Genesis 12:12-20

12 When the Egyptians see you, they'll say, 'This is his wife!' Then they'll kill me but let you live.

13 Please say that you're my sister. Then everything will be alright for me, and because of you I will live."

14 When Abram arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians saw how very beautiful his wife was.

15 When Pharaoh's officials saw her, they raved about her to Pharaoh, so Sarai was taken to Pharaoh's palace.

16 Everything went well for Abram because of her, and he was given sheep, cattle, donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.

17 However, the LORD struck Pharaoh and his household with terrible plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.

18 Then Pharaoh called for Abram. "What have you done to me?" he asked. "Why didn't you tell me that she's your wife?

19 Why did you say, 'She's my sister' and allow me to take her for my wife? Here's your wife! Take her and go!"

20 Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram. They sent Abram away with his wife and everything that he had.

Genesis 12:12-20 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.