Genesis 12:10-20

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,

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.

17 The LORD, however, afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai.

18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?

19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!”

20 Then Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram, and they sent him away with his wife and all his possessions.

Genesis 12:10-20 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.