What Does Acts 3:22 Mean in the King James?
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The prophet God raises stands among your own kin, and the verse turns on whether you hear all he says.
THE MEANING
God’s word reaches you through a voice close enough to hear: someone raised from among your own people. The verse places the weight on receiving the whole of what that voice says, not just the parts that feel familiar.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a voice is worth hearing only when it agrees with you; the verse says to hear all that he says.
THE ROOT
ἀναστήσει
anastēsei
GROWS FROM
ἵστημι
histēmi
stand, set upright
“raise up” in this verse is anastēsei. The Greek verb means to bring someone to stand. The same word family gives ἀνάστασις (anastasis), rising or resurrection: the promised prophet is one God brings to stand among the people.
ALSO GROWS
anistēmi: rise, stand up
ἀνίστημι
This related verb makes the image of the prophet standing among his kin more visible.
anastasis: rising, resurrection
ἀνάστασις
It shares the same word family, carrying the idea of being brought to stand again.
ἀκούσεσθε
akousesthe
GROWS FROM
ἀκου-
akou-
hear, listen
“hear” in this verse is akousesthe. The Greek calls for hearing, and “in all things whatsoever he shall say” makes that hearing comprehensive. A related verb, ὑπακούω (hypakouō), can mean obey or heed, showing how hearing can extend into response.
ALSO GROWS
akoē: hearing, report
ἀκοή
It shows how the same word family can name both the act of hearing and what is heard.
hypakouō: obey, heed
ὑπακούω
This related compound links hearing with responding to the voice.
προφήτην
prophētēn
GROWS FROM
φημί
phēmi
say, speak
The word’s speaking root brings the prophet into focus as a voice delivering words. The verse makes those words central: the promised one is heard in everything he says.
ALSO GROWS
phēmi: say, speak
φημί
This is the speaking root within the word for prophet.
prophēteuō: prophesy, speak prophetically
προφητεύω
This related verb keeps the prophet’s role tied to speaking.
THE PATTERN
God’s word reaches people through a human voice, and hearing is where that word is received.
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:THE THREAD
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;Deuteronomy names the same pattern Acts identifies: God raises a prophet from among the people, and the people hear him. “From the midst of thee” makes the closeness of that voice unmistakable.
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