Génesis 12:17

17 Mas Jehová hirió á Faraón y á su casa con grandes plagas, por causa de Sarai mujer de Abram.

Génesis 12:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 12:17

And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great
plagues
Perhaps with the same sort that Abimelech and his servants were smote with on a like account, ( Genesis 20:17 Genesis 20:18 ) . The Jews


FOOTNOTES:

F8 say they were smitten with ulcers; not only Pharaoh was plagued, but those of his household also, his courtiers and servants, who were accessary to the bringing of Sarai into his house; for all this was

because of Sarai, Abram's wife;
or "upon the word of Sarai" F9, as it may be literally rendered: hence the Jews have a notion, that an angel stood by Sarai with a scourge in his hand, and when Sarai bid him smite Pharaoh, he smote him F11; but (rbd) signifies not a word only, but thing, matter and business: and so Onkelos renders it here: and the sense is, that Pharaoh and his courtiers were smitten, because of the affair and business of Sarai; because she was taken by them, and detained in Pharaoh's house, and designed to be made his wife or concubine; and thus for evil intentions was this punishment inflicted; so that evil designs, not brought into execution, are punishable; though the word of Sarai may mean what she was bid to say, and did.
F8 Jarchi in loc. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 41. fol. 35. 4.
F9 (yrv rbd le) "propter verbum Sarai", Montanus; "super verbo", Munster, Piscator.
F11 Jarchi in loc. Bereshit Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 41. fol. 35. 4.)

Génesis 12:17 In-Context

15 Viéronla también los príncipes de Faraón, y se la alabaron; y fué llevada la mujer á casa de Faraón:
16 E hizo bien á Abram por causa de ella; y tuvo ovejas, y vacas, y asnos, y siervos, y criadas, y asnas y camellos.
17 Mas Jehová hirió á Faraón y á su casa con grandes plagas, por causa de Sarai mujer de Abram.
18 Entonces Faraón llamó á Abram y le dijo: ¿Qué es esto que has hecho conmigo? ¿Por qué no me declaraste que era tu mujer?
19 ¿Por qué dijiste: Es mi hermana? poniéndome en ocasión de tomarla para mí por mujer? Ahora pues, he aquí tu mujer, tómala y vete.
The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.