Genesis

Genesis 20:9–16

9Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.” 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father — though not the daughter of my mother — and she became my wife. 13So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him. 15And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.” 16And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver.a It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

Footnotes

  • a 20:16 Or a thousand shekels of silver; that is, approximately 25.1 pounds or 11.4 kilograms of silver

Read all of Genesis 20

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 20:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵNoun - proper - masculine singularH40 Abimelek
calledוַיִּקְרָ֨אway·yiq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
Abrahamלְאַבְרָהָ֗םlə·’aḇ·rā·hāmPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH85 Abraham
and askedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Whatמֶֽה־meh-InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
have you doneעָשִׂ֤יתָ‘ā·śî·ṯāVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH6213 do, make
to usלָּ֙נוּ֙lā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
Howוּמֶֽה־ū·meh-Conjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
have I sinnedחָטָ֣אתִיḥā·ṭā·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH2398 miss
against youלָ֔ךְlāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
thatכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
you have broughtהֵבֵ֧אתָhê·ḇê·ṯāVerb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
such tremendousגְדֹלָ֑הḡə·ḏō·lāhAdjective - feminine singularH1419 great
guiltחֲטָאָ֣הḥă·ṭā·’āhNoun - feminine singularH2401 sin, sin-offering (?)
upon meעָלַ֛י‘ā·layPreposition; first person common singularH5921 height
andוְעַל־wə·‘al-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5921 height
my kingdomמַמְלַכְתִּ֖יmam·laḵ·tîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH4467 kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign
You have doneעָשִׂ֖יתָ‘ā·śî·ṯāVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH6213 do, make
thingsמַעֲשִׂים֙ma·‘ă·śîmNoun - masculine pluralH4639 deed, work
to meעִמָּדִֽי׃‘im·mā·ḏîPreposition; first person common singularH5978 along with
thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
should notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
be doneיֵֽעָשׂ֔וּyê·‘ā·śūVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH6213 do, make

Genesis 20:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵNoun - proper - masculine singularH40 Abimelek
also askedוַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם’aḇ·rā·hāmNoun - proper - masculine singularH85 Abraham
Whatמָ֣הmāhInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
promptedרָאִ֔יתָrā·’î·ṯāVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH7200 see
you to doעָשִׂ֖יתָ‘ā·śî·ṯāVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH6213 do, make
suchהַזֶּֽה׃haz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
a thingהַדָּבָ֥רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word

Genesis 20:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם’aḇ·rā·hāmNoun - proper - masculine singularH85 Abraham
repliedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙way·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
I thought to myselfאָמַ֗רְתִּי’ā·mar·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH559 utter, say
Surelyרַ֚קraqAdverbH7535 thin
there is noאֵין־’ên-AdverbH369 nothing, nought
fearיִרְאַ֣תyir·’aṯNoun - feminine singular constructH3374 fear
of Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
in thisהַזֶּ֑הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
placeבַּמָּק֖וֹםbam·mā·qō·wmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4725 standing, spot, condition
They will kill meוַהֲרָג֖וּנִיwa·hă·rā·ḡū·nîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural; first person common singularH2026 kill, slay
on account ofעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
my wifeאִשְׁתִּֽי׃’iš·tîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH802 woman, wife, female

Genesis 20:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Besidesוְגַם־wə·ḡam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
sheהִ֔ואhîPronoun - third person feminine singularH1931 he, she
reallyאָמְנָ֗ה’ā·mə·nāhAdverbH546 verily, truly, indeed
is my sisterאֲחֹתִ֤י’ă·ḥō·ṯîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH269 sister
the daughterבַת־ḇaṯ-Noun - feminine singular constructH1323 daughter
of my fatherאָבִי֙’ā·ḇîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1 father
thoughאַ֖ךְ’aḵAdverbH389 surely
notלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
the daughterבַת־ḇaṯ-Noun - feminine singular constructH1323 daughter
of my motherאִמִּ֑י’im·mîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH517 mother
and she becameוַתְּהִי־wat·tə·hî-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
myלִ֖יlîPreposition; first person common singular
wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃lə·’iš·šāhPreposition-l; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female

Genesis 20:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֧רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
Godאֱלֹהִים֮’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
had me journeyהִתְע֣וּhiṯ·‘ūVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralH8582 err
from my father’sאָבִי֒’ā·ḇîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1 father
houseמִבֵּ֣יתmib·bêṯPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
I saidוָאֹמַ֣רwā·’ō·marConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularH559 utter, say
toלָ֔הּlāhPreposition; third person feminine singular
This is howזֶ֣הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
you can showתַּעֲשִׂ֖יta·‘ă·śîVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singularH6213 do, make
your loyaltyחַסְדֵּ֔ךְḥas·dêḵNoun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singularH2617 goodness, kindness
to meעִמָּדִ֑י‘im·mā·ḏîPreposition; first person common singularH5978 along with
Whereverכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
we goנָב֣וֹאnā·ḇō·wVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
sayאִמְרִי־’im·rî-Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singularH559 utter, say
of meלִ֖יlîPreposition; first person common singular
He isהֽוּא׃hūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
my brotherאָחִ֥י’ā·ḥîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH251 brother

Genesis 20:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵNoun - proper - masculine singularH40 Abimelek
broughtוַיִּקַּ֨חway·yiq·qaḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3947 take
sheepצֹ֣אןṣōnNoun - common singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
and cattleוּבָקָ֗רū·ḇā·qārConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH1241 cattle, herd, ox
menservantsוַעֲבָדִים֙wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîmConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine pluralH5650 slave, servant
and maidservantsוּשְׁפָחֹ֔תū·šə·p̄ā·ḥōṯConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine pluralH8198 maid, maid-servant
and he gave themוַיִּתֵּ֖ןway·yit·tênConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
to Abrahamלְאַבְרָהָ֑םlə·’aḇ·rā·hāmPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH85 Abraham
and restoredוַיָּ֣שֶׁבway·yā·šeḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
his wifeאִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃’iš·tōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH802 woman, wife, female
Sarahשָׂרָ֥הśā·rāhNoun - proper - feminine singularH8283 Sarah
to himל֔וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular

Genesis 20:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵNoun - proper - masculine singularH40 Abimelek
saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Lookהִנֵּ֥הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
my landאַרְצִ֖י’ar·ṣîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH776 earth, land
is before youלְפָנֶ֑יךָlə·p̄ā·ne·ḵāPreposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singularH6440 face, before
Settle wherever you pleaseשֵֽׁב׃šêḇVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell

Genesis 20:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And he saidאָמַ֗ר’ā·marVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
to Sarahוּלְשָׂרָ֣הū·lə·śā·rāhConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singularH8283 Sarah
Seeהִנֵּ֨הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
I am givingנָתַ֜תִּיnā·ṯat·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH5414 give, put, set
your brotherלְאָחִ֔יךְlə·’ā·ḥîḵPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singularH251 brother
a thousandאֶ֤לֶף’e·lep̄Number - masculine singularH505 thousand
of silverכֶּ֙סֶף֙ke·sep̄Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money
Itהוּא־hū-Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
yourלָךְ֙lāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
vindicationכְּס֣וּתkə·sūṯNoun - feminine singular constructH3682 covering
before allלְכֹ֖לlə·ḵōlPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH3605 the whole, all
whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
are with youאִתָּ֑ךְ’it·tāḵPreposition; second person feminine singularH854 with
you are completelyכֹּ֖לkōlNoun - masculine singularH3605 the whole, all
clearedוְנֹכָֽחַת׃wə·nō·ḵā·ḥaṯConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularH3198 decide, adjudge, prove

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Genesis 20:9 Genesis 12:18 · Genesis 39:9 · Genesis 26:10

Genesis 20:11 Genesis 26:7 · Genesis 12:12 · Genesis 22:12 · Job 28:28 · Proverbs 16:6 · Proverbs 2:5 · Nehemiah 5:15 · Genesis 42:18 · Psalm 36:1–4

Genesis 20:12 Genesis 11:29

Genesis 20:13 Genesis 12:1 · Genesis 12:9

Genesis 20:14 Genesis 12:16

Genesis 20:15 Genesis 34:10 · Genesis 13:9 · Genesis 47:6

Genesis 20:16 Proverbs 27:5 · Genesis 20:5 · Genesis 24:65

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.