namely, from heaven , where I am enthroned, Isa 66:1 ; Mat 5:34 . Comp. Gen 11:7 ; Gen 18:21 ; Psa 144:5 .
(see the critical remarks), adhortative subjunctive; see Elmsl. ad Eur. Bacch. 341, Med. 1242.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
Ver. 34. I have seen, I have seen ] To my grief and regret. God is said to suffer in the sufferings of his people. The Father, Isa 63:9 , the Son, Act 9:4 , the Holy Ghost,1Pe 4:141Pe 4:14 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
34. ] , LXX. Emphatic, to express the of the Heb., as often elsewhere. The instances commonly cited from the classics, of the phrase , Herod. v. 95; Aristoph. Acharn. 177; Nub. 168; Eur. Phn. 1231, &c., do not apply: for, as Porson observes, ‘in his locis simplici verbo conatus, composito effectus indicatur.’
] aorist subjunctive, as LXX, Exo 3:10 . See Winer, edn. 6, 41. a . 4. a .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 7:34 . : Hebraism, so LXX, Exo 3:7 , and so frequently, e.g. , Psa 40:1 , cf. Mat 13:14 , Heb 6:14 (Gen 22:17 ), the participle with the verb emphasising the assurance. But similar collocations are not wanting in classical Greek, see Page, in loco , and Wendt, who compares 1Co 2:1 . The phrase occurs in Lucian, Dial. Mar. , iv., 3 (Wetstein). “I have surely seen,” R.V., so in A. and R.V., Exo 3:7 , see Simcox, Language of N. T. , p. 130, and Viteau, Le Grec du N. T. , p. 217 (1896). , but cf. Exo 3:10 ; ; see critical notes. On the hortatory subj. in first person singular with or prefixed, see Burton, N. T. Moods and Tenses , p. 74, cf. Mat 7:4 , Luk 6:42 , but translated by the revisers, “I will send,” with an imperative force as of a divine command (see Rendall’s note, in loco ). For classical instances cf. Wendt, in loco .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
I have seen, I have seen. A Hebraism. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6. Literally Seeing, I saw.
affliction = wrong. Greek. kakosis. Only here. Compare Kakoo, verses: Act 7:6, Act 7:19.
groaning. Greek. stenagmos. Only here and Rom 8:26.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
34.] , LXX. Emphatic, to express the of the Heb., as often elsewhere. The instances commonly cited from the classics, of the phrase , Herod. v. 95; Aristoph. Acharn. 177; Nub. 168; Eur. Phn. 1231, &c., do not apply: for, as Porson observes, in his locis simplici verbo conatus, composito effectus indicatur.
] aorist subjunctive, as LXX, Exo 3:10. See Winer, edn. 6, 41. a. 4. a.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 7:34. , of My people) They themselves were by this time, for the most part, ignorant that they were the people of GOD; and yet such they were.- , the groaning) The sighs, , out of, or by reason of straits [whence comes ], constitute a peculiar object of the Divine hearing.-, I have come down) For previously He had not seemed to be near at hand.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
I have seen: Exo 2:23-25, Exo 3:7, Exo 3:9, Exo 4:31, Exo 6:5, Exo 6:6, Jdg 2:18, Jdg 10:15, Jdg 10:16, Neh 9:9, Psa 106:44, Isa 63:8, Isa 63:9
and am: Gen 11:5, Gen 11:7, Gen 18:21, Exo 3:8, Num 11:17, Psa 144:5, Isa 64:1, Joh 3:13, Joh 6:38
And now: Exo 3:10, Exo 3:14, Psa 105:26, Hos 12:13, Mic 6:4
Reciprocal: Gen 31:12 – I have seen Gen 43:3 – did solemnly protest Exo 1:14 – their lives Exo 3:6 – hid Psa 35:22 – This Eze 16:6 – and saw Zec 9:8 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
Act 7:34. I have seen, I have seen. Both phrases are in the original, and the inflection of the terms is somewhat different in each case, showing the purpose of the statement is for emphasis. God was speaking to Moses by the angel in the bush. Having seen the afflictions of his people in Egypt, God proposed sending Moses to deliver them.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 7:34. And am come down to deliver them. That is, from His throne in heaven. This is the ordinary language used when speaking of the Eternal in His relations with men. So Isa 66:1 : Thus saith the Lord, Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 30
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
34. Seeing I have seen the affliction of my people, who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and come down to deliver them; now come hither, I will send thee into Egypt. The divine economy, Gods method with man and the idiosyncrasies of salvation, is the same in all ages and dispensations. Why did not God deliver Israel out of bondage at an earlier date? Because they had not gotten so tired and sick of their bondage as to make them groan under the task-masters and cry to God for deliverance. The task-masters are evil habits. The reason why the people are not delivered from them is because they are not so sick and tired as to groan under the intolerable burden of sin and cry piteously for deliverance. Whenever you get so awfully tired of sin as to loathe and groan at its very mention and cry unto God for deliverance, He is sure to come down and deliver you. We live in an age characteristic of superficiality in every respect. This grievous superficialism has almost obliterated the very memory of the mourners cry and groan, and the wrestling altars, which in former years I everywhere saw and heard. Good Lord, bring back the old- time power.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 34
I have seen. The repetition is to give emphasis to the declaration.