Genesis 12:10-20

Abram and Sarai visit Egypt

10 When a famine struck the land, Abram went down toward Egypt to live as an immigrant since the famine was so severe in the land.

11 Just before he arrived in Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know you are a good-looking woman.

12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife,' and they will kill me but let you live.

13 So tell them you are my sister so that they will treat me well for your sake, and I will survive because of you."

14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw how beautiful his wife was.

15 When Pharaoh's princes saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's household.

16 Things went well for Abram because of her: he acquired flocks, cattle, male donkeys, men servants, women servants, female donkeys, and camels.

17 Then the LORD struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram's wife Sarai.

18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram and said, "What's this you've done to me? Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?

19 Why did you say, ‘She's my sister,' so that I made her my wife? Now, here's your wife. Take her and go!"

20 Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram, and they expelled him with his wife and everything he had.

Genesis 12:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 12

In this chapter an account is given of the call of Abram to depart from his own country, with a promise of a divine blessing, Ge 12:1-3 of his obedience to it, Ge 12:4,5 of his journey through the land of Canaan, and of the Lord's appearance to him in it, and his promise of it to his seed, and of Abram's building altars in it, and calling on the name of the Lord, Ge 12:6-9 and of a famine there, which occasioned him to go into Egypt, Ge 12:10 where, through fear of being slain, he desired his wife to call herself his sister, Ge 12:11-13 and she being greatly admired by the Egyptians for her beauty, it went well with Abram for her sake, Ge 12:14-16 but the Egyptians were plagued because of her, who, when they understood she was Abram's wife, sent them both away, and all that belonged to them, Ge 12:17-20.