Genesis 12:14

14 When Avram entered Egypt, the Egyptians did notice 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 so that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife,' and kill me but keep you alive.

13 Please say that you are my sister, so that it will go well with me for your sake, and so that I will stay alive because of you."

14 When Avram entered Egypt, the Egyptians did notice that the woman was very beautiful.

15 Pharaoh's princes saw her and commended her to Pharaoh, so the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

16 He treated Avram well for her sake, giving him sheep, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.