Acts 7:23

Acts 7:23

And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

a. NLT: “One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel.

b. NIV: “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites.

c. YLT: 'And when forty years were fulfilled to him, it came upon his heart to look after his brethren, the sons of Israel;

d. Amplified Bible: And when he was in his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his kinsmen the children of Israel [to help them and to care for them].

e. Worrell Translation: But, when his fortieth year was being completed, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.

1. “And when he was full forty years old…”

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

b. when [5613 * hos] [Strong: probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.]

c. he [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. was full [4137 * pleroo] [Strong: from 4134; to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:--accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.]

e. forty years [5063 * tessarakontaetes] [Strong:  from 5062 and 2094; of forty years of age:--(+ full, of) forty years (old).]

f. old [5550 * chronos] [Strong: of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from 2540, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from 165, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay:--+ years old, season, space, (X often-)time(-s), (a) while.]

2. “…it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.”

a. it came [305 * anabaino] [Strong: from 303 and the base of 939; to go up (literally or figuratively):--arise, ascend (up), climb (go, grow, rise, spring) up, come (up).]

b. into [1909 * epi] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

c. his [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. heart [2588 * kardia] [Strong: prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).]

e. to visist [1980 * episkeptomai] [Strong: middle voice from 1909 and the base of 4649; to inspect, i.e. (by implication) to select; by extension, to go to see, relieve:--look out, visit.]

f. his [846 * autos] See “his” above.

g. brethren [80 * adephos] [Strong: from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1):--brother.]

h. the children [5207 * huios] [Strong: apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:--child, foal, son.]

i. of Israel [2474 * Israel] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (3478); Israel (i.e. Jisrael), the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively):--Israel.]

1). There is a passage in Hebrews that surely fits in this time period of Moses life.

a). Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

2). The phrase “refused to be called” definitely is strong language and declares that Moses wanted nothing to do with Egyptian identity. This refusal occurred when Moses had grown up in every way. Here we see Moses at age forty identifying with being a Jew, not only in the Old Testament but also in the New. There is Rabbinic teaching in Jewish tradition that complements these verses. “Moses had been raised in the splendor and anti-Semitism of the palace, but he remained the son of Amram and Jochebed. Though his mother had had him for only the earliest years of his life, she succeeded so well in imbuing him with love of and loyalty to his people, that despit his royal upbringing, he did not become an Egyptian prince, but remained a Jew. As he matured, he displayed the compassion for the downtrodden that stamped him as the future redeemer of Israel.” Chumash, p. 298, Note for verses 11-15.