Genesis 12:11

11 It came about when he came * near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a 1beautiful 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.


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 Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.
10 Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11 It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman;
12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife '; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13 "Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you."

Cross References 1

  • 1. Genesis 26:7; Genesis 29:17

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit "drew near to enter"
  • [b]. Lit "woman of beautiful appearance"
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