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Selected Verse: Acts 7:5 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 7:5	Strong Concordance	And [2532] he gave [1325] him [846] none [3756] inheritance [2817] in [1722] it [846], no, not [3761] so much as to set [968] his foot [4228] on [968]: yet [2532] he promised [1861] that he would give [1325] it [846] to him [846] for [1519] a possession [2697], and [2532] to his [846] seed [4690] after [3326] him [846], when as yet he [846] had [5607] no [3756] child [5043].
	King James	And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And he gave him none inheritance - Abraham led a wandering life; and this passage means that he did not himself receive a permanent possession or residence in that land. The only land which he owned was the field which he "purchased" of the children of Heth for a burial place, Gen. 23: As this was obtained by "purchase," and not by the direct gift of God, and as it was not designed for a "residence," it is said that God gave him no "inheritance." It is mentioned as a strong instance of his faith that he should remain there without a permanent residence himself, with only the prospect that his children, at some distant period, would inherit it. Not so much as to set his foot on - This is a proverbial expression, denoting in an emphatic manner that he had no land, Deu 2:5. Would give it to him - Gen 13:15. Abraham did not himself possess all that land; and the promise is evidently equivalent to saying that it would be conferred on the family of Abraham, or the family of which he was the father, without affirming that "he" would himself personally possess it. It is true, however, that Abraham himself afterward dwelt many years in that land as his home, Gen. 13, etc. For a possession - To be held as his own property. When as yet he had no child - When there was no human probability that he would have any posterity. Compare Gen 15:2-3; Gen 18:11-12. This is mentioned as a strong instance of his faith; "who against hope believed in hope," Rom 4:18.

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

And he gave him none inheritance - Abraham led a wandering life; and this passage means that he did not himself receive a permanent possession or residence in that land. The only land which he owned was the field which he "purchased" of the children of Heth for a burial place, Gen. 23: As this was obtained by "purchase," and not by the direct gift of God, and as it was not designed for a "residence," it is said that God gave him no "inheritance." It is mentioned as a strong instance of his faith that he should remain there without a permanent residence himself, with only the prospect that his children, at some distant period, would inherit it.

Not so much as to set his foot on - This is a proverbial expression, denoting in an emphatic manner that he had no land, Deu 2:5.

Would give it to him - Gen 13:15. Abraham did not himself possess all that land; and the promise is evidently equivalent to saying that it would be conferred on the family of Abraham, or the family of which he was the father, without affirming that "he" would himself personally possess it. It is true, however, that Abraham himself afterward dwelt many years in that land as his home, Gen. 13, etc.

For a possession - To be held as his own property.

When as yet he had no child - When there was no human probability that he would have any posterity. Compare Gen 15:2-3; Gen 18:11-12. This is mentioned as a strong instance of his faith; "who against hope believed in hope," Rom 4:18.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Inheritance (κληρονομίαν) See on Pe1 1:4. Not so much as to set his foot on (οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός) Lit., not even the stepping of a foot. From the original meaning, a pace or step, which occurs only here in the New Testament, comes the sense of a step considered as a raised place or seat, and hence a tribune or judgment-seat, which is its meaning in every other passage of the New Testament. Possession (κατάσχεσιν) Only here and Act 7:45. See on keep, Luk 8:15. It denotes a permanent possession.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
No, not to set his foot on - For the field mentioned, Act 7:16, he did not receive by a Divine donation, but bought it; even thereby showing that he was a stranger in the land.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Gave him none inheritance - Both Abraham and Jacob had small parcels of land in Canaan; but they had them by purchase, not by God's gift; for, as Abraham was obliged to buy a burying-place in Canaan, Genesis 23:3-18, it is obvious he had no inheritance there. And to his seed after him - See Gen 12:7 (note); Gen 13:15, and the notes there.

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¹⁸ Who [3739] against [3844] hope [1680] believed [4100] in [1909] hope [1680], that [1519] he [846] might become [1096] the father [3962] of many [4183] nations [1484], according [2596] to that which was spoken [2046], So [3779] shall [2071] thy [4675] seed [4690] be [2071].

¹¹ Now Abraham [085] and Sarah [08283] were old [02205] and well stricken [0935] in age [03117]; and it ceased [02308] to be with Sarah [08283] after the manner [0734] of women [0802].
¹² Therefore Sarah [08283] laughed [06711] within herself [07130], saying [0559], After [0310] I am waxed old [01086] shall I have pleasure [05730], my lord [0113] being old also [02204]?

² And Abram [087] said [0559], Lord [0136] GOD [03069], what wilt thou give [05414] me, seeing I go [01980] childless [06185], and the steward [01121] [04943] of my house [01004] is this [01931] Eliezer [0461] of Damascus [01834]?
³ And Abram [087] said [0559], Behold, to me thou hast given [05414] no [03808] seed [02233]: and, lo, one born [01121] in my house [01004] is mine heir [03423].

¹⁵ For all the land [0776] which thou seest [07200], to thee will I give it [05414], and to thy seed [02233] for [05704] ever [05769].

⁵ Meddle [01624] not with them; for I will not give [05414] you of their land [0776], no, not so much as a foot [07272] breadth [04096] [03709]; because I have given [05414] mount [02022] Seir [08165] unto Esau [06215] for a possession [03425].

¹⁵ But [1161] that on [1722] the good [2570] ground [1093] are [1526] they [3778], which [3748] in [1722] an honest [2570] and [2532] good [18] heart [2588], having heard [191] the word [3056], keep [2722] it, and [2532] bring forth fruit [2592] with [1722] patience [5281].

⁴⁵ Which [3739] also [2532] our [2257] fathers [3962] that came [1237] after brought in [1521] with [3326] Jesus [2424] into [1722] the possession [2697] of the Gentiles [1484], whom [3739] God [2316] drave out [1856] before [575] the face [4383] of our [2257] fathers [3962], unto [2193] the days [2250] of David [1138];

⁴ To [1519] an inheritance [2817] incorruptible [862], and [2532] undefiled [283], and [2532] that fadeth not away [263], reserved [5083] in [1722] heaven [3772] for [1519] you [5209],

¹⁶ And [2532] were carried over [3346] into [1519] Sychem [4966], and [2532] laid [5087] in [1722] the sepulchre [3418] that [3739] Abraham [11] bought [5608] for a sum [5092] of money [694] of [3844] the sons [5207] of Emmor [1697] the father [3588] of Sychem [4966].

¹⁵ For all the land [0776] which thou seest [07200], to thee will I give it [05414], and to thy seed [02233] for [05704] ever [05769].

⁷ And the LORD [03068] appeared [07200] unto Abram [087], and said [0559], Unto thy seed [02233] will I give [05414] this [02063] land [0776]: and there builded [01129] he an altar [04196] unto the LORD [03068], who appeared [07200] unto him.