Bible Strands
Acts 7:20
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Stephen addresses the Sanhedrin during his trial, recounting Israel’s history to explain their rejection of Jesus. He interrupts his chronological narrative to mark Moses’ birth during a period of state-sanctioned infant mortality.
The words — ἀστεῖος (asteios) translates literally as "beautiful" or "fine," describing Moses’ physical appearance at birth. The text states he was beautiful before noting his three-month concealment in his father’s house.
The thread — This phrasing runs directly into Exodus 2:2 and Hebrews 11:23, where his parents hide him because of his appearance, and aligns with the physical markers of chosen leaders in 1 Samuel 16:12.
Why it lands — The verse records that divine protection operates through ordinary parental care before any public deliverance occurs. It requires the reader to acknowledge that God’s purposes advance through concealed, protected beginnings rather than immediate intervention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:
Cross-references
- Hebrews 11:23 By 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.
- Exodus 2:2 and she conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months.
- 1 Samuel 16:12 So 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.”