Genesis 20:1-11
New American Standard Bible
Abraham’s Treachery
20 Now Abraham journeyed from (A)there toward the land of (B)the [a]Negev, and [b]settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived for a time in (C)Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “(D)She is my sister.” So (E)Abimelech king of Gerar sent men and took Sarah. 3 (F)But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, (G)you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is [c]married.” 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, (H)will You kill a nation, even though [d]blameless? 5 Did he himself not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she (I)herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In (J)the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my [e]hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also [f](K)kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for (L)he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.”
8 So Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants, and told all these things in their [g]presence; and the people were greatly frightened. 9 (M)Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And [h]how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom (N)a great sin? You have done to me [i]things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you [j]encountered, that you have done this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no (O)fear of God in this place, and (P)they will kill me because of my wife.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 20:1 I.e., South country
- Genesis 20:1 Lit dwelt
- Genesis 20:3 Lit married to a husband
- Genesis 20:4 Lit righteous
- Genesis 20:5 Lit palms
- Genesis 20:6 Lit restrained
- Genesis 20:8 Lit ears
- Genesis 20:9 Lit what
- Genesis 20:9 Lit deeds
- Genesis 20:10 Lit seen
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