Genesis 12:10

Translations

Modern

Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

Traditional

And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

Literal

And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.

Latin

Facta est autem fames in terra: descenditque Abram in Ægyptum, ut peregrinaretur ibi: prævaluerat enim fames in terra.

Original

Hebrew

English

Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

Notes

Genesis 12:10

The Nile River supplied plenty of water for crops, so Egypt was usually the last area to experience famine.

Genesis 12:10–13

Abram's scheme came from fear, putting his family and God's promises at risk. He lacked faith when he went to Egypt. He stopped building altars, and deception became the main pattern of his behavior. Deception would trouble his family throughout Genesis (26:1–11; 27:1–29; 29:15–30; 30:34–36; 31:6–11; 37:18–35; 39:7–20).
Abram's plan probably followed a custom where a brother arranged his sister's marriage (compare 24:29–61). Abram may have thought that any possible suitor would have to deal with him, giving him time to leave with Sarai. He did not expect Pharaoh to act without negotiation (12:14–16).

Genesis 12:10–20

This story shows that God would allow Abram to put his promises at risk in this episode. Soon after Abram obeyed God’s call, a famine tested his weak faith. God rescued Abram and his family, even though Abram acted foolishly. In Egypt, he used deception instead of trusting God to protect him.

This story intentionally mirrors Israel's later slavery in Egypt:
- Because of a famine (compare Genesis 12:10 with Genesis 47:13), Abram and Israel went to Egypt (compare Genesis 12:10 with Genesis 47:27).
- There was an attempt to kill the males and save the females (compare Genesis 12:12 with Exodus 1:22).
- God sent plagues to Egypt (compare Genesis 12:17 with Exodus 7:14–11:10).
- Abram and Israel took riches from Egypt (compare Genesis 12:16 with Exodus 12:35–36).
- Pharaoh expelled them (Hebrew shalakh, meaning “send”; compare Genesis 12:19–20 with Exodus 12:31–33) and they went to the Negev (compare Genesis 13:1 with Numbers 13:17, 22).
Israel was to believe that God would deliver them from bondage in Egypt through the plagues because their ancestor had already been rescued from bondage in Egypt.

Theme notes and profiles

Abraham Egypt Isaac Sarah Famine Symbolic Numbers

Events

Abraham goes to Egyptc. 1921 BC

Related verses

Genesis 43:1
Now the famine was still severe in the land.
Genesis 26:1–3
Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.
2 Samuel 21:1
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
Genesis 46:3–4
“I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.
2 Kings 8:1–2
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.”
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
Psalm 107:34
…and fruitful land into fields of salt, because of the wickedness of its dwellers.
Psalm 105:13
…they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
Ruth 1:1
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.
Genesis 47:13
There was no food, however, in all that region, because the famine was so severe; the lands of Egypt and Canaan had been exhausted by the famine.
1 Kings 17:1–18
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”
Jeremiah 14:1
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

People

Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Abimelech Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Ebla Tablets Famine Genesis, Book of Patriarchs, Period of the Promise Wheat

Topics

Abraham: Sojourns in Egypt Canaan: Land of Famines In Egypt: Often a Refuge to Strangers Egypt: The Country of: Abraham Lives In Egyptians: Hospitality of, to Abraham Famine in Canaan Famine: Instances of, in Scripture in the Days of Abraham Famine: Often Severe Sarah: Also Called Sarai: Near of Kin to Abraham

Genesis 12:10

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