A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Genesis 20
Genesis 20 is the twentieth chapter of the book of Genesis and the second time Abraham passes his wife off as his sister. The 18-verse chapter takes place in Gerar, where Abraham settles after the destruction of Sodom, and it parallels the earlier Egyptian episode in Genesis 12.
The chapter opens with Abraham journeying to the region of the Negev and staying in Gerar. There he tells the people that Sarah is his sister. Abimelech, king of Gerar, has Sarah brought to him.
That night God appears to Abimelech in a dream and tells him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman." Abimelech, who has not gone near her, asks, "Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?" He explains that both Abraham and Sarah said they were siblings, and that he acted in the integrity of his heart. God acknowledges this. He tells Abimelech that he has kept him from sinning and instructs him to return Sarah at once. Abraham, God says, is a prophet who will pray for him.
Early the next morning Abimelech summons his servants and tells them everything. They are terrified. He then calls Abraham and asks, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom?"
Abraham defends himself in three points. He thought there was no fear of God in the place and that they would kill him for his wife. Sarah really is his half-sister, the daughter of his father but not his mother. And he had asked her to say this everywhere they traveled, as a kindness.
Abimelech responds with sheep, cattle, servants, and a thousand pieces of silver for Sarah. He invites Abraham to settle wherever he pleases. Abraham prays for him, and God heals Abimelech and his household, which had been closed up so that they could not bear children. The chapter explains that the LORD had closed every womb in the household because of Sarah.
Verse 1. Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,
Verse 2. Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
Verse 3. 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.”
Verse 4. Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
Verse 5. Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
Verse 6. Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
Verse 7. Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
Verse 8. Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.
Verse 9. Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
Verse 10. Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”
Verse 11. Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’
Verse 12. Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.
Verse 13. So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
Verse 14. So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.
Verse 15. And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”
Verse 16. 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.”
Verse 17. Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
Verse 18. for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.
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