Genesis 20:1-6

Abraham and Abimelek

1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar,
2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
3 But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”
4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?
5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”
6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

Genesis 20:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 20

This chapter relates the removal of Abraham to Gerar, Ge 20:1; the king of Gerar's taking to him Sarah, whom Abraham had called his sister, Ge 20:2; who is rebuked of God for it in a dream, Ge 20:3; for which he makes an apology that is admitted, only he is ordered to restore to Abraham his wife, Ge 20:4-7; and accordingly early in the morning he called his servants, and acquainted them with what had happened, Ge 20:8; and then sent for Abraham, and expressed his resentment at his usage of him, Ge 20:9; which Abraham defended as well as he could, Ge 20:10-13; the issue of all which was, great kindness was shown to Abraham, and his wife restored to him, though with a reproof to her from the king, Ge 20:14-16; upon which Abraham prayed for the healing of Abimelech and his family, in which he was heard and answered, Ge 20:17,18.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Genesis 18:1
  • 2. S Genesis 12:9
  • 3. S Genesis 14:7
  • 4. S Genesis 16:7
  • 5. Genesis 26:3
  • 6. Ge 26:1,6,17
  • 7. ver 12; S Genesis 12:13; Genesis 26:7
  • 8. ver 14; Genesis 21:22; Genesis 26:1
  • 9. S Genesis 12:15
  • 10. Numbers 22:9,20
  • 11. Genesis 28:12; Genesis 31:10,24; Genesis 37:5,9; Genesis 40:5; Genesis 41:1; Numbers 12:6; Deuteronomy 13:1; Job 33:15; Daniel 2:1; Daniel 4:5; Matthew 27:19
  • 12. Exodus 10:7; Exodus 12:33; Psalms 105:38
  • 13. ver 7; Genesis 26:11; 1 Chronicles 16:21; Psalms 105:14
  • 14. S Genesis 18:25
  • 15. S Genesis 12:19
  • 16. S Genesis 17:1
  • 17. Psalms 7:8; Psalms 25:21; Psalms 26:6; Psalms 41:12
  • 18. 1 Samuel 25:26,34
  • 19. S Genesis 13:13; Psalms 41:4; Psalms 51:4
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