Genesis 12:11

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

Genesis 12:11 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 12:11

And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into
Egypt
Just entering into it, having travelled from the mountain between Bethel and Hai, two hundred and forty miles ^F16; or when he "caused to come near" ^F17, either his camp, as Aben Ezra supplies it, or his tent, or his family, as others:

that he said unto Sarai his wife, behold now, I know that thou art
a fair woman to look upon;
though sixty five years of age, being ten years younger than her husband, see ( Genesis 17:17 ) who was now seventy five years old, ( Genesis 12:4 ) yet might still be a fair woman, having a good complexion and comely features, and having never bore children, and especially she would be reckoned so among the Egyptians, whose women were of a blackish, sallow, swarthy complexion.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Travels of the Holy Patriarchs p. 56.
F17 (byrqh rvak) "quum admoveret, sub tentorium", so some in Vatablus; "familiam", Munster.

Genesis 12:11 In-Context

9 Then Abram set out toward the arid southern plain, making and breaking camp as he went.

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."