Génesis 20:11

11 Abraham contestó:—Yo pensé que en este lugar no había temor de Dios, y que por causa de mi esposa me matarían.

Génesis 20:11 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 20:11

And Abraham said
In defence of himself, as well as he could: because I thought;
within himself, concluding from the general depravity of the Canaanites, that this was the case of the inhabitants of Gerar: surely the fear of God [is] not in this place;
this is a certain truth, which he thought might be depended upon, and taken for granted, since so it was everywhere: or "only" ^F5, as the word used signifies; this was the only thing he had to plead, that he verily thought with himself that there was no true religion and godliness in Gerar: that the inhabitants of it were without any fear of God before their eyes, or in their hearts; and he knew, where this is the case, there is nothing to restrain from the commission of the grossest sins: and they will slay me for my wife's sake;
that they might marry her, see ( Genesis 12:12 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (qr) "tantum", Montanus; so Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius; so the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and Ben Melech.

Génesis 20:11 In-Context

9 Entonces Abimélec llamó a Abraham y le reclamó:—¡Qué nos has hecho! ¿En qué te he ofendido, que has traído un pecado tan grande sobre mí y sobre mi reino? ¡Lo que me has hecho no tiene nombre!

10 ¿Qué pretendías conseguir con todo esto?Al reclamo de Abimélec,

11 Abraham contestó:—Yo pensé que en este lugar no había temor de Dios, y que por causa de mi esposa me matarían.

12 Pero en realidad ella es mi hermana, porque es hija de mi padre aunque no de mi madre; y además es mi esposa.

13 Cuando Dios me mandó dejar la casa de mi padre y andar errante, yo le dije a mi esposa: “Te pido que me hagas este favor: Dondequiera que vayamos, di siempre que soy tu hermano”.