Lexical Summary asteios: Comely, fair, elegant Original Word: ἀστεῖος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance handsome, fair. From astu (a city); urbane, i.e. (by implication) handsome -- fair. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom astu (a city) Definition of the town, by impl. courteous, elegant NASB Translation beautiful (1), lovely (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 791: ἀστεῖοςἀστεῖος, ἀστεῖον (ἄστυ a city); 1. of the city; of polished manners (opposed to ἄγροικος rustic), genteel (from Xenophon, and Plato down). 2. elegant (of body), comely, fair (Judith 11:23; Aristaenet. 1, 4, 1 and 19, 8): of Moses (Exodus 2:2), Hebrews 11:23; with τῷ Θεῷ added, unto God, God being judge, i. e. truly fair, Acts 7:20; cf. Winers Grammar, § 31, 4 a., p. 212 (199); (248 (232)); Buttmann, 179 (156); (Philo, vit. Moys. i., § 3, says of Moses γεννηθείς ὁ παῖς εὐθύς ὄψιν ἐνεφηνεν ἀστειοτεραν ἤ κατ' ἰδιωτην). (Cf. Trench, § cvi.) Strong’s 791 conveys more than physical attractiveness; in Greek literature it can describe what is urbane, well–formed or fitting. In Scripture the word points to a beauty perceived in the light of God’s purpose, not mere aesthetics. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Hebrews 11:23 — “By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.” Narrative Setting: Exodus Context Both New Testament occurrences allude to Exodus 2:2, where the Septuagint likewise calls the infant Μωϋσῆς ἀστεῖος. The description stands out in a setting of oppression: Pharaoh has decreed the death of male Hebrew infants, yet Moses’ parents discern something in their child that compels courageous defiance. His “beauty” therefore becomes a marker of divine election amid national crisis. Faith Insight Exemplified in Hebrews Hebrews frames the adjective inside its “hall of faith.” The parents’ recognition of Moses’ beauty is treated as a faith–perception: they see God’s calling before it is visible to the world. Their action prefigures the epistle’s recurring theme that faith apprehends realities not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1). The verse also highlights that true faith produces fearless obedience, contrasting heavenly evaluation with earthly threat. Stephen’s Apologetic in Acts Stephen intensifies the phrase: “beautiful to God.” By adding the dative of relationship, he shows that the child’s worth is measured by God’s judgment, not Egyptian culture. Within Stephen’s sermon the word functions rhetorically to display how God repeatedly raises deliverers whom Israel initially rejects. Moses’ God–acknowledged beauty does not prevent his early misunderstanding by his own people (Acts 7:25–27), preparing the audience to evaluate Jesus in a similar pattern. Theological and Typological Significance • Election and Providence: The adjective hints at divine selection from birth, echoing Jeremiah 1:5 and Galatians 1:15, where God’s call precedes human action. Moral and Pastoral Implications 1. Valuing Life: The passages affirm the intrinsic worth of every child as seen by God, encouraging the church to protect life even under cultural or governmental pressure. Summary Strong’s 791, while a single adjective, opens a window onto the mystery of divine election, the nature of faith, and the courage that flows from perceiving value through God’s eyes. Its two New Testament uses remind the church that genuine beauty is measured by God, that faith acts upon such recognition, and that through seemingly insignificant beginnings God shapes deliverers for His people. Englishman's Concordance Acts 7:20 Adj-NMSGRK: καὶ ἦν ἀστεῖος τῷ θεῷ NAS: was born; and he was lovely in the sight KJV: was exceeding fair, and nourished up INT: and was beautiful to God Hebrews 11:23 Adj-ANS Strong's Greek 791 |
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