Genesis 20:10

10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "{What were you thinking} that you did this thing?"

Genesis 20:10 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 20:10

And Abimelech said unto Abraham
Continuing his discourse with him: what sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
he desires to know what he had observed, either in him or his people, that gave him any reason to conclude that they were a lustful people, and would stick at nothing to gratify their lusts, which put him upon taking such a method to secure his life, lest they should kill him for his wife's sake.

Genesis 20:10 In-Context

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning. And he called all his servants and {told them all these things}, and the men were very afraid.

9 And Abimelech called for Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you that you brought upon me and upon my kingdom a great sin? You have done things to me that should not be done."

10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "{What were you thinking} that you did this thing?"

11 And Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place; they will kill me on account of the matter of my wife.

12 {Besides}, she [is] my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother. And she became my wife.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "What have you seen?"