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Selected Verse: Acts 7:19 - American Standard

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 7:19	American Standard	The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live.
	King James	The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Dealt subtilly - He acted deceitfully; he used fraud. The cunning or deceitful attempt which is referred to, is his endeavour to weaken and destroy the Jewish people by causing their male children to be put to death, Exo 1:22. Our kindred - Our nation, or our ancestors. And evil-entreated - Was unjust and cruel toward them. So that ... - For that purpose, or to "cause" them to cast them out. He dealt with them in this cruel manner, hoping that the Israelites themselves would destroy their own sons, that they might not grow up to experience the same sufferings as their fathers had. The cunning or subtilty of Pharaoh extended to everything that he did to oppress, to keep under, and to destroy the children of Israel.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Dealt subtilly - He acted deceitfully; he used fraud. The cunning or deceitful attempt which is referred to, is his endeavour to weaken and destroy the Jewish people by causing their male children to be put to death, Exo 1:22.

Our kindred - Our nation, or our ancestors.

And evil-entreated - Was unjust and cruel toward them.

So that ... - For that purpose, or to "cause" them to cast them out. He dealt with them in this cruel manner, hoping that the Israelites themselves would destroy their own sons, that they might not grow up to experience the same sufferings as their fathers had. The cunning or subtilty of Pharaoh extended to everything that he did to oppress, to keep under, and to destroy the children of Israel.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Dealt subtilely (κατασοφισάμενος) Only here in New Testament. Lit., to employ cunning against. See on σοφὸς, wise, Jam 3:13. So that they cast out (τοῦ ποιεῖν ἔκθετα) Lit., make exposed. The verb ἐκτίθημι, to set out, or place outside, is not uncommon in classical Greek for the exposure of a new-born child. Thus Herodotus, of Cyrus, exposed in infancy: "The herdsman's wife entreated him not to expose (ἐκθεῖναι) the babe" (i., 112). The rendering of the A. V., "so that they cast out," is correct, expressing the result, and not Pharaoh's design. Young children (βρέφη) Incorrect. See on Pe1 2:2. Rev., rightly, babes. Live (ζωογονεῖσθαι) Or, be preserved alive. See on Luk 17:33.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Dealt subtilely (κατασοφισάμενος)

Only here in New Testament. Lit., to employ cunning against. See on σοφὸς, wise, Jam 3:13.

So that they cast out (τοῦ ποιεῖν ἔκθετα)

Lit., make exposed. The verb ἐκτίθημι, to set out, or place outside, is not uncommon in classical Greek for the exposure of a new-born child. Thus Herodotus, of Cyrus, exposed in infancy: "The herdsman's wife entreated him not to expose (ἐκθεῖναι) the babe" (i., 112). The rendering of the A. V., "so that they cast out," is correct, expressing the result, and not Pharaoh's design.

Young children (βρέφη)

Incorrect. See on Pe1 2:2. Rev., rightly, babes.

Live (ζωογονεῖσθαι)

Or, be preserved alive. See on Luk 17:33.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Exposed - Cast out to perish by hunger or wild beasts.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

Exposed - Cast out to perish by hunger or wild beasts.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The same dealt subtilty - Οὑτος κατασοφισαμενος, A word borrowed from the Septuagint, who thus translate the Hebrew נהחכמה לו nithchokmah lo, let us deal wisely with it, i.e. with cunning and deceit, as the Greek word implies; and which is evidently intended by the Hebrew. See Gen 27:35, Thy brother came with subtilty, which the Targumist explains by בחוכמא be-chokma, with wisdom, that is, cunning and deceit. For this the Egyptians were so remarkable that αιγυπτιαζειν, to Egyptize, signified to act cunningly, and to use wicked devices. Hence the Jews compared them to foxes; and it is of them that Canticles, Sol 2:15, is understood by the rabbins: Take us the little foxes which spoil our vines; destroy the Egyptians, who, having slain our male children, sought to destroy the name of Israel from the face of the earth. To the end they might not live - Might not grow up and propagate, and thus build up the Hebrew nation.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

The same dealt subtilty - Οὑτος κατασοφισαμενος, A word borrowed from the Septuagint, who thus translate the Hebrew נהחכמה לו nithchokmah lo, let us deal wisely with it, i.e. with cunning and deceit, as the Greek word implies; and which is evidently intended by the Hebrew. See Gen 27:35, Thy brother came with subtilty, which the Targumist explains by בחוכמא be-chokma, with wisdom, that is, cunning and deceit. For this the Egyptians were so remarkable that αιγυπτιαζειν, to Egyptize, signified to act cunningly, and to use wicked devices. Hence the Jews compared them to foxes; and it is of them that Canticles, Sol 2:15, is understood by the rabbins: Take us the little foxes which spoil our vines; destroy the Egyptians, who, having slain our male children, sought to destroy the name of Israel from the face of the earth.

To the end they might not live - Might not grow up and propagate, and thus build up the Hebrew nation.

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