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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children--</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/20-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/01_Gen_20_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 20:17 - Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children--" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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and they bare <i>children</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore <i>children;</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, so that they gave birth <i>to children.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore <i>children.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they bore <i>children</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, and they <i>again</i> gave birth to <i>children,</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants; and they bare children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could have children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Abraham interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so they could bear children, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants, and they bore children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Abraham prayed to God. So God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Abraham prays to God, and God heals Abimelech and his wife, and his handmaids, and they bear:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Abraham prayeth unto God, and God healeth Abimelech and his wife, and his handmaids, and they bear:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Abraham will pray to God; and God will heal Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants; and they will bring forth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And when Abraham prayed, God healed Abimelech and his wife, and his handmaids, and they bore children: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Then when Abraham prayed, God healed Abimelech and his wife, and his handmaids, and they gave birth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Abraham then interceded with God, and God restored health to Abimelech, to his wife, and his maidservants, so that they bore children;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />So Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimeleck and his wife and his maidservants, and they bore children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Abraham prayed before God, and God healed Abimelek and his wife and his maids, and they gave birth.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Abraham prayed unto God; and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants; and they bore children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Abraam prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his women servants, and they bore children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/20-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=4524" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/20.htm">Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.” <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/85.htm" title="85: ’aḇ·rā·hām (N-proper-ms) -- Contracted from 'ab and an unused root; father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram.">Then Abraham</a> <a href="/hebrew/6419.htm" title="6419: way·yiṯ·pal·lêl (Conj-w:: V-Hitpael-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To intervene, interpose. A primitive root; to judge; by extension, to intercede, pray.">prayed</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">God,</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">and God</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7495.htm" title="7495: way·yir·pā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To heal. Or raphah; a primitive root; properly, to mend, i.e. to cure.">healed</a> <a href="/hebrew/40.htm" title="40: ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ (N-proper-ms) -- From 'ab and melek; father of king; Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites.">Abimelech</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·tōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">and his wife</a> <a href="/hebrew/519.htm" title="519: wə·’am·hō·ṯāw (Conj-w:: N-fpc:: 3ms) -- A maid, handmaid. Apparently a primitive word; a maid-servant or female slave.">and his maidservants,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: way·yê·lê·ḏū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">so that they could again bear children—</a> </span><span class="reftext">18</span>for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/5-16.htm">James 5:16</a></span><br />Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/1-27.htm">1 Samuel 1:27</a></span><br />I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/42-10.htm">Job 42:10</a></span><br />After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/12-13.htm">Numbers 12:13</a></span><br />So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, please heal her!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/20-5.htm">2 Kings 20:5</a></span><br />“Go back and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-7.htm">Matthew 7:7</a></span><br />Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-9.htm">Luke 11:9</a></span><br />So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/5-14.htm">1 John 5:14-15</a></span><br />And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/11-24.htm">Mark 11:24</a></span><br />Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/4-6.htm">Philippians 4:6</a></span><br />Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/2-1.htm">1 Timothy 2:1</a></span><br />First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/33-3.htm">Jeremiah 33:3</a></span><br />Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/30-2.htm">Psalm 30:2</a></span><br />O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/30-20.htm">2 Chronicles 30:20</a></span><br />And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/28-8.htm">Acts 28:8</a></span><br />The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bore children.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/20-7.htm">Genesis 20:7</a></b></br> Now therefore restore the man <i>his</i> wife; for he <i>is</i> a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore <i>her</i> not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that <i>are</i> thine.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/29-31.htm">Genesis 29:31</a></b></br> And when the LORD saw that Leah <i>was</i> hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel <i>was</i> barren.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/5-11.htm">1 Samuel 5:11,12</a></b></br> So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/20-15.htm">Abimelech</a> <a href="/genesis/20-15.htm">Abim'elech</a> <a href="/genesis/20-14.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/genesis/19-38.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/genesis/19-38.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/genesis/19-38.htm">Children</a> <a href="/genesis/20-14.htm">Female</a> <a href="/mark/14-66.htm">Girls</a> <a href="/revelation/13-12.htm">Healed</a> <a href="/acts/9-34.htm">Healeth</a> <a href="/luke/12-45.htm">Maids</a> <a href="/genesis/12-16.htm">Maidservants</a> <a href="/genesis/12-16.htm">Maid-Servants</a> <a href="/james/5-18.htm">Prayed</a> <a href="/genesis/20-7.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/genesis/20-14.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/genesis/15-3.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/genesis/20-14.htm">Slaves</a> <a href="/genesis/20-14.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/genesis/20-14.htm">Women-Servants</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/20-18.htm">Abimelech</a> <a href="/genesis/20-18.htm">Abim'elech</a> <a href="/genesis/21-2.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/genesis/21-2.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/genesis/21-2.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/genesis/20-18.htm">Children</a> <a href="/genesis/24-35.htm">Female</a> <a href="/exodus/2-18.htm">Girls</a> <a href="/exodus/21-19.htm">Healed</a> <a href="/exodus/15-26.htm">Healeth</a> <a href="/genesis/24-35.htm">Maids</a> <a href="/genesis/24-35.htm">Maidservants</a> <a href="/genesis/24-35.htm">Maid-Servants</a> <a href="/genesis/25-21.htm">Prayed</a> <a href="/genesis/25-21.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/genesis/21-25.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/genesis/21-10.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/genesis/43-18.htm">Slaves</a> <a href="/genesis/20-18.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/genesis/24-35.htm">Women-Servants</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/20-1.htm">Abraham sojourns at Gerar.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/20-2.htm">Denies his wife, who is taken by Abimelech.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/20-3.htm">Abimelech is reproved for her in a dream.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/20-9.htm">He rebukes Abraham.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/20-14.htm">Restores Sarah;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/20-16.htm">and reproves her.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/20-17.htm">Abimelech and his family are healed at Abraham's prayer.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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This act of prayer demonstrates the power and importance of intercession in the biblical narrative. Abraham's prayer is a response to God's revelation and a fulfillment of his role as a prophet (<a href="/genesis/20-7.htm">Genesis 20:7</a>). This moment foreshadows the priestly intercession of Christ, who mediates on behalf of humanity (<a href="/hebrews/7-25.htm">Hebrews 7:25</a>).<p><b>and God healed Abimelech</b><br>The healing of Abimelech signifies God's mercy and willingness to restore those who have been wronged or afflicted. Abimelech, a Philistine king, had unknowingly taken Sarah, Abraham's wife, into his household, believing her to be Abraham's sister. God's intervention and subsequent healing underscore His sovereignty and justice. This event also illustrates the theme of divine protection over the covenant family, ensuring the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham.<p><b>and his wife and his maidservants</b><br>The inclusion of Abimelech's wife and maidservants in the healing process emphasizes the communal aspect of God's actions. It reflects the cultural context of the time, where a king's household was integral to his reign and prosperity. The healing of the women in Abimelech's household also serves to restore the social and familial order disrupted by the earlier events.<p><b>so that they could again bear children—</b><br>The ability to bear children is a sign of God's blessing and favor in the biblical narrative. The restoration of fertility to Abimelech's household is significant, as it not only rectifies the immediate situation but also ensures the continuation of his lineage. This act of restoration parallels God's promise to Abraham and Sarah regarding their own descendants, highlighting the theme of divine faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham</a></b><br>A patriarch in the Bible, known for his faith and obedience to God. In this passage, he intercedes for Abimelech and his household.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/abimelech.htm">Abimelech</a></b><br>The king of Gerar, who unknowingly took Sarah, Abraham's wife, into his household, believing she was Abraham's sister.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign deity who responds to Abraham's prayer by healing Abimelech and his household.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/gerar.htm">Gerar</a></b><br>A Philistine city where Abimelech ruled and where the events of this chapter take place.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/sarah.htm">Sarah</a></b><br>Abraham's wife, who was taken by Abimelech under the false pretense that she was Abraham's sister.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_intercessory_prayer.htm">The Power of Intercessory Prayer</a></b><br>Abraham's prayer for Abimelech demonstrates the effectiveness of interceding on behalf of others. Believers are encouraged to pray for those in need, trusting in God's ability to heal and restore.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_mercy.htm">God's Sovereignty and Mercy</a></b><br>Despite the deception involved, God shows mercy to Abimelech and his household. This highlights God's sovereignty and His willingness to forgive and heal when approached with humility.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_truthfulness.htm">The Importance of Truthfulness</a></b><br>Abraham's initial deception led to unnecessary complications. This serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity in our relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_to_his_promises.htm">God's Faithfulness to His Promises</a></b><br>Even when Abraham faltered, God remained faithful to His covenant with Abraham, ensuring that Sarah would be protected and that His promise of offspring would be fulfilled.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_faith_in_action.htm">The Role of Faith in Action</a></b><br>Abraham's faith is demonstrated through his prayer, showing that faith is not passive but involves active trust and communication with God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_abraham's_faith_shown_in_genesis_20.htm">How can Abraham's actions in Genesis 20 be reconciled with later biblical claims that he was a model of faith and righteousness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_isn't_abraham_rebuked_in_genesis_20.htm">How does Genesis 20 reconcile Abraham's repeated deception about Sarah being his sister without clear rebuke or consequence to Abraham?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_abimelech's_gerar_in_genesis_20.htm">Is there any archaeological or historical evidence to support the presence of Abimelech or a kingdom in Gerar at the time of Genesis 20? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_penalize_abimelech,_not_deceiver.htm">Why would an omniscient God penalize Abimelech and his household in Genesis 20:18 when Abraham was the one who deceived him? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">Abraham prayed . . . --</span>As Abimelech had now made very liberal compensation, it became the duty of Abraham to intercede for him. The malady seems to have been one confined to Abimelech, as its object was to protect Sarah; but in some way it so affected the whole household as to produce general barrenness.<p><span class= "bld">Maidservants.</span>--Not the word rendered <span class= "ital">women-servants </span>in <a href="/genesis/20-14.htm" title="And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.">Genesis 20:14</a>, but one specially used of concubines.<p><span class= "bld"><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">So Abraham prayed unto God</span>. Literally, <span class="accented">the Elohim</span>, the personal and true God, and not Elohim, or Deity in general, to whom belonged the cure of Abimelech and his household (Keil), as the next clause shows. <span class="cmt_word">And God</span> (<span class="accented">Elohim</span>, without the art.) <span class="cmt_word">healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants;</span> - <span class="accented">i.e.</span> his concubines, as distinguished from the women servants (Ver. 14) - <span class="cmt_word">and they bare children.</span> The verb may apply to both sexes, and the malady under which they suffered may be here described as one which prevented procreation, as the next verse explains. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/20-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then Abraham</span><br /><span class="heb">אַבְרָהָ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(’aḇ·rā·hām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_85.htm">Strong's 85: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">prayed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiṯ·pal·lêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6419.htm">Strong's 6419: </a> </span><span class="str2">To judge, to intercede, pray</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">God,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֜ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">healed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּרְפָּ֨א</span> <span class="translit">(way·yir·pā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7495.htm">Strong's 7495: </a> </span><span class="str2">To mend, to cure</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Abimelech</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲבִימֶ֧לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_40.htm">Strong's 40: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abimelech -- 'father is king', a Philistine name, also an Israelite name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and his wife</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשְׁתּ֛וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(’iš·tōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and his maidservants,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאַמְהֹתָ֖יו</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’am·hō·ṯāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_519.htm">Strong's 519: </a> </span><span class="str2">A maidservant, female slave</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so that they could again bear children—</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֵּלֵֽדוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(way·yê·lê·ḏū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/20-17.htm">OT Law: Genesis 20:17 Abraham prayed to God (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/20-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 20:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 20:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/20-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 20:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 20:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>