Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 7]
\sophiz•\, old verb, to make wise, to become wise, then to play
the sophist), perfective use of \kata\. In the LXX, but here only
in the N.T. To use fraud, craft, deceit. {That they should cast
out their babes} (\tou poiein ta breph• ektheta\). \Tou poiein\
(genitive of the articular present infinitive) can be either
design or result. The Revised Version here takes it as purpose
while the Authorized as result. In either case Pharaoh required
the Israelites to expose their children to death, a possible
practice done voluntarily in heathen China and by heathen in
so-called Christian lands. But the Israelites fought against such
an iniquity. The word \ektheta\ (exposed, cast out) is a verbal
adjective from \ektith•mi\. It is an old word, but here only in
the N.T. and not in the LXX. {To the end they might not live}
(\eis to m• z•ogoneisthai\). Purpose with \eis\ and the articular
infinitive (present middle). This compound verb is from
\z•ogonos\ (from \z•os\, alive, and \gen•\, to bear) and is used
by late writers and the LXX. It is three times in the N.T. (here,
Lu 17:33; 1Ti 6:13) in the sense to preserve alive.
7:20 {Exceeding fair} (\asteios t•i the•i\). Ethical dative, fair
to God (as God looked at him). \Asteios\ is from \astu\, city,
and so means "of the city," with city manners and polish. Old
word, only twice in the N.T. (here and Heb 11:23) and both
times about Moses and taken from Ex 2:2. {He was nourished}
(\anetraph•\). Second aorist passive indicative of \anatreph•\.
He was brought up at home for three months in defiance of the new
Pharaoh.
7:21 {When he was cast out} (\ektethentos autou\). Genitive
absolute with first aorist passive participle of \ektith•mi\.
{Took up} (\aneilato\). Second aorist middle indicative (with
first aorist vowel \a\ instead of \e\ as often in the _Koin•_) of
\anaire•\, common in the N.T. in the sense of take up and make
away with, to kill as in verse 28, but here only in the N.T. in
the original sense of taking up from the ground and with the
middle voice (for oneself). Quoted here from Ex 2:5. The word
was used of old for picking up exposed children as here. Vincent
quotes Aristophanes (_Clouds_, 531): "I exposed (the child), and
some other women, having taken it, adopted (\aneileto\) it."
Vulgate has _sustulit_. "Adopted" is the idea here. "After the
birth of a child the father took it up to his bosom, if he meant
to rear it; otherwise it was doomed to perish" (Hackett).
{Nourished him for her own son} (\anethrepsato auton heaut•i eis
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