Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

ACTS 7:14KJV
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Acts 7:14 (KJV)

What does Acts 7:14 mean?

Acts 7:14 says that Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, totaling seventy-five people, to come to him in Egypt. This verse is part of Stephen’s speech, recounting how Joseph’s family came to live in Egypt during a time of famine.

Stephen is speaking to the Jewish council, summarizing Israel’s history to show God’s faithfulness. Here, he describes the moment when Joseph, after rising to power in Egypt, invites his family to join him so they can survive the famine. The mention of “threescore and fifteen souls” (seventy-five people) highlights the size of Jacob’s family that relocated, setting up the story of Israel’s later growth in Egypt.

Where else these words appear

“kindred” Greek G4772 · used in 3 verses

  • Luke 1:61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
  • Acts 7:3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

“called” Greek G3333 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
  • Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
  • Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

“threescore” Greek G1440 · used in 5 verses

  • Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
  • Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
  • Acts 23:23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

“Jacob” Greek G2384 · used in 25 verses

  • Matthew 1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
  • Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
  • Acts 7:15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,