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

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.

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.”

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

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.’

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

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.”’”

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

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

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.”

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

18 for 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 morning בַּבֹּ֗קֶר H1242 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular got up וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם H7925 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and summoned וַיִּקְרָא֙ H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular all לְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct his servants עֲבָדָ֔יו H5650 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular and when he described to them וַיְדַבֵּ֛ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker - בְּאָזְנֵיהֶ֑ם H241 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine plural all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct that הָאֵ֖לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural had happened הַדְּבָרִ֥ים H1697 Article | Noun - masculine plural the men הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים H582 Article | Noun - masculine plural were terrified וַיִּֽירְא֥וּ H3372 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . מְאֹֽד׃ H3966 Adverb
Verse 9

Original words

Then Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular called וַיִּקְרָ֨א H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Abraham לְאַבְרָהָ֗ם H85 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and asked וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular What מֶֽה־ H4100 Interrogative have you done עָשִׂ֤יתָ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular to us לָּ֙נוּ֙ Preposition | first person common plural How וּמֶֽה־ H4100 Conjunctive waw | Interrogative have I sinned חָטָ֣אתִי H2398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular against you לָ֔ךְ Preposition | second person feminine singular that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you have brought הֵבֵ֧אתָ H935 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular such tremendous גְדֹלָ֑ה H1419 Adjective - feminine singular guilt חֲטָאָ֣ה H2401 Noun - feminine singular upon me עָלַ֛י H5921 Preposition | first person common singular and וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition my kingdom מַמְלַכְתִּ֖י H4467 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular You have done עָשִׂ֖יתָ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular things מַעֲשִׂים֙ H4639 Noun - masculine plural to me עִמָּדִֽי׃ H5978 Preposition | first person common singular that אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative should not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be done יֵֽעָשׂ֔וּ H6213 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 10

Original words

Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular also asked וַיֹּ֥אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition Abraham אַבְרָהָ֑ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular What מָ֣ה H4100 Interrogative prompted רָאִ֔יתָ H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular . . . כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction you to do עָשִׂ֖יתָ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker such הַזֶּֽה׃ H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular a thing הַדָּבָ֥ר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Abraham אַבְרָהָ֔ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction replied וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular I thought to myself אָמַ֗רְתִּי H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Surely רַ֚ק H7535 Adverb there is no אֵין־ H369 Adverb fear יִרְאַ֣ת H3374 Noun - feminine singular construct of God אֱלֹהִ֔ים H430 Noun - masculine plural in this הַזֶּ֑ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular place בַּמָּק֖וֹם H4725 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular They will kill me וַהֲרָג֖וּנִי H2026 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular on account of עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . דְּבַ֥ר H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct my wife אִשְׁתִּֽי׃ H802 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 12

Original words

Besides וְגַם־ H1571 Conjunction she הִ֔וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular really אָמְנָ֗ה H546 Adverb is my sister אֲחֹתִ֤י H269 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular the daughter בַת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct of my father אָבִי֙ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular though אַ֖ךְ H389 Adverb not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle the daughter בַת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct of my mother אִמִּ֑י H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular and she became וַתְּהִי־ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular my לִ֖י Preposition | first person common singular wife לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ H802 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

- וַיְהִ֞י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular So when כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative God אֱלֹהִים֮ H430 Noun - masculine plural had me journey הִתְע֣וּ H8582 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural - אֹתִ֗י H853 Direct object marker | first person common singular from my father’s אָבִי֒ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular house מִבֵּ֣ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct I said וָאֹמַ֣ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular to [Sarah] לָ֔הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular This is how זֶ֣ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you can show תַּעֲשִׂ֖י H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular your loyalty חַסְדֵּ֔ךְ H2617 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular to me עִמָּדִ֑י H5978 Preposition | first person common singular . . . אֶ֤ל H413 Preposition Wherever כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . הַמָּקוֹם֙ H4725 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative we go נָב֣וֹא H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural . . . שָׁ֔מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular say אִמְרִי־ H559 Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular of me לִ֖י Preposition | first person common singular He is הֽוּא׃ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular my brother אָחִ֥י H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 14

Original words

So Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular brought וַיִּקַּ֨ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular sheep צֹ֣אן H6629 Noun - common singular and cattle וּבָקָ֗ר H1241 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular menservants וַעֲבָדִים֙ H5650 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural and maidservants וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת H8198 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural and he gave them וַיִּתֵּ֖ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to Abraham לְאַבְרָהָ֑ם H85 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and restored וַיָּ֣שֶׁב H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֵ֖ת H853 Direct object marker his wife אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ H802 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Sarah שָׂרָ֥ה H8283 Noun - proper - feminine singular to him ל֔וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

And Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Look הִנֵּ֥ה H2009 Interjection my land אַרְצִ֖י H776 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular is before you לְפָנֶ֑יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular Settle wherever you please שֵֽׁב׃ H3427 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular . . . בַּטּ֥וֹב H2896 Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine singular . . . בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

And he said אָמַ֗ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to Sarah וּלְשָׂרָ֣ה H8283 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular See הִנֵּ֨ה H2009 Interjection I am giving נָתַ֜תִּי H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular your brother לְאָחִ֔יךְ H251 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular . . . הִנֵּ֤ה H2009 Interjection a thousand [pieces] אֶ֤לֶף H505 Number - masculine singular of silver כֶּ֙סֶף֙ H3701 Noun - masculine singular It [is] הוּא־ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular your לָךְ֙ Preposition | second person feminine singular vindication כְּס֣וּת H3682 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . עֵינַ֔יִם H5869 Noun - cd before all לְכֹ֖ל H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular who אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative are with you אִתָּ֑ךְ H854 Preposition | second person feminine singular . . . וְאֵ֥ת H854 Conjunctive waw | Preposition you are completely כֹּ֖ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular cleared וְנֹכָֽחַת׃ H3198 Conjunctive 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 Abraham אַבְרָהָ֖ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular prayed וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל H6419 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition God הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural and God אֱלֹהִ֜ים H430 Noun - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker healed וַיִּרְפָּ֨א H7495 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֧לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and his wife אִשְׁתּ֛וֹ H802 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular and his maidservants וְאַמְהֹתָ֖יו H519 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular so that they could again bear children וַיֵּלֵֽדוּ׃ H3205 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 18

Original words

for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction on עַל־ H5921 Preposition account דְּבַ֥ר H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of Abraham’s אַבְרָהָֽם׃ס H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular wife אֵ֥שֶׁת H802 Noun - feminine singular construct Sarah שָׂרָ֖ה H8283 Noun - proper - feminine singular the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . בְּעַ֥ד H1157 Preposition had completely closed עָצֹ֤ר H6113 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . עָצַר֙ H6113 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the wombs רֶ֖חֶם H7358 Noun - masculine singular in Abimelech’s אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular household לְבֵ֣ית H1004 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct

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