The Meaning of Acts 13:34 Explained

Acts 13:34

KJV: And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

YLT: And that He did raise him up out of the dead, no more to return to corruption, he hath said thus -- I will give to you the faithful kindnesses of David;

Darby: But that he raised him from among the dead, no more to return to corruption, he spoke thus: I will give to you the faithful mercies of David.

ASV: And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  as concerning that  he raised  him  up  from  the dead,  [now] no more  to  return  to  corruption,  he said  on this wise,  I will give  you  the sure  mercies  of David. 

What does Acts 13:34 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 13:25-37 - Condemned By Men But Raised By God
For Paul the Resurrection was always the keystone of faith. He had taken particular care to assure himself of the reality of that foundation fact. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 he sets forth at length the testimony culminating in his own experience, on which he rested his belief. He had been allowed to see that blessed One and hear the word from His mouth. He quotes Psalms 2:7, Isaiah 55:3, and Psalms 16:10. He makes unexpected use of the first of these quotations, teaching that it was fulfilled in the Resurrection. This sheds new light on death. It is not death but birth; not an ending but a beginning. Our Lord was the first-born from the dead. We say that a saint has died; angels say that he has been born.
Notice that great word about David, Acts 13:36. He served God's counsel, or purpose, in his own generation. That should be the supreme objective of our lives. Not to get on, or to make money, or to please ourselves, but to serve the will of God who sent us forth. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 13

1  Paul and Barnabas are chosen to go to the Gentiles
6  Of Sergius Paulus, and Elymas the sorcerer
13  Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ
42  The Gentiles believe;
44  but the Jews talked abusively against Paul,
46  whereupon they turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe
50  The Jews raise a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who go to Iconium

Greek Commentary for Acts 13:34

Now no more to return to corruption [μηκετι μελλοντα υποστρεπειν εις διαπτοραν]
No longer about to return as Lazarus did. Jesus did not die again and so is the first fruits of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:23; Romans 6:9). [source]
He hath spoken [ειρηκεν]
Present perfect active indicative, common way of referring to the permanent utterances of God which are on record in the Scriptures. The holy and sure blessings of David (τα οσια Δαυειδ τα πιστα — ta hosia Daueid ta pista). See 2 Samuel 7:13. Literally, “the holy things of David the trustworthy things.” He explains “the holy things” at once. [source]
The holy and sure blessings of David [τα οσια Δαυειδ τα πιστα]
See 2 Samuel 7:13. Literally, “the holy things of David the trustworthy things.” He explains “the holy things” at once. [source]
The sure mercies [τὰ ὅσια τὰ πιστά]
Lit., the holy things, the sure. Rev., the holy and sure blessings. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 13:34

Acts 13:33 Unto our children [τοις τεκνοις ημων]
The MSS. vary greatly here about ημων — hēmōn (our), some have αυτων — autōn some αυτων ημιν — autōn hēmin Westcott and Hort consider these readings “a primitive error” for ημιν — hēmin (to us) taken with αναστησας Ιησουν — anastēsas Iēsoun (having for us raised up Jesus). This raising up (from ανιστημι — anistēmi set up) as in Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37 refers not to resurrection (Acts 13:34), but to the sending of Jesus (two raisings up). In the second psalm (εν τωι πσαλμωι τωι δευτερωι — en tōi psalmōi tōi deuterōi). Psalm 2:7. D has πρωτωι — prōtōi because the first psalm was often counted as merely introductory. [source]
Acts 2:27 Thy Holy One [τον οσιον σου]
Peter applies these words to the Messiah. Corruption (διαπτοραν — diaphthoran). The word can mean destruction or putrefaction from διαπτειρω — diaphtheirō old word, but in N.T. only here and Acts 13:34-37. The Hebrew word in Psalm 16:1-11 can mean also the pit or the deep. [source]
Acts 2:27 Corruption [διαπτοραν]
The word can mean destruction or putrefaction from διαπτειρω — diaphtheirō old word, but in N.T. only here and Acts 13:34-37. The Hebrew word in Psalm 16:1-11 can mean also the pit or the deep. [source]
Hebrews 4:3 Do enter [εισερχομετα]
Emphatic futuristic present middle indicative of εισερχομαι — eiserchomai We are sure to enter in, we who believe. He hath said Perfect active indicative for the permanent value of God‘s word as in Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 4:4; Hebrews 10:9, Hebrews 10:13; Hebrews 13:5; Acts 13:34. God has spoken. That is enough for us. So he quotes again what he has in Hebrews 4:11 from Psalm 95:1-11. Although the works were finished Genitive absolute with concessive use of the participle. Old particle, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:17 (with verb). From the foundation of the world Καταβολη — Katabolē late word from καταβαλλω — kataballō usually laying the foundation of a house in the literal sense. In the N.T. usually with απο — apo (Matthew 25:44) or προ — pro (John 17:24) about the foundation of the world. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 13:34 mean?

That then He raised Him out from [the] dead no more being about to return to decay thus He spoke - I will give to you the holy [blessings] of David sure [blessings]
Ὅτι δὲ ἀνέστησεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν μηκέτι μέλλοντα ὑποστρέφειν εἰς διαφθοράν οὕτως εἴρηκεν ὅτι Δώσω ὑμῖν τὰ ὅσια Δαυὶδ πιστά

Ὅτι  That 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἀνέστησεν  He  raised 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀναπηδάω 
Sense: to cause to rise up, raise up.
ἐκ  out  from 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
νεκρῶν  [the]  dead 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: νεκρός  
Sense: properly.
μηκέτι  no  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μηκέτι  
Sense: no longer, no more, not hereafter.
μέλλοντα  being  about 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: μέλλω  
Sense: to be about.
ὑποστρέφειν  to  return 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ὑποστρέφω  
Sense: to turn back.
διαφθοράν  decay 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: διαφθορά  
Sense: corruption, destruction.
οὕτως  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
εἴρηκεν  He  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to utter, speak, say.
ὅτι  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Δώσω  I  will  give 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ὅσια  holy  [blessings] 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὅσιος  
Sense: undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, religiously observing every moral obligation, pure holy, pious.
Δαυὶδ  of  David 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Δαβίδ 
Sense: second king of Israel, and ancestor of Jesus Christ.
πιστά  sure  [blessings] 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πιστός  
Sense: trusty, faithful.