Genesis 26:9

9 Avimelekh summoned Yitz'chak and said, "So she is your wife, after all! How come you said, 'She is my sister'?" Yitz'chak responded, "Because I thought, 'I could get killed because of her.'"

Genesis 26:9 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 26:9

And Abimelech called Isaac
Sent a messenger to desire him to come to him: and said, behold, of a surety she [is] thy wife:
and then perhaps told him of what he had observed that passed between them; which was a clear proof that they must be man and wife, or he would never have took such liberties with her: and how saidst thou, she [is] my sister?
what reason hadst thou for it? what could induce thee to say so? and Isaac said unto him;
not alleging, as Abraham did, any relation that was between them before marriage: because I said;
that is, within himself, for, he did not speak it out to others: lest I die for her;
for her sake, that another might have and enjoy her; it was fear of losing his life that led him to take such a step, and give out that she was his sister.

Genesis 26:9 In-Context

7 The men of the place asked him about his wife, and out of fear he said, "She is my sister." He thought, "If I tell them she's my wife, they might kill me in order to take Rivkah. After all, she is a beautiful woman."

8 But one day, after he had lived there a long time, Avimelekh king of the P'lishtim happened to be looking out of a window when he spotted Yitz'chak caressing Rivkah his wife.

9 Avimelekh summoned Yitz'chak and said, "So she is your wife, after all! How come you said, 'She is my sister'?" Yitz'chak responded, "Because I thought, 'I could get killed because of her.'"

10 Avimelekh said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!"

11 Then Avimelekh warned all the people: "Whoever touches this man or his wife will certainly be put to death."