Genesis

Genesis 12:11–17

¹¹As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman, ¹²and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. ¹³Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”

¹⁴So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. ¹⁵When Pharaoh’s officials saw Sarai, they commended her to him, and she was taken into the palace of Pharaoh. ¹⁶He treated Abram well on her account, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

¹⁷The LORD, however, afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai.

Read all of Genesis 12

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 12:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
As	כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
he was about	הִקְרִ֖יב	hiq·rîḇ	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7126 come near, approach
to enter	לָב֣וֹא	lā·ḇō·w	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H935 come in, come, go in, go
Egypt	מִצְרָ֑יְמָה	miṣ·rā·yə·māh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
he said	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
his wife	אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ	’iš·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
Sarai	שָׂרַ֣י	śā·ray	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H8297 Sarai
Look	הִנֵּה־	hin·nêh-	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
I know	יָדַ֔עְתִּי	yā·ḏa‘·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H3045 know
that	כִּ֛י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you	אָֽתְּ׃	’āt	Pronoun - second person feminine singular	H859 thou
a beautiful	יְפַת־	yə·p̄aṯ-	Adjective - feminine singular construct	H3303 fair, beautiful
woman	אִשָּׁ֥ה	’iš·šāh	Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female

Genesis 12:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and	וְהָיָ֗ה	wə·hā·yāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
when	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the Egyptians	הַמִּצְרִ֔ים	ham·miṣ·rîm	Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H4713 Mitsrite
see you	יִרְא֤וּ	yir·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7200 see
they will say	וְאָמְר֖וּ	wə·’ā·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H559 utter, say
This	זֹ֑את	zōṯ	Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
is his wife	אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ	’iš·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
Then they will kill	וְהָרְג֥וּ	wə·hā·rə·ḡū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H2026 kill, slay
me	אֹתִ֖י	’ō·ṯî	Direct object marker; first person common singular	H853 mark of the accusative
but	וְאֹתָ֥ךְ	wə·’ō·ṯāḵ	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker; second person feminine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
will let you live	יְחַיּֽוּ׃	yə·ḥay·yū	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H2421 live

Genesis 12:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Please	נָ֖א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
say	אִמְרִי־	’im·rî-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H559 utter, say
you are	אָ֑תְּ	’āt	Pronoun - second person feminine singular	H859 thou
my sister	אֲחֹ֣תִי	’ă·ḥō·ṯî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H269 sister
so that	לְמַ֙עַן֙	lə·ma·‘an	Conjunction	H4616 purpose, intent
I will be treated well	יִֽיטַב־	yî·ṭaḇ-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
for your sake	בַעֲבוּרֵ֔ךְ	ḇa·‘ă·ḇū·rêḵ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singular	H5668 crossed, transit, account
and on account of you	בִּגְלָלֵֽךְ׃	biḡ·lā·lêḵ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singular	H1558 account
my life	נַפְשִׁ֖י	nap̄·šî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
will be spared	וְחָיְתָ֥ה	wə·ḥā·yə·ṯāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular	H2421 live

Genesis 12:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So	וַיְהִ֕י	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
when Abram	אַבְרָ֖ם	’aḇ·rām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H87 Abram
entered	כְּב֥וֹא	kə·ḇō·w	Preposition-k; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H935 come in, come, go in, go
Egypt	מִצְרָ֑יְמָה	miṣ·rā·yə·māh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
the Egyptians	הַמִּצְרִים֙	ham·miṣ·rîm	Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H4713 Mitsrite
saw	וַיִּרְא֤וּ	way·yir·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7200 see
that	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the woman	הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
was very	מְאֹֽד׃	mə·’ōḏ	Adverb	H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
beautiful	יָפָ֥ה	yā·p̄āh	Adjective - feminine singular	H3303 fair, beautiful

Genesis 12:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Pharaoh’s	פַרְעֹ֔ה	p̄ar·‘ōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6547 Pharaoh
officials	שָׂרֵ֣י	śā·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
saw	וַיִּרְא֤וּ	way·yir·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7200 see
they commended	וַיְהַֽלְל֥וּ	way·hal·lū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1984 shine
her	אֹתָ֖הּ	’ō·ṯāh	Direct object marker; third person feminine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
and she	הָאִשָּׁ֖ה	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
was taken	וַתֻּקַּ֥ח	wat·tuq·qaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - QalPass - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3947 take
into the palace	בֵּ֥ית	bêṯ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of Pharaoh	פַּרְעֹֽה׃	par·‘ōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6547 Pharaoh

Genesis 12:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
He treated Abram	וּלְאַבְרָ֥ם	ū·lə·’aḇ·rām	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H87 Abram
well	הֵיטִ֖יב	hê·ṭîḇ	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
on her account	בַּעֲבוּרָ֑הּ	ba·‘ă·ḇū·rāh	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H5668 crossed, transit, account
and Abram acquired	וַֽיְהִי־	way·hî-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
sheep	צֹאן־	ṣōn-	Noun - feminine singular	H6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
and cattle	וּבָקָר֙	ū·ḇā·qār	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H1241 cattle, herd, ox
male and female donkeys	וַחֲמֹרִ֔ים	wa·ḥă·mō·rîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H2543 heap
menservants	וַעֲבָדִים֙	wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H5650 slave, servant
and maidservants	וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת	ū·šə·p̄ā·ḥōṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural	H8198 maid, maid-servant
and camels	וּגְמַלִּֽים׃	ū·ḡə·mal·lîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H1581 camel

Genesis 12:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The LORD	יְהוָ֧ה׀	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
however	יְהוָ֧ה׀	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
afflicted	וַיְנַגַּ֨ע	way·nag·ga‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5060 touch, reach, strike
Pharaoh	פַּרְעֹ֛ה	par·‘ōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6547 Pharaoh
and his household	בֵּית֑וֹ	bê·ṯōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1004 house
with severe	גְּדֹלִ֖ים	gə·ḏō·lîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H1419 great
plagues	נְגָעִ֥ים	nə·ḡā·‘îm	Noun - masculine plural	H5061 stroke, plague, mark, plague-spot
because of	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Abram’s	אַבְרָֽם׃	’aḇ·rām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H87 Abram
wife	אֵ֥שֶׁת	’ê·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H802 woman, wife, female
Sarai	שָׂרַ֖י	śā·ray	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H8297 Sarai