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Acts 7:33

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 7:33 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Acts 7:33 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
30And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.
31And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord,
32I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
33And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
34I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them: and now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
35This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent [to be] both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
36This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
← Acts 7:32Acts 7:34 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then said the Lord to him, etc.] To Moses, who through curiosity had made too near an approach: put off thy shoes from thy feet; in token of humility, obedience, and reverence: for the place where thou standest is holy ground; not really, but relatively, on account of the divine presence in it, and only so long as that continued.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Then said the Lord ... - In Exodus 3:0 this is introduced in a different order, as being spoken “before” God said “I am the God,” etc. Put off thy shoes ... - Exodus 3:5. To put off the shoes; or sandals, was an act of reverence. The ancients were especially not permitted to enter a temple or holy place with their shoes on. Indeed, it was customary for the Jews to remove their shoes whenever they entered any house as a mere matter of civility. Compare the notes on John 13:5. See Joshua 5:15. “The same custom, growing out of the same feeling,” says Prof. Hackett (Illustrations of Scripture, pp. 74, 75), “is observed among the Eastern nations at the present day. The Arabs and Turks never enter…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then said the Lord, Loose thy shoes - An ancient token of reverence; for the place is holy ground - The holiness of places depends on the peculiar presence of God there. Acts 7:35”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Put: Exo 3:5; Jos 5:15; Ecc 5:1; Pe2 1:18 Acts 7:34”
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Related study paths

Read Acts 7 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification