Genesis 12:14

14 So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 12:14

And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt,
&c.] To the city of Heliopolis; for there it was that Abram had his abode, as Eupolemus ^F18 says, when upon the famine he went into Egypt, and where he conversed with the Egyptian priests, and taught them astrology, and other things belonging to it; and of this descent of Abram into Egypt, and teaching astrology, Artapanus ^F19, another Heathen writer, speaks; Abram, he says, having learned the science of astrology, went first into Phoenicia and taught it the Phoenicians, and afterwards went into Egypt, and taught it there.

[The] Egyptians beheld the woman, that she was very fair;
Abram knew that Sarai was a fair woman; but in the eyes of the Egyptians she was very fair, exceeding fair, they not being used to see very beautiful women.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Apud Euseb. ut supra. (Praepar. Evangel. c. 17. p. 418, 419.)
F19 Apud ib. c. 18. p. 420.

Genesis 12:14 In-Context

12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.

13 Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”

14 So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

15 When Pharaoh’s officials saw Sarai, they commended her to him, and she was taken into the palace of Pharaoh.

16 He treated Abram well on her account, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.