Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a subtle but crucial distinction: God promised Abraham the land but gave him no inheritance in it during his lifetime, not even enough to stand on. This wasn't an oversight, but a deliberate part of testing Abraham's faith by showing that his true inheritance and possession would come through God's promise, not earthly ownership.
Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Stephen is recounting Abraham's journey, highlighting God's promises despite Abraham's current lack of possession. Abraham was a stranger in the land, only able to buy a burial plot, not given any land as an inheritance by God. This emphasis sets up the subsequent promise of land and the future enslavement of Abraham's descendants, underscoring God's faithfulness even through difficult times.
God promised Abraham a land, but the text says he received nothing – not even a place to stand. How can a promise be a reality without any tangible possession?
Stephen, in his defense, highlights a crucial aspect of faith: it operates beyond what we can see or touch.
A Future Inheritance, Not a Present One
Abraham didn't receive the land as a permanent dwelling. The only piece of land he bought was a burial plot for Sarah, a purchase that emphasized his temporary status as a foreigner.
The Promise Itself is the Possession
What Abraham did have was God's word. The promise of the land, even without immediate physical possession, was what sustained him. This shows that for Abraham, God's promise was as real and valuable as any deed to land.
Faith Anchored in the Unseen
This situation wasn't a sign of God's failure, but a test of Abraham's faith. He was called to trust God's future fulfillment even when the present reality offered no evidence.
God promised the land to Abraham and his offspring, but Abraham had no children when the promise was given. How could God's promise be fulfilled through a lineage that didn't exist?
This aspect of the promise zeroes in on the incredible power of God to bring life and inheritance out of seemingly impossible circumstances.
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God's Timing, Not Ours
When God first promised the land to Abraham, Abraham was an old man, and his wife Sarah was barren. There was no natural hope for a child, let alone a nation that would inherit a land.
A Promise Rooted in Divine Power
This wasn't a casual remark; it was a divine declaration that underscored God's sovereign power. The fulfillment of the promise wasn't dependent on Abraham's ability to produce offspring, but on God's faithfulness to create it.
Faith in the Unborn Generations
Abraham's faith was tested not only by the lack of land but also by the lack of heirs. He had to trust that God would provide both the land and the descendants to possess it.
Understand the original words
klēronomia · Greek Noun
Property or a portion received as a gift or through a legal right of succession. In biblical theology, it often refers to the spiritual and physical blessings promised by God to His covenant people.
epangellō · Greek Verb
A firm declaration of divine intent or commitment. Biblically, God's promise is an expression of His faithfulness and sovereignty, guaranteeing the fulfillment of His purpose regardless of present circumstances.
kataschesis · Greek Noun
The state of holding or occupying something as one's own. It refers to land or spiritual status that God bestows upon His people according to His covenantal grace.
sperma · Greek Noun
Descendants or biological heirs. In the context of the Abrahamic covenant, it refers to the spiritual and physical line through whom God’s promises and the ultimate blessing of the Messiah would come.
Stephen emphasizes that Abraham, the father of the Israelite nation, lived as a foreigner in the Promised Land, never receiving a title deed. This highlights that God's promises to Abraham were not about immediate earthly possession but about a future inheritance, a testament to faith in God's word over visible circumstances.
c. 2090 BC
God Calls Abraham
God calls Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans, commanding him to leave his homeland and go to a land God will show him. This marks the beginning of God's covenant promises regarding land and descendants.
c. 2090-2065 BC— this verse
Abraham Sojourns in Canaan
Abraham arrives in Canaan and receives promises from God that this land will be given to him and his offspring. During this time, he is a sojourner, not owning significant land beyond a burial plot purchased later.
c. 2065 BC
Abraham Purchases Machpelah
Abraham buys the cave of Machpelah to bury Sarah, the only piece of land he ever possessed in Canaan. This act highlights his status as a stranger, as he had to purchase even a burial site.
c. 2065 BC
Promise of Seed Reaffirmed
God reaffirms his promise to Abraham, stating that his offspring will inherit the land. This promise is particularly significant as Abraham is old, and Sarah is barren, with no immediate hope of children.
c. 1875 BC
Joseph's Family Moves to Egypt
Jacob and his entire family move to Egypt due to famine. They are initially given land in Goshen and prosper, but this event foreshadows a period of sojourning and servitude in a foreign land.
c. 1875 - 1475 BC
Israelites Sojourn in Egypt
The descendants of Abraham live in Egypt for approximately 400 years. They grow into a large nation but eventually face oppression and enslavement by the Egyptians.
This passage records God's initial promise of the land to Abraham, directly paralleling the promise mentioned in Acts 7:5, emphasizing God's faithfulness even when Abraham had no human reason to expect it.
Genesis 13:14-15Here, God reiterates the promise of the land to Abraham, expanding on its scope and duration ('forever'), highlighting the long-term vision of God's plan that transcends Abraham's immediate circumstances.
Hebrews 11:8-9This New Testament passage explicitly connects Abraham's journey of faith to his obedience in leaving home and living as a foreigner, directly referencing the theme of promised inheritance without possession in a foreign land.
Romans 4:18-21This passage in Romans focuses on Abraham's faith 'against hope,' emphasizing how he believed God's promise of descendants and future inheritance even when it seemed impossible due to his age and Sarah's barrenness, mirroring the situation described in Acts 7:5.
Joshua 14:1-5This shows the eventual fulfillment of God's promise, where the land is divided among the tribes of Israel, demonstrating that God's promises to Abraham regarding the land and his descendants were ultimately realized generations later.
ellicottActs 7:5: "And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child."
(5) And he gave him none inheritance. —The apparent exception of the field and cave of Machpelah ( Genesis 23:9-17 ) was not a real one. That was purchased for a special purpose, not given as an inheritance.
calvinActs 7:5-8: "And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child."
- And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not the breadth of a foot; and promised that he would give it to him to possess, and to his seed after him, when as he had no son. 6. And God spake after this manner, Thy seed shall sojourn in a strange land; and they shall bring it into bo…
The verse highlights a subtle but crucial distinction: God promised Abraham the land but gave him no inheritance in it during his lifetime, not even enough to stand on. This wasn't an oversight, but a deliberate part of testing Abraham's faith by showing that his true inheritance and possession would come through God's promise, not earthly ownership.
Stephen is recounting Abraham's journey, highlighting God's promises despite Abraham's current lack of possession. Abraham was a stranger in the land, only able to buy a burial plot, not given any land as an inheritance by God. This emphasis sets up the subsequent promise of land and the future enslavement of Abraham's descendants, underscoring God's faithfulness even through difficult times.
Stephen is recounting Abraham's journey, highlighting God's promises despite Abraham's current lack of possession. Abraham was a stranger in the land, only able to buy a burial plot, not given any land as an inheritance by God. This emphasis sets up the subsequent promise of land and the future enslavement of Abraham's descendants, underscoring God's faithfulness even through difficult times.
"Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child." — The verse highlights a subtle but crucial distinction: God promised Abraham the land but gave him no inheritance in it during his lifetime, not even enough to stand on. This wasn't an oversight…
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Last reviewed October 2026