Génesis 20:11

11 Y Abraham respondió: Porque me dije: Sin duda no hay temor de Dios en este lugar, y me matarán por causa de mi mujer.

Génesis 20:11 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 20:11

And Abraham said
In defence of himself, as well as he could: because I thought;
within himself, concluding from the general depravity of the Canaanites, that this was the case of the inhabitants of Gerar: surely the fear of God [is] not in this place;
this is a certain truth, which he thought might be depended upon, and taken for granted, since so it was everywhere: or "only" ^F5, as the word used signifies; this was the only thing he had to plead, that he verily thought with himself that there was no true religion and godliness in Gerar: that the inhabitants of it were without any fear of God before their eyes, or in their hearts; and he knew, where this is the case, there is nothing to restrain from the commission of the grossest sins: and they will slay me for my wife's sake;
that they might marry her, see ( Genesis 12:12 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (qr) "tantum", Montanus; so Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius; so the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and Ben Melech.

Génesis 20:11 In-Context

9 Entonces Abimelec llamó a Abraham, y le dijo: ¿Qué nos has hecho? ¿Y en qué he pecado contra ti, para que hayas traído sobre mí y sobre mi reino un pecado tan grande? Me has hecho cosas que no se deben hacer.

10 Y Abimelec añadió a Abraham: ¿Qué has hallado para que hayas hecho esto?

11 Y Abraham respondió: Porque me dije: Sin duda no hay temor de Dios en este lugar, y me matarán por causa de mi mujer.

12 Además, en realidad es mi hermana, hija de mi padre, pero no hija de mi madre; y vino a ser mi mujer.

13 Y sucedió que cuando Dios me hizo salir errante de la casa de mi padre, yo le dije a ella: "Este es el favor que me harás: a cualquier lugar que vayamos, dirás de mí: 'Es mi hermano.'"