Genesis 12:9-19

9 And Abram departed and went and encamped in the wilderness.

10 And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, because the famine prevailed in the land.

11 And it came to pass when Abram drew nigh to enter into Egypt, Abram said to Sara his wife, I know that thou art a fair woman.

12 It shall come to pass then that when the Egyptians shall see thee, they shall say, This is his wife, and they shall slay me, but they shall save thee alive.

13 Say, therefore, I am his sister, that it may be well with me on account of thee, and my soul shall live because of thee.

14 And it came to pass when Abram entered into Egypt—the Egyptians having seen his wife that she was very beautiful—

15 that the princes of Pharao saw her, and praised her to Pharao and brought her into the house of Pharao.

16 And they treated Abram well on her account, and he had sheep, and calves, and asses, and men-servants, and women-servants, and mules, and camels.

17 And God afflicted Pharao with great and severe afflictions, and his house, because of Sara, Abram's wife.

18 And Pharao having called Abram, said, What is this thou hast done to me, that thou didst not tell me that she was thy wife?

19 Wherefore didst thou say, She is my sister? and I took her for a wife to myself; and now, behold, thy wife is before thee, take her and go quickly away.

Genesis 12:9-19 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.