What Does Acts 7:12 Mean in the King James?

But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

Acts 7:12 · 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

The narrow place can hold the grain that sets a whole family in motion toward life.

THE MEANING

The verse speaks now through a report of grain in Egypt: even the narrow place can hold provision, and hearing becomes a sending toward it. A first sending opens a path for others to follow, turning news of sustenance into movement toward life.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that a place marked by constriction can only hold harm or emptiness; here, it also holds grain, and the report opens a way forward.

THE ROOT

ἐξαπέστειλεν

exapesteilen

GROWS FROM

ἀποστέλλω

⁨ἀποστέλλω⁩ (apostellō): to send away, dispatch, send forth; the verse form adds ⁨ἐξ-⁩ (ex-), “out.”

“sent out” in this verse is exapesteilen. The verse form ⁨ἐξαπέστειλεν⁩ comes from ⁨ἐξαποστέλλω⁩, built on ⁨ἀποστέλλω⁩. This word family names both the sending, ⁨ἀποστολή⁩ (apostolē), and the one sent, ⁨ἀπόστολος⁩ (apostolos): provision moves through people sent toward it.

ALSO GROWS

apostolē: sending, mission

ἀποστολή

It names the act of sending that moves the verse from hearing about grain to setting people on the way.

apostolos: one sent, messenger

ἀπόστολος

It names the person as part of the movement: the sent one carries a path toward provision.

ἀκούσας

akousas

GROWS FROM

ἀκούω

⁨ἀκούω⁩ (akouō): to hear, listen, receive a report.

“heard” in this verse is akousas. The verse’s hearing is followed immediately by sending, so the report does not remain passive information. The same word family appears in ⁨ὑπακοή⁩ (hypakoē), responsive listening or obedience, letting the movement from hearing to response resonate beneath the English.

ALSO GROWS

akoē: hearing, report

ἀκοή

The grain reaches Jacob as a report, and that report begins the movement toward it.

hypakoē: responsive listening, obedience

ὑπακοή

This related form carries the sense of hearing that answers, echoing how the report is followed by a sending.

THE PATTERN

News of available provision sets people in motion toward life, whether they go to receive it or send it onward.

And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

Genesis 42:2 · KJVThe report of grain moves the family toward the place where they can receive sustenance.

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

Ruth 1:6 · KJVHearing that bread is available moves Ruth toward the place where life is being sustained.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa:

Acts 11:29 · KJVProvision moves outward through people who send relief to those in need.

THE THREAD

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 20:21 · KJV

The Greek word behind “hath sent” belongs to the same ⁨ἀποστέλλω⁩ (apostellō, “send”) family as the sending in Acts. Here, the movement toward provision opens into a relay: the Father sends Jesus, and Jesus sends others onward.

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