What Does Acts 3:7 Mean in the King James?

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Acts 3:7 · KJV

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

Here, strength means firmness: he is lifted by another, then his feet become solid enough to carry him.

THE MEANING

This verse meets you where you cannot yet carry your own weight: a helping hand reaches you, and firmness arrives beneath you. Strength takes shape as feet that can hold you and make standing possible.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Needing to be lifted does not mean strength has not arrived; the helping hand is part of the moment his feet become firm.

THE ROOT

ἐστερεώθησαν

estereōthēsan

GROWS FROM

στερε-

stere-

Firm, solid; to make firm or establish.

“received strength” in this verse is estereōthēsan. The Greek word carries the image of firmness: his feet become reliable under his own weight. Its word family also describes solid things and firm structures, so the change is not abstract power but restored footing.

ALSO GROWS

stereos: Firm, solid

στερεός

The same word family makes the change concrete: his feet can now hold him as he stands.

stereōma: A firm structure or support

στερέωμα

This branch shows firmness as something that can bear weight, echoing the support his feet now provide.

THE PATTERN

Restoration becomes visible when what could not bear weight is made firm enough to move.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

Psalm 40:2 · KJVThe feet that were trapped in unstable ground are set on firm footing, and movement follows.

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 35:6 · KJVThe body that could not move freely leaps when restoration reaches it.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:8 · KJVThe firmness received in this verse becomes visible as standing, walking, and leaping.

THE THREAD

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1 Peter 5:9 · KJV

Acts uses ⁨στερεόω⁩ (stereō, make firm) for the man’s feet; Peter uses ⁨στερεός⁩ (stereos, firm) for standing steadfast. The shared root carries the image of physical footing into steadiness under pressure.

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