Genesis

Genesis 26:6–11

⁶So Isaac settled in Gerar. ⁷But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”

⁸When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. ⁹Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?”

Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”

¹⁰“What is this you have done to us?” asked Abimelech. “One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” ¹¹So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”

Read all of Genesis 26

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 26:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Isaac	יִצְחָ֖ק	yiṣ·ḥāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac
settled	וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב	way·yê·šeḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
in Gerar	בִּגְרָֽר׃	biḡ·rār	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1642 Gerar

Genesis 26:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But when the men	אַנְשֵׁ֤י	’an·šê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H582 man, mankind
of that place	הַמָּקוֹם֙	ham·mā·qō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
asked	וַֽיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ	way·yiš·’ă·lū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7592 ask, inquire
about his wife	לְאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ	lə·’iš·tōw	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
he said	וַיֹּ֖אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
She	הִ֑וא	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
is my sister	אֲחֹ֣תִי	’ă·ḥō·ṯî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H269 sister
For	כִּ֤י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
he was afraid	יָרֵא֙	yā·rê	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3372 fear
to say	לֵאמֹ֣ר	lê·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H559 utter, say
my wife	אִשְׁתִּ֔י	’iš·tî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H802 woman, wife, female
since he thought to himself	פֶּן־	pen-	Conjunction	H6435 lest
The men	אַנְשֵׁ֤י	’an·šê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H582 man, mankind
of this place	הַמָּקוֹם֙	ham·mā·qō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
will kill me	יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי	ya·har·ḡu·nî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; first person common singular	H2026 kill, slay
on account of	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Rebekah	רִבְקָ֔ה	riḇ·qāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7259 Rebekah
because	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
she	הִֽיא׃	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
is so beautiful	טוֹבַ֥ת	ṭō·w·ḇaṯ	Adjective - feminine singular construct	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good

Genesis 26:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
had been there	שָׁם֙	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
a long time	הַיָּמִ֔ים	hay·yā·mîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
Abimelech	אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙	’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H40 Abimelek
king	מֶ֣לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of the Philistines	פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים	pə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
looked down	וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף	way·yaš·qêp̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8259 overhang, look out and down
from	בְּעַ֖ד	bə·‘aḏ	Preposition	H1157 separation
the window	הַֽחַלּ֑וֹן	ha·ḥal·lō·wn	Article; Noun - common singular	H2474 window
and was surprised to see	וַיַּ֗רְא	way·yar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
Isaac	יִצְחָק֙	yiṣ·ḥāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac
caressing	מְצַחֵ֔ק	mə·ṣa·ḥêq	Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular	H6711 laugh
his wife	אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃	’iš·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
Rebekah	רִבְקָ֥ה	riḇ·qāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7259 Rebekah

Genesis 26:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Abimelech	אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ	’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H40 Abimelek
sent for	וַיִּקְרָ֨א	way·yiq·rā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read
Isaac	לְיִצְחָ֗ק	lə·yiṣ·ḥāq	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac
and said	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
So she	הִ֔וא	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
is really	אַ֣ךְ	’aḵ	Adverb	H389 surely
your wife	אִשְׁתְּךָ֙	’iš·tə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
How	וְאֵ֥יךְ	wə·’êḵ	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H349 How?
could you say	אָמַ֖רְתָּ	’ā·mar·tā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
She	הִ֑וא	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
is my sister	אֲחֹ֣תִי	’ă·ḥō·ṯî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H269 sister
Isaac	יִצְחָ֔ק	yiṣ·ḥāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac
replied	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Because	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I thought	אָמַ֔רְתִּי	’ā·mar·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say
I might	פֶּן־	pen-	Conjunction	H6435 lest
die	אָמ֖וּת	’ā·mūṯ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H4191 die
on account of her	עָלֶֽיהָ׃	‘ā·le·hā	Preposition; third person feminine singular	H5921 height

Genesis 26:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
What	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
is this	זֹּ֖את	zōṯ	Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
you have done	עָשִׂ֣יתָ	‘ā·śî·ṯā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
to us	לָּ֑נוּ	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
asked	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Abimelech	אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ	’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H40 Abimelek
One	אַחַ֤ד	’a·ḥaḏ	Number - masculine singular construct	H259 one
of the people	הָעָם֙	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
could easily	כִּ֠מְעַט	kim·‘aṭ	Preposition-k; Adjective - masculine singular	H4592 a little, fewness, a few
have slept with	שָׁכַ֞ב	šā·ḵaḇ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7901 lie down
your wife	אִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ	’iš·te·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
and you would have brought	וְהֵבֵאתָ֥	wə·hê·ḇê·ṯā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
guilt	אָשָֽׁם׃	’ā·šām	Noun - masculine singular	H817 offence, guilt
upon us	עָלֵ֖ינוּ	‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5921 height

Genesis 26:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Abimelech	אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ	’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H40 Abimelek
warned	וַיְצַ֣ו	way·ṣaw	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the people	הָעָ֖ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
saying	לֵאמֹ֑ר	lê·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H559 utter, say
Whoever harms	הַנֹּגֵ֜עַ	han·nō·ḡê·a‘	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5060 touch, reach, strike
this	הַזֶּ֛ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
man	בָּאִ֥ישׁ	bā·’îš	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
or his wife	וּבְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ	ū·ḇə·’iš·tōw	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
will surely be put to death	מ֥וֹת	mō·wṯ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H4191 die