Genesis 12:11

11 Just before they arrived in Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know you are a very beautiful woman.

Genesis 12:11 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 12:11

And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into
Egypt
Just entering into it, having travelled from the mountain between Bethel and Hai, two hundred and forty miles F16; or when he "caused to come near" F17, either his camp, as Aben Ezra supplies it, or his tent, or his family, as others:

that he said unto Sarai his wife, behold now, I know that thou art
a fair woman to look upon;
though sixty five years of age, being ten years younger than her husband, see ( Genesis 17:17 ) who was now seventy five years old, ( Genesis 12:4 ) yet might still be a fair woman, having a good complexion and comely features, and having never bore children, and especially she would be reckoned so among the Egyptians, whose women were of a blackish, sallow, swarthy complexion.


FOOTNOTES:

F16 Travels of the Holy Patriarchs p. 56.
F17 (byrqh rvak) "quum admoveret, sub tentorium", so some in Vatablus; "familiam", Munster.

Genesis 12:11 In-Context

9 After this, he traveled on toward southern Canaan.
10 At this time there was not much food in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to live because there was so little food.
11 Just before they arrived in Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know you are a very beautiful woman.
12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This woman is his wife.' Then they will kill me but let you live.
13 Tell them you are my sister so that things will go well with me and I may be allowed to live because of you."
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.