Genesis 12:8-18

8 He left that place, went to the hill east of Beit-El and pitched his tent. With Beit-El to the west and 'Ai to the east, he built an altar there and called on the name of ADONAI.

9 Then Avram traveled on, continuing toward the Negev.

10 But there was a famine in the land, so Avram went down into Egypt to stay there, because the famine in the land was severe.

11 When he came close to Egypt and was about to enter, he said to Sarai his wife, "Here now, I know that you are a good-looking woman;

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.

17 But ADONAI inflicted great plagues on Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai Avram's wife.

18 Pharaoh called Avram and said, "What is this that you have done to me? Why didn't you tell me that she was your wife?

Genesis 12:8-18 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.