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Genesis 20:2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
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id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She <i>is</i> my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She <i>is</i> my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent <i>men</i> and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said [again] of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah [into his harem].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />he told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Abraham told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar sent men to take Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />he said that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />because Abraham kept saying about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister," King Abimelech of Gerar summoned them and took Sarah into his household. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, she is my sister: And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. <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 says concerning his wife Sarah, “She is my sister”; and Abimelech king of Gerar sends and takes Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and Abraham saith concerning Sarah his wife, 'She is my sister;' and Abimelech king of Gerar sendeth and taketh Sarah.<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 say as to Sarah his wife, This my sister: and Abimelech, king of Gerar, will send and take Sarah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he said of Sara his wife: She is my sister. So Abimelech the king of Oerara sent, and took her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he said about his wife Sarah: “She is my sister.” Therefore, Abimelech, the king of Gerar, sent for her and took her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” And King Abimelech of Gerar sent and took Sarah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister; and Abimeleck king of Gadar sent and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Abraham said about Sara his wife, “She is my sister” and Abimelek the King of Gadar sent and he took Sara.<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 said of Sarah his wife: 'She is my sister.' And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Abraam said concerning Sarrha his wife, She is my sister, for he feared to say, She is my wife, lest at any time the men of the city should kill him for her sake. So Abimelech king of Gerara sent and took Sarrha.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/20-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=4373" 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">1</span>Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, <span class="reftext">2</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.">Abraham</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">of</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.">his wife</a> <a href="/hebrew/8283.htm" title="8283: śā·rāh (N-proper-fs) -- Princess, a wife of Abraham. The same as sarah; Sarah, Abraham's wife.">Sarah,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hî (Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. ">“She</a> <a href="/hebrew/269.htm" title="269: ’ă·ḥō·ṯî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Sister. Irregular feminine of 'ach; a sister (like 'Ezrachiy), literally and figuratively).">is my sister.”</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.">So Abimelech</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: me·leḵ (N-msc) -- King. From malak; a king.">king</a> <a href="/hebrew/1642.htm" title="1642: gə·rār (N-proper-fs) -- A place S. of Gaza. Probably from garar; a rolling country; Gerar, a Philistine city.">of Gerar</a> <a href="/hebrew/8283.htm" title="8283: śā·rāh (N-proper-fs) -- Princess, a wife of Abraham. The same as sarah; Sarah, Abraham's wife.">had Sarah</a> <a href="/hebrew/7971.htm" title="7971: way·yiš·laḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To send. A primitive root; to send away, for, or out.">brought</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: way·yiq·qaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">to him.</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”…<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="/genesis/12-11.htm">Genesis 12:11-20</a></span><br />As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman, / and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. / Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/26-6.htm">Genesis 26:6-11</a></span><br />So Isaac settled in Gerar. / But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.” / When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-14.htm">Exodus 20:14</a></span><br />You shall not commit adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-16.htm">Exodus 20:16</a></span><br />You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Leviticus 18:20</a></span><br />You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-18.htm">Deuteronomy 5:18</a></span><br />You shall not commit adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-20.htm">Deuteronomy 5:20</a></span><br />You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/11-2.htm">2 Samuel 11:2-4</a></span><br />One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/6-32.htm">Proverbs 6:32</a></span><br />He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/12-22.htm">Proverbs 12:22</a></span><br />Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-27.htm">Matthew 5:27-28</a></span><br />You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-19.htm">Matthew 15:19</a></span><br />For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-19.htm">Mark 10:19</a></span><br />You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/18-20.htm">Luke 18:20</a></span><br />You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-44.htm">John 8:44</a></span><br />You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.</p><p class="hdg">said.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/12-11.htm">Genesis 12:11-13</a></b></br> And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou <i>art</i> a fair woman to look upon: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/26-7.htm">Genesis 26:7</a></b></br> And the men of the place asked <i>him</i> of his wife; and he said, She <i>is</i> my sister: for he feared to say, <i>She is</i> my wife; lest, <i>said he</i>, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she <i>was</i> fair to look upon.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/19-2.htm">2 Chronicles 19:2</a></b></br> And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore <i>is</i> wrath upon thee from before the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">Abimelech.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/12-15.htm">Genesis 12:15</a></b></br> The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/26-1.htm">Genesis 26:1,16</a></b></br> And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/51-19.htm">Abimelech</a> <a href="/judges/10-1.htm">Abim'elech</a> <a href="/genesis/20-1.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/genesis/20-1.htm">Gerar</a> <a href="/genesis/18-15.htm">Sarah</a> <a href="/genesis/19-31.htm">Sister</a> <a href="/genesis/19-26.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/20-3.htm">Abimelech</a> <a href="/genesis/20-3.htm">Abim'elech</a> <a href="/genesis/20-9.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/genesis/26-1.htm">Gerar</a> <a href="/genesis/20-14.htm">Sarah</a> <a href="/genesis/20-5.htm">Sister</a> <a href="/genesis/20-3.htm">Wife</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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-3753401421161123"; /* 200 x 200 Parallel Bible */ google_ad_slot = "7676643937"; google_ad_width = 200; google_ad_height = 200; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/genesis/20.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>And there Abraham said</b><br />The phrase "And there" indicates a specific location and time in Abraham's journey. Abraham, a patriarch of faith, finds himself in Gerar, a Philistine territory. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) implies a deliberate declaration. Abraham's speech here is a strategic decision, reflecting human frailty and fear despite his covenant relationship with God. This moment serves as a reminder of the complexities of faith and the human tendency to rely on self-preservation.<p><b>of his wife Sarah</b><br />Sarah, whose name means "princess," is not only Abraham's wife but also a key figure in God's covenant promise. Her identity as Abraham's wife is crucial, as it ties directly to the promise of a son, Isaac, through whom God's covenant would continue. The mention of "his wife" underscores the sacredness of marriage and the divine plan that is at risk due to Abraham's actions.<p><b>'She is my sister.'</b><br />This statement is a half-truth, as Sarah is indeed Abraham's half-sister (<a href="/genesis/20-12.htm">Genesis 20:12</a>). However, it is also a deception intended to protect Abraham. The Hebrew culture placed great importance on familial relationships, and this claim was meant to ensure Abraham's safety. Yet, it reveals a lapse in trust in God's protection. This moment challenges believers to consider the importance of truth and integrity, even in difficult circumstances.<p><b>So Abimelech king of Gerar</b><br />Abimelech, meaning "my father is king," is a title rather than a personal name, common among Philistine rulers. Gerar, located in the Negev region, was a place of political and economic significance. Abimelech's actions are not merely personal but reflect the customs and political dynamics of the time. This context highlights the vulnerability of Abraham and Sarah in foreign lands and the potential for conflict between God's people and surrounding nations.<p><b>sent for Sarah and took her</b><br />The act of "sending for" and "taking" Sarah indicates the authority and power wielded by Abimelech. In ancient Near Eastern culture, kings had the right to take women into their harems, often for political alliances. This action sets the stage for divine intervention, as God protects Sarah to ensure the fulfillment of His covenant. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and faithfulness, even when human actions threaten His plans.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">She is my sister.</span>--Twenty years before, Abraham had acted in the same way in Egypt, and Pharaoh had rebuked him, but sent him away with large presents. We learn from this chapter, <a href="/genesis/20-13.htm" title="And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, This is your kindness which you shall show to me; at every place where we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.">Genesis 20:13</a>, that the false representation which twice brought them into trouble was habitual with the two; nor does Abraham ever seem conscious that he was acting in it wrongfully. To us it seems cowardly, in one who had so many men trained to battle, thus to expose his wife to danger; and to have recourse to deceit, at the very time when such abundant revelations were being made to him, also shows an apparent want of faith in God. But Holy Scripture neither represents its heroes as perfect, nor does it raise them disproportionately above the level of their own times. Its distinguishing feature rather is that it ever insists upon a perpetual progress upwards, and urges men onward to be better and holier than those that went before. Abraham was not on the same high spiritual level as a Christian ought to be who has the perfect example of Christ as his pattern, and the gift of the Holy Ghost for his aid; and the fact that God rescued him and Sarah from all danger in Egypt may have seemed to him a warrant that in future difficulties he would have the same Divine protection. Human conduct is ever strangely chequered, but we have a wholesome lesson in the fact, that it was Abraham's politic device which twice entangled him in actual danger.<p><span class= "bld">Abimelech (called in <a href="/genesis/26-1.htm" title="And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines to Gerar.">Genesis 26:1</a>, <span class= "ital">king of the Philistines, </span>where see Note) . . .</span> <span class= "bld">took Sarah.</span>--She was now ninety years of age, and naturally her beauty must have faded. Some, however, think that with the promise of a son her youth had been renewed, while others suppose that the purpose uppermost in the mind of Abimelech was political, and that what he really desired was an alliance with the powerful sheik who had entered his territories.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister</span>. As formerly he had done on descending into Egypt (<a href="/genesis/12-13.htm">Genesis 12:13</a>). That Abraham should a second time have resorted to this ignoble expedient after the hazardous experience of Egypt and the richly-merited rebuke of Pharaoh, but more especially after the assurance he had lately received of his own acceptance before God (<a href="/genesis/15-6.htm">Genesis 15:6</a>), and of Sarah's destiny to be the mother of the promised seed (<a href="/genesis/17-16.htm">Genesis 17:16</a>), is well nigh unaccountable, and almost irreconcilable with any degree of faith and piety. Yet the lapse of upwards of twenty years since that former mistake may have deadened the impression of sinfulness which Pharaoh's rebuke must have left upon his conscience; while altogether the result of that experiment may, through a common misinterpretation of Divine providence, have encouraged him to think that God would watch over the purity of his house as he had done before. Thus, though in reality a tempting of God, the patriarch's repetition of his early venture may have had a secret connection with his deeply-grounded faith in the Divine promise (cf. Kalisch <span class="accented">in loco</span>). <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>And Abimelech</span> - <span class="accented">i.e.</span> <span class="accented">Father-king</span>, a title of the Philistine kings (<a href="/genesis/21-22.htm">Genesis 21:22</a>; <a href="/genesis/26-1.htm">Genesis 26:1</a>; <a href="/psalms/34-1.htm">Psalm 34:1</a>), as Pharaoh was of the Egyptian (<a href="/genesis/12-15.htm">Genesis 12:15</a>), and Hamor of the Shechemite (<a href="/genesis/34-4.htm">Genesis 34:4</a>) monarchs; cf. <span class="accented">Padishah</span> (father-king), a title of the Persian kings, and <span class="accented">Atalik</span> (father, properly paternity), of the Khans of Bokhara (Gesenius, p. 6) - <span class="cmt_word">king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah</span>. <span class="accented">I.e.</span> into his harem, as Pharaoh previously had done (<a href="/genesis/12-15.htm">Genesis 12:15</a>), either having been fascinated by her beauty, which, although she was twenty years older than when she entered Egypt, need not have been much faded (<span class="accented">vide Genesis</span> 12:11; Calvin), or may have been miraculously rejuvenated when she received strength to conceive seed (Kurtz); or, what is as probable, having sought through her an alliance with the rich and powerful nomad prince who had entered his dominions (Delitzsch). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/20-2.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">Abraham</span><br /><span class="heb">אַבְרָהָ֛ם</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">said</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֧אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of</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">his wife</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ</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">Sarah,</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂרָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(śā·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8283.htm">Strong's 8283: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“She</span><br /><span class="heb">הִ֑וא</span> <span class="translit">(hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is my sister.”</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחֹ֣תִי</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥō·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_269.htm">Strong's 269: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sister -- a sister</span><br /><br /><span class="word">So Abimelech</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙</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">king</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶ֣לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Gerar</span><br /><span class="heb">גְּרָ֔ר</span> <span class="translit">(gə·rār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1642.htm">Strong's 1642: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gerar -- a place South of Gaza</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had Sarah</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂרָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(śā·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8283.htm">Strong's 8283: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham</span><br /><br /><span class="word">brought</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiš·laḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7971.htm">Strong's 7971: </a> </span><span class="str2">To send away, for, out</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to him.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּקַּ֖ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·qaḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/20-2.htm">OT Law: Genesis 20:2 Abraham said about Sarah his wife She (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/20-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 20:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 20:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/20-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 20:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 20:3" /></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>