Genesis 20:2

Translations

Modern

Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

Traditional

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

Literal

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

Latin

Dixitque de Sara uxore suo: Soror mea est. Misit ergo Abimelech rex Geraræ, et tulit eam.

Original

Hebrew

English

Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

Notes

Genesis 20:2

Abraham lied to Abimelech, just as he had lied to Pharaoh (12:13). Isaac later did the same (26:1–11), probably learning this from his father.
Abimelech (which means "my father the king") was probably a title like Pharaoh (37:36; Exodus 1:15), not a personal name (see study note on Genesis 26:1).

Genesis 20:1–18

This second "sister story" in Genesis (compare 12:10–20) happened just before Sarah became pregnant with Isaac (chapter 21). In both instances, God protected Abraham and Sarah's marriage to keep it pure for the covenant promises. To be part of God's plan, his people must separate from worldly corruption.
This story happened in the promised land. It showed Israel how God intervened in people's lives to fulfill his plan. He protected them from threats from other tribes. He used his chosen people to mediate his relationship with other nations.
By preventing adultery from destroying Abraham's marriage, God reminded the Israelites not to marry those who would lead them away from the Lord (Ezra 9:1–4; Nehemiah 13:23–27; Malachi 2:10–17). They should not allow any chance for temptation. Adultery would eventually destroy the covenant and the people.

Theme notes and profiles

Abraham Isaac Sarah Symbolic Numbers The Plagues

Related verses

Genesis 12:15
When Pharaoh’s officials saw Sarai, they commended her to him, and she was taken into the palace of Pharaoh.
Genesis 26:7
But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”
Genesis 12:11–13
As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,
2 Chronicles 19:2
Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
Genesis 26:1
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.
Genesis 20:12
Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.
Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
Genesis 26:16
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.”
Proverbs 24:16
For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
Ecclesiastes 7:20
Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
2 Chronicles 32:31
And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

People

Abimelech: Philistine king who interacted with Abraham and Isaac Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people Sarah: Wife of Abraham; mother of Isaac

Places

Gerar: Philistine city; Abraham and Isaac's encounters with Abimelech

Glossary

Abimelech Adam (Person) Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Dreams Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Gerar Patriarchs, Period of the Philistia, Philistines Sarah

Topics

Cowardice: Abraham, in Calling his Wife his Sister Deception: Abraham, in Stating That Sarah Was his Sister Doubting: Exemplified Falsehood: Abraham, in Denying That Sarah Was his Wife Ignorance: Punishment of Sins of Abimelech Ignorance: Sins of Sarah: Also Called Sarai: Abraham Represents Her As his Sister, and Abimelech, King of Gerar, Takes Her

Genesis 20:2

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