Devine Scripture

Genesis 20:2

What does Genesis 20:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 20:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 20:2 means

Abraham, repeating a past mistake, introduces Sarah to Abimelech as his sister, not his wife. This deception is driven by fear, as he wrongly assumes that the Gerarites would kill him to take his beautiful wife. King Abimelech, acting on Abraham's misleading statement and without knowledge of the truth, sends for Sarah and takes her into his household, presumably with the intent of making her one of his wives. This act of taking Sarah, though innocent on Abimelech's part, places Sarah and God's covenant promises to Abraham and Sarah in jeopardy.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and Abraham saith concerning Sarah his wife, `She is my sister;' and Abimelech king of Gerar sendeth and taketh Sarah.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he said of Sara his wife: She is my sister. So Abimelech the king of Gerara sent, and took her.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

Following Abraham's arrival and settlement in Gerar from verse 1, this verse immediately reveals his lapse in faith. He repeats the same deception concerning Sarah as he did in Genesis 12. This action initiates the entire conflict of the chapter, directly leading to God's intervention to protect Sarah and confront Abimelech, and subsequently, Abraham himself.

v.1And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar.

v.2This passage

v.3But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

Cross references

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

  • 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.

  • Ephesians 4:25

    Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

  • Proverbs 24:16

    For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

  • Genesis 26:1

    And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:31

    Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:20

    Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

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