10 Now there was (A)a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a time, because the famine was (B)severe in the land. 11 It came about, when he [a]was approaching Egypt, that he said to his wife Sarai, “See now, I know that you are a [b](C)beautiful woman; 12 (D)and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Please say that you are (E)my sister so that it may go well for me because of you, and that [c](F)I may live on account of you.” 14 Now it came about, when Abram entered Egypt, that the Egyptians [d]saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and (G)the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 Therefore (H)he treated Abram well for her sake; and [e](I)he gave him sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

17 But the Lord (J)struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “(K)What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for myself as a wife? Now then, [f]here is your wife, take her and go!” 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they [g]escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 12:11 Lit came near to enter
  2. Genesis 12:11 Lit woman of beautiful appearance
  3. Genesis 12:13 Lit my soul
  4. Genesis 12:14 Lit saw the woman that she was
  5. Genesis 12:16 Lit there was to him
  6. Genesis 12:19 Or behold
  7. Genesis 12:20 Lit sent

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

10 There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to live because the famine was so severe. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he told his wife Sarai, “Look, I’m aware that you’re a beautiful woman. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘She is his wife.’ Then they’ll kill me, but allow you to live. 13 Please say that you are my sister, so things will go well for me for your sake. That way, you’ll be saving my life.”

14 As Abram was entering Egypt, the Egyptians noticed how beautiful Sarai[a] was. 15 When Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they brought her to the attention of Pharaoh and took the woman to Pharaoh’s palace. 16 He treated Abram well because of her, so Abram acquired sheep, oxen, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. 17 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me! Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as a wife for myself? Now, here is your wife! Take her and get out!”

20 So Pharaoh assigned men to Abram,[b] and they escorted him, his wife, and all that he had out of the country.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 12:14 Lit. that the woman
  2. Genesis 12:20 Lit. him
  3. Genesis 12:20 The Heb. lacks out of the country