Genesis 20

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 20 of 50

1 And Abraham pulled up stakes from there to the land of the Negeb, and lived between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar.

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

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, Behold, you are about to die because of the woman you have taken, she being married to a husband.

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Chapter Summary

1 Abraham sojourns at Gerar, 2 says his wife is his sister. 3 Abimelech takes her, but in a dream is reproved for taking her. 9 He rebukes Abraham, 14 he restores Sarah, and reproves her. 17 Abraham's prayer honored by God.

Key Hebrew Words

חֲלוֹם dream H2472 · TWOT 663a
נָבִיא prophet H5030 · TWOT 1277a
פָּלַל pray, intercede H6419 · TWOT 1776
רָפָא heal H7495 · TWOT 2196
תֹּם integrity, honor H8537 · TWOT 2522a
רֶ֫חֶם womb H7358 · TWOT 2146a

People & Context

Abraham

Sojourns in Gerar and calls Sarah his sister; a prophet whose prayer heals Abimelech's house

Abimelech

King of Gerar who takes Sarah, is warned by God in a dream, and restores her to Abraham

Sarah

Abraham's wife, taken by Abimelech and restored; her barrenness tied to the closed wombs of his house

God

Comes to Abimelech in a night dream, withholds him from sin, and heals his household at Abraham's prayer

Timeline

Abraham Sojourns at Gerar

Abraham moves to the land of the Negeb and lives in Gerar.

Genesis 20:1
Abraham's Deception with Sarah (again)

Abraham tells Abimelech, king of Gerar, that Sarah is his sister. Abimelech takes Sarah into his house.

Genesis 20:2
God Warns Abimelech

God comes to Abimelech in a dream, warning him that he will die because he took a married woman. Abimelech pleads his innocence, stating Abraham and Sarah both claimed to be siblings. God acknowledges Abimelech's integrity and reveals He withheld him from sinning.

Genesis 20:3-7

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