Devine Scripture

Genesis 12:13

What does Genesis 12:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 12:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 12:13 means

Abram explicitly instructs Sarai to say, "thou art my sister," using a partial truth to disguise their marital relationship. His motivation is clearly stated: "that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee." This request reveals Abram's self-preserving compromise, prioritizing his own safety over the truth and potentially exposing Sarai to grave danger. It highlights a critical lapse in his faith, as he resorts to human cunning rather than relying on God's promised protection for his life and the covenant line.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Say, then, that you are my sister, and so it will be well with me because of you, and my life will be kept safe on your account.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

say, I pray thee, thou <FI>art<Fi> my sister, so that it is well with me because of thee, and my soul hath lived for thy sake.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Say, therefore, I pray thee, that thou art my sister: that I may be well used for thee, and that my soul may live for thy sake.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be well with me on thy account, and my soul may live because of thee.

Context

Following Abram's expression of fear and the perceived danger in verses 11-12, this verse presents his direct instruction to Sarai, detailing the specific deception. This pivotal request initiates the actual act of untruth. It is a crucial point in the narrative, revealing Abram's departure from trusting God and setting the stage for the immediate consequences of his actions as they enter Egypt, which are detailed in the subsequent verses.

v.12and it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

v.13This passage

v.14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 20:2

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

  • Psalms 146:3

    Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

  • Jeremiah 17:5

    Thus saith Jehovah: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah.

  • Ezekiel 18:4

    Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.

  • Genesis 26:7

    and the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, My wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.

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