Genesis 12:18

18 Pharaoh called for Abram, "What's this that you've done to me? Why didn't you tell me that she's your wife?

Genesis 12:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 12:18

And Pharaoh called Abram, and said
Understanding how it was, that Sarai was his wife, which he came at the knowledge of, either by consulting his priests and diviners, as some say, on account of the plagues inflicted; or rather suspecting they were on the account of Sarai, from the nature of them, sent for her, and questioned her about this affair, who confessed the whole matter to him; unless it can be thought that he was warned of God in a dream, as Abimelech was on a like occasion; however he sent for Abram on what intelligence he had, and justly, though gently, reproved him:

what is this that thou hast done unto me?
to impose upon me, and deceive me after this manner, by giving out that Sarai was thy sister, when she is thy wife; by which means I have been led to prepare to take her for my wife, and have brought plagues upon myself and family? and thus he resented it as an injury done him, as he well might:

why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
when he first took her into his house, and no doubt Abram was present then, and very often afterwards was in company with Pharaoh, and conversed with him, having respect for him for the sake of Sarai, he took to be his sister, and yet would never tell him she was his wife.

Genesis 12:18 In-Context

16 Because of her, Abram got along very well: he accumulated sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, men and women servants, and camels.
17 But God hit Pharaoh hard because of Abram's wife Sarai; everybody in the palace got seriously sick.
18 Pharaoh called for Abram, "What's this that you've done to me? Why didn't you tell me that she's your wife?
19 Why did you say, 'She's my sister' so that I'd take her as my wife? Here's your wife back - take her and get out!"
20 Pharaoh ordered his men to get Abram out of the country. They sent him and his wife and everything he owned on their way.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.