Acts 17:29 “Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine…”

Acts 17:29

Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

World English Bible

Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.

American Standard Version

Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.

Geneva Bible 1599

Forasmuch then, as we are the generation of God, we ought not to thinke that ye Godhead is like vnto gold, or siluer, or stone grauen by arte and the inuention of man.

Darby Translation

Being therefore [the] offspring of God, we ought not to think that which is divine to be like gold or silver or stone, [the] graven form of man's art and imagination.

Young's Literal Translation

'Being, therefore, offspring of God, we ought not to think the Godhead to be like to gold, or silver, or stone, graving of art and device of man;

Bible in Basic English

If then we are the offspring of God, it is not right for us to have the idea that God is like gold or silver or stone, formed by the art or design of man.

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Cross references

“we ought”

Psalm 115:4–8 Romans 1:20–23 Psalm 106:20 Psalm 94:7–9 Isaiah 44:9–20 Isaiah 40:12–18

Psalm 115:4–8 · BSB

Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.

Romans 1:20–23 · BSB

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

Psalm 106:20 · BSB

They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.

Psalm 94:7–9 · BSB

They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”

Isaiah 44:9–20 · BSB

All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame.

Isaiah 40:12–18 · BSB

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance…

“graven”

Exodus 20:4 Jeremiah 10:4–10 Exodus 32:4 Isaiah 46:5 Isaiah 46:6

Exodus 20:4 · BSB

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.

Jeremiah 10:4–10 · BSB

They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter.

Exodus 32:4 · BSB

He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

Isaiah 46:5 · BSB

To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?

Isaiah 46:6 · BSB

They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.

Also

Isaiah 40:25

Isaiah 40:25 · BSB

“To whom will you liken Me, or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

28‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’

30Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

Read Acts 17