Genesis 20: Abraham, Sarah, and King Abimelech
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What happens?
In Gerar Abraham again says that Sarah is his sister, and King Abimelech takes her. God warns Abimelech in a dream that she is a married woman, and Abimelech, who has not touched her, gives her back with gifts. Abraham prays, and God heals Abimelech's household.
Who is speaking?
God speaks in 3 of the 18 verses, all to Abimelech in a dream at night (verses 3, 6 and 7). Abimelech answers God, and then Abimelech and Abraham speak to each other. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar.
In plain English: Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South (the Negev) and settled between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar.
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2Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
In plain English: Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
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3But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.”God speaks
In plain English: But God came to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, "You are a dead man because of the woman you have taken, for she is another man's wife."
Good to know: This is the first time the Bible uses the word "dream" (chalom).
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4Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?
In plain English: Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, "Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?
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5Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
In plain English: Didn't he tell me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this with a pure heart and innocent hands."
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6God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her.God speaks
In plain English: God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a pure heart, and I also kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
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7Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”God speaks
In plain English: So now give the man's wife back. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not give her back, know for sure that you will die, you and everyone who belongs to you."
Good to know: This is the first time the Bible uses the word "prophet" (navi), and it is God who calls Abraham one.
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8Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.
In plain English: Early in the morning Abimelech called all his servants and told them all these things, and the men were very afraid.
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9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!”
In plain English: Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you, that you have brought such a great sin on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done!"
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10Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”
In plain English: Abimelech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?"
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11Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’
In plain English: Abraham said, "Because I thought, 'Surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'
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12Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
In plain English: Besides, she really is my sister: the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother. And she became my wife.
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13When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
In plain English: When God (or: the gods) made me wander from my father's house, I said to her, 'This is the kindness you can show me: everywhere we go, say that I am your brother.'"
The Hebrew words: "Made me wander" is written in the plural here, next to Elohim, the word that can mean "God" or "gods" (see the note on ).
What changes: Read as "the gods made me wander", Abraham speaks of gods, not of one God, to this foreign king. Read as "God", he means the God who told him to leave his father's house in .
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14Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife, to him.
In plain English: Then Abimelech took sheep and cattle and male and female servants, gave them to Abraham, and gave his wife Sarah back to him.
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15Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”
In plain English: Abimelech said, "Look, my land is open to you. Live wherever you like."
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16To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.”
In plain English: To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a 'covering of the eyes' for you before everyone who is with you. Before everyone, you are cleared (or: you are corrected)."
Good to know: "A covering of the eyes" (kesut enayim) is a saying found only here in the Bible. Bibles explain it in different ways: as a payment that clears Sarah's name before everyone, or as something that keeps people from looking down on her. The last words can also be read two ways: Sarah is cleared, or Sarah is corrected.
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17Abraham prayed to God. So God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.
In plain English: Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, and they had children.
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18For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
In plain English: For Yahweh had closed every womb in Abimelech's household because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
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