Acts 7:22

Acts 7:22

And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

a. NLT: Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action.

b. NIV: Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

c. YLT: and Moses was taught in all wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in words and in works.

d. Amplified Bible: So Moses was educated in all the wisdom and culture of the Egyptians, and he was mighty (powerful) in his speech and deeds.

e. Worrell Translation: And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works.

1. “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians…”

a.  And [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. Moses [3475 * Moseus] [Strong: of Hebrew origin; (4872); Moseus, Moses, or Mouses (i.e. Mosheh), the Hebrew lawgiver:--Moses.]

c. was learned [3811 * paideuo] [Strong: from 3816; to train up a child, i.e. educate, or (by implication), discipline (by punishment):--chasten(-ise), instruct, learn, teach.]

d. in all [3956 * pas] [Strong: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

e. the wisdom [4678 * Sophia] [Strong: from 4680; wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual):--wisdom.]

f. Of the Egyptians [124 * Aiguptios] [Strong: from 125; an Ægyptian or inhabitant of Ægyptus:--Egyptian.]

1). In his Old Testament Through the Bible Series, Gordon Lindsay writes in Volume 9,

“The wisdom of the Egyptians included knowledge of the sciences, much of which was afterwards lost until comparatively recent times. Writing (hieroglyphics), arithmetic, and geometry were known. Surveying was a well developed and necessary art, since the annual inundations of the Nile obliterated all boundary marks. Engineering had reached a high state of efficiency. The Great Pyramid reveals an amazing knowledge of its builders in the science of astronomy, geometry, and agriculture. As for astronomy, the Egyptians used a year of 365 days, and employed ingenious means to keep the calendar in step with the seasons. These people also had considerable knowledge of chemistry. The present state of preservation of their mummies attests to a remarkable proficiency in the embalming art. The Egyptians mined and worked such metals as iron and copper. A variety of musical instruments had been developed, and music held a prominent place in Egyptian worship.”

2. “…and was mighty in words and in deeds.”

a. and [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. was [2258 * en] [Strong: imperfect of 1510; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.]

c. mighty [1415 * dunatos] [Strong: from 1410; powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible:--able, could, (that is) mighty (man), possible, power, strong.]

d. in [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

e. words [3056 * logos] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

f. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. in [1722 * en] See “in” above.

h. deeds [2041 * ergon] [Strong: from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act:--deed, doing, labour, work.

1). Josephus also writes that Moses was appointed to be the leader of the Egyptian military in order to rescue the nation from the invasion of the Ethiopians. Josephus, Book II, Chapter 10, Paragraph 1 & 2. Though Scripture does not back up this account, it is possible that these deeds or some similar were the ones spoken on in Acts 7:22, in speaking that Moses “was mighty in words and deeds.”