Focused Passage

Genesis 20:8-18

God Preserves Sarah, Exposes Abraham’s Fear, and Protects the Promise Through Abimelek

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

8Early 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.

9Then 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.”

10Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’

12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.

13So 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.”’”

14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.

15And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”

16And 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.”

17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—

18for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Original words

Early the next morningבַּבֹּ֗קֶרH1242Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularAbimelechאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singulargot upוַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨םH7925Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand summonedוַיִּקְרָא֙H7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularallלְכָל־H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructhis servantsעֲבָדָ֔יוH5650Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularand when he described to themוַיְדַבֵּ֛רH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker-בְּאָזְנֵיהֶ֑םH241Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine pluralallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthatהָאֵ֖לֶּהH428Article | Pronoun - common pluralhad happenedהַדְּבָרִ֥יםH1697Article | Noun - masculine pluralthe menהָאֲנָשִׁ֖יםH582Article | Noun - masculine pluralwere terrifiedוַיִּֽירְא֥וּH3372Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .מְאֹֽד׃H3966Adverb
Verse 9

Original words

Then Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularcalledוַיִּקְרָ֨אH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAbrahamלְאַבְרָהָ֗םH85Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand askedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularWhatמֶֽה־H4100Interrogativehave you doneעָשִׂ֤יתָH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularto usלָּ֙נוּ֙Preposition | first person common pluralHowוּמֶֽה־H4100Conjunctive waw | Interrogativehave I sinnedחָטָ֣אתִיH2398Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularagainst youלָ֔ךְPreposition | second person feminine singularthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyou have broughtהֵבֵ֧אתָH935Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singularsuch tremendousגְדֹלָ֑הH1419Adjective - feminine singularguiltחֲטָאָ֣הH2401Noun - feminine singularupon meעָלַ֛יH5921Preposition | first person common singularandוְעַל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionmy kingdomמַמְלַכְתִּ֖יH4467Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularYou have doneעָשִׂ֖יתָH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularthingsמַעֲשִׂים֙H4639Noun - masculine pluralto meעִמָּדִֽי׃H5978Preposition | first person common singularthatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeshould notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlebe doneיֵֽעָשׂ֔וּH6213Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 10

Original words

Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularalso askedוַיֹּ֥אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413PrepositionAbrahamאַבְרָהָ֑םH85Noun - proper - masculine singularWhatמָ֣הH4100Interrogativepromptedרָאִ֔יתָH7200Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular. . .כִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionyou to doעָשִׂ֖יתָH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markersuchהַזֶּֽה׃H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singulara thingהַדָּבָ֥רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔םH85Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .כִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionrepliedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularI thought to myselfאָמַ֗רְתִּיH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularSurelyרַ֚קH7535Adverbthere is noאֵין־H369Adverbfearיִרְאַ֣תH3374Noun - feminine singular constructof Godאֱלֹהִ֔יםH430Noun - masculine pluralin thisהַזֶּ֑הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularplaceבַּמָּק֖וֹםH4725Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularThey will kill meוַהֲרָג֖וּנִיH2026Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | first person common singularon account ofעַל־H5921Preposition. . .דְּבַ֥רH1697Noun - masculine singular constructmy wifeאִשְׁתִּֽי׃H802Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 12

Original words

Besidesוְגַם־H1571Conjunctionsheהִ֔ואH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularreallyאָמְנָ֗הH546Adverbis my sisterאֲחֹתִ֤יH269Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularthe daughterבַת־H1323Noun - feminine singular constructof my fatherאָבִי֙H1Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularthoughאַ֖ךְH389Adverbnotלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlethe daughterבַת־H1323Noun - feminine singular constructof my motherאִמִּ֑יH517Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularand she becameוַתְּהִי־H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularmyלִ֖יPreposition | first person common singularwifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃H802Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

-וַיְהִ֞יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularSo whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֧רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeGodאֱלֹהִים֮H430Noun - masculine pluralhad me journeyהִתְע֣וּH8582Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural-אֹתִ֗יH853Direct object marker | first person common singularfrom my father’sאָבִי֒H1Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularhouseמִבֵּ֣יתH1004Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructI saidוָאֹמַ֣רH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularto [Sarah]לָ֔הּPreposition | third person feminine singularThis is howזֶ֣הH2088Pronoun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeyou can showתַּעֲשִׂ֖יH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singularyour loyaltyחַסְדֵּ֔ךְH2617Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singularto meעִמָּדִ֑יH5978Preposition | first person common singular. . .אֶ֤לH413PrepositionWhereverכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הַמָּקוֹם֙H4725Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativewe goנָב֣וֹאH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural. . .שָׁ֔מָּהH8033Adverb | third person feminine singularsayאִמְרִי־H559Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singularof meלִ֖יPreposition | first person common singularHe isהֽוּא׃H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularmy brotherאָחִ֥יH251Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 14

Original words

So Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularbroughtוַיִּקַּ֨חH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularsheepצֹ֣אןH6629Noun - common singularand cattleוּבָקָ֗רH1241Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularmenservantsוַעֲבָדִים֙H5650Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluraland maidservantsוּשְׁפָחֹ֔תH8198Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine pluraland he gave themוַיִּתֵּ֖ןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto Abrahamלְאַבְרָהָ֑םH85Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand restoredוַיָּ֣שֶׁבH7725Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֵ֖תH853Direct object markerhis wifeאִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃H802Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularSarahשָׂרָ֥הH8283Noun - proper - feminine singularto himל֔וֹPreposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

And Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLookהִנֵּ֥הH2009Interjectionmy landאַרְצִ֖יH776Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularis before youלְפָנֶ֑יךָH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularSettle wherever you pleaseשֵֽׁב׃H3427Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular. . .בַּטּ֥וֹבH2896Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine singular. . .בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

And he saidאָמַ֗רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto Sarahוּלְשָׂרָ֣הH8283Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singularSeeהִנֵּ֨הH2009InterjectionI am givingנָתַ֜תִּיH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularyour brotherלְאָחִ֔יךְH251Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular. . .הִנֵּ֤הH2009Interjectiona thousand [pieces]אֶ֤לֶףH505Number - masculine singularof silverכֶּ֙סֶף֙H3701Noun - masculine singularIt [is]הוּא־H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularyourלָךְ֙Preposition | second person feminine singularvindicationכְּס֣וּתH3682Noun - feminine singular construct. . .עֵינַ֔יִםH5869Noun - cdbefore allלְכֹ֖לH3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularwhoאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeare with youאִתָּ֑ךְH854Preposition | second person feminine singular. . .וְאֵ֥תH854Conjunctive waw | Prepositionyou are completelyכֹּ֖לH3605Noun - masculine singularclearedוְנֹכָֽחַת׃H3198Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Or a thousand shekels of silver; that is, approximately 25.1 pounds or 11.4 kilograms of silver
Verse 17

Original words

Then Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖םH85Noun - proper - masculine singularprayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥לH6419Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionGodהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםH430Article | Noun - masculine pluraland Godאֱלֹהִ֜יםH430Noun - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhealedוַיִּרְפָּ֨אH7495Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAbimelechאֲבִימֶ֧לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand his wifeאִשְׁתּ֛וֹH802Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularand his maidservantsוְאַמְהֹתָ֖יוH519Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singularso that they could again bear childrenוַיֵּלֵֽדוּ׃H3205Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 18

Original words

forכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctiononעַל־H5921Prepositionaccountדְּבַ֥רH1697Noun - masculine singular constructof Abraham’sאַבְרָהָֽם׃סH85Noun - proper - masculine singularwifeאֵ֥שֶׁתH802Noun - feminine singular constructSarahשָׂרָ֖הH8283Noun - proper - feminine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .בְּעַ֥דH1157Prepositionhad completely closedעָצֹ֤רH6113Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .עָצַר֙H6113Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe wombsרֶ֖חֶםH7358Noun - masculine singularin Abimelech’sאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularhouseholdלְבֵ֣יתH1004Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct

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