Bible Strands
Acts 7:32
‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord speaks to Moses at the burning bush immediately after Moses approaches to examine the sight. The voice identifies itself as the ancestral deity while Moses reacts with fear and averts his gaze.
The words — ἐγώ (egō) translates as "I myself," emphasizing the speaker's direct identity. θεός (theos) means "God," anchoring the declaration in divine self-revelation.
The thread — This declaration echoes Exodus 3:6, where God identifies Himself to Moses at the same location. Jesus later cites this exact phrase in Matthew 22:32 to argue for the resurrection.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of God’s enduring covenant faithfulness to the patriarchs. It requires the reader to acknowledge divine presence as a cause for reverent fear rather than casual approach.
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
Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
Cross-references
- Exodus 3:6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
- Matthew 22:32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
- Genesis 28:13 And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.
- Genesis 50:24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
- Exodus 3:15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.
- Exodus 4:5 “This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”
- Exodus 33:20 But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
- 1 Kings 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
- Job 4:14 fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.
- Job 37:1 “At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.