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
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
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then Abimelech | אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ | ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H40 Abimelek |
| called | וַיִּקְרָ֨א | way·yiq·rā | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7121 call, proclaim, read |
| Abraham | לְאַבְרָהָ֗ם | lə·’aḇ·rā·hām | Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H85 Abraham |
| and asked | וַיֹּ֨אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| What | מֶֽה־ | meh- | Interrogative | H4100 what? how? aught |
| have you done | עָשִׂ֤יתָ | ‘ā·śî·ṯā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| to us | לָּ֙נוּ֙ | lā·nū | Preposition; first person common plural | |
| How | וּמֶֽה־ | ū·meh- | Conjunctive waw; Interrogative | H4100 what? how? aught |
| have I sinned | חָטָ֣אתִי | ḥā·ṭā·ṯî | Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | H2398 miss |
| against you | לָ֔ךְ | lāḵ | Preposition; second person feminine singular | |
| that | כִּֽי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| you have brought | הֵבֵ֧אתָ | hê·ḇê·ṯā | Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| such tremendous | גְדֹלָ֑ה | ḡə·ḏō·lāh | Adjective - feminine singular | H1419 great |
| guilt | חֲטָאָ֣ה | ḥă·ṭā·’āh | Noun - feminine singular | H2401 sin, sin-offering (?) |
| upon me | עָלַ֛י | ‘ā·lay | Preposition; first person common singular | H5921 height |
| and | וְעַל־ | wə·‘al- | Conjunctive waw; Preposition | H5921 height |
| my kingdom | מַמְלַכְתִּ֖י | mam·laḵ·tî | Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular | H4467 kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign |
| You have done | עָשִׂ֖יתָ | ‘ā·śî·ṯā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| things | מַעֲשִׂים֙ | ma·‘ă·śîm | Noun - masculine plural | H4639 deed, work |
| to me | עִמָּדִֽי׃ | ‘im·mā·ḏî | Preposition; first person common singular | H5978 along with |
| that | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| should not | לֹא־ | lō- | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| be done | יֵֽעָשׂ֔וּ | yê·‘ā·śū | Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | H6213 do, make |
Genesis 20:10
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abimelech | אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ | ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H40 Abimelek |
| also asked | וַיֹּ֥אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| Abraham | אַבְרָהָ֑ם | ’aḇ·rā·hām | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H85 Abraham |
| What | מָ֣ה | māh | Interrogative | H4100 what? how? aught |
| prompted | רָאִ֔יתָ | rā·’î·ṯā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | H7200 see |
| you to do | עָשִׂ֖יתָ | ‘ā·śî·ṯā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| such | הַזֶּֽה׃ | haz·zeh | Article; Pronoun - masculine singular | H2088 this, that |
| a thing | הַדָּבָ֥ר | had·dā·ḇār | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H1697 speech, word |
Genesis 20:11
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham | אַבְרָהָ֔ם | ’aḇ·rā·hām | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H85 Abraham |
| replied | וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| I thought to myself | אָמַ֗רְתִּי | ’ā·mar·tî | Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | H559 utter, say |
| Surely | רַ֚ק | raq | Adverb | H7535 thin |
| there is no | אֵין־ | ’ên- | Adverb | H369 nothing, nought |
| fear | יִרְאַ֣ת | yir·’aṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H3374 fear |
| of God | אֱלֹהִ֔ים | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| in this | הַזֶּ֑ה | haz·zeh | Article; Pronoun - masculine singular | H2088 this, that |
| place | בַּמָּק֖וֹם | bam·mā·qō·wm | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4725 standing, spot, condition |
| They will kill me | וַהֲרָג֖וּנִי | wa·hă·rā·ḡū·nî | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural; first person common singular | H2026 kill, slay |
| on account of | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| my wife | אִשְׁתִּֽי׃ | ’iš·tî | Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular | H802 woman, wife, female |
Genesis 20:12
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Besides | וְגַם־ | wə·ḡam- | Conjunction | H1571 also, moreover, yea |
| she | הִ֔וא | hî | Pronoun - third person feminine singular | H1931 he, she |
| really | אָמְנָ֗ה | ’ā·mə·nāh | Adverb | H546 verily, truly, indeed |
| is my sister | אֲחֹתִ֤י | ’ă·ḥō·ṯî | Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular | H269 sister |
| the daughter | בַת־ | ḇaṯ- | Noun - feminine singular construct | H1323 daughter |
| of my father | אָבִי֙ | ’ā·ḇî | Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular | H1 father |
| though | אַ֖ךְ | ’aḵ | Adverb | H389 surely |
| not | לֹ֣א | lō | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| the daughter | בַת־ | ḇaṯ- | Noun - feminine singular construct | H1323 daughter |
| of my mother | אִמִּ֑י | ’im·mî | Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular | H517 mother |
| and she became | וַתְּהִי־ | wat·tə·hî- | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| my | לִ֖י | lî | Preposition; first person common singular | |
| wife | לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ | lə·’iš·šāh | Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular | H802 woman, wife, female |
Genesis 20:13
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So when | כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר | ka·’ă·šer | Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| God | אֱלֹהִים֮ | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| had me journey | הִתְע֣וּ | hiṯ·‘ū | Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | H8582 err |
| from my father’s | אָבִי֒ | ’ā·ḇî | Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular | H1 father |
| house | מִבֵּ֣ית | mib·bêṯ | Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct | H1004 house |
| I said | וָאֹמַ֣ר | wā·’ō·mar | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | H559 utter, say |
| to | לָ֔הּ | lāh | Preposition; third person feminine singular | |
| This is how | זֶ֣ה | zeh | Pronoun - masculine singular | H2088 this, that |
| you can show | תַּעֲשִׂ֖י | ta·‘ă·śî | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular | H6213 do, make |
| your loyalty | חַסְדֵּ֔ךְ | ḥas·dêḵ | Noun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singular | H2617 goodness, kindness |
| to me | עִמָּדִ֑י | ‘im·mā·ḏî | Preposition; first person common singular | H5978 along with |
| Wherever | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| we go | נָב֣וֹא | nā·ḇō·w | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| say | אִמְרִי־ | ’im·rî- | Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular | H559 utter, say |
| of me | לִ֖י | lî | Preposition; first person common singular | |
| He is | הֽוּא׃ | hū | Pronoun - third person masculine singular | H1931 he, she |
| my brother | אָחִ֥י | ’ā·ḥî | Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular | H251 brother |
Genesis 20:14
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So Abimelech | אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ | ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H40 Abimelek |
| brought | וַיִּקַּ֨ח | way·yiq·qaḥ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H3947 take |
| sheep | צֹ֣אן | ṣōn | Noun - common singular | H6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks |
| and cattle | וּבָקָ֗ר | ū·ḇā·qār | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H1241 cattle, herd, ox |
| 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 he gave them | וַיִּתֵּ֖ן | way·yit·tên | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H5414 give, put, set |
| to Abraham | לְאַבְרָהָ֑ם | lə·’aḇ·rā·hām | Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H85 Abraham |
| and restored | וַיָּ֣שֶׁב | way·yā·šeḇ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7725 turn back, return |
| his wife | אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ | ’iš·tōw | Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H802 woman, wife, female |
| Sarah | שָׂרָ֥ה | śā·rāh | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H8283 Sarah |
| to him | ל֔וֹ | lōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular |
Genesis 20:15
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And Abimelech | אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ | ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H40 Abimelek |
| said | וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| Look | הִנֵּ֥ה | hin·nêh | Interjection | H2009 lo! behold! |
| my land | אַרְצִ֖י | ’ar·ṣî | Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular | H776 earth, land |
| is before you | לְפָנֶ֑יךָ | lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā | Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singular | H6440 face, before |
| Settle wherever you please | שֵֽׁב׃ | šêḇ | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | H3427 sit, remain, dwell |
Genesis 20:16
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And he said | אָמַ֗ר | ’ā·mar | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| to Sarah | וּלְשָׂרָ֣ה | ū·lə·śā·rāh | Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singular | H8283 Sarah |
| See | הִנֵּ֨ה | hin·nêh | Interjection | H2009 lo! behold! |
| I am giving | נָתַ֜תִּי | nā·ṯat·tî | Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | H5414 give, put, set |
| your brother | לְאָחִ֔יךְ | lə·’ā·ḥîḵ | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singular | H251 brother |
| a thousand | אֶ֤לֶף | ’e·lep̄ | Number - masculine singular | H505 thousand |
| of silver | כֶּ֙סֶף֙ | ke·sep̄ | Noun - masculine singular | H3701 silver, money |
| It | הוּא־ | hū- | Pronoun - third person masculine singular | H1931 he, she |
| your | לָךְ֙ | lāḵ | Preposition; second person feminine singular | |
| vindication | כְּס֣וּת | kə·sūṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H3682 covering |
| before all | לְכֹ֖ל | lə·ḵōl | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular | H3605 the whole, all |
| who | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| are with you | אִתָּ֑ךְ | ’it·tāḵ | Preposition; second person feminine singular | H854 with |
| you are completely | כֹּ֖ל | kōl | Noun - masculine singular | H3605 the whole, all |
| cleared | וְנֹכָֽחַת׃ | wə·nō·ḵā·ḥaṯ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular | H3198 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.