Acts 7:26

The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses confronts two quarreling Israelites the day after his initial rescue attempt failed, stepping into their dispute to demand an explanation for their mutual violence.

The words — The Greek ὤφθη (ōphthē) and μαχομένῳς (machomenois) describe Moses appearing to men who were actively quarreling, marking the suddenness of his intervention and the ongoing state of their conflict.

The thread — This scene repeats the confrontation recorded in Exodus 2:13, while the rebuke against internal division corresponds to the commands in Genesis 13:8 and 1 John 3:11 to abandon strife and love one another.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that external intervention is rejected when it violates existing boundaries, and it demands a direct confrontation of internal hostility before any appeal to shared identity.

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

And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

Cross-references

Exodus 2:13 The next day Moses went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you attacking your companion?”
1 John 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
Genesis 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen.
Genesis 45:24 Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”
Psalms 133:1 A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
Proverbs 18:19 An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
John 15:17 This is My command to you: Love one another.
1 Corinthians 6:6 Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.