Genesis 20:17

Genesis 20:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children;

Context of Genesis 20:17

15So Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.” 16Then to Sarah he said, “Look, I have given this brother of yours a thousand pieces of silver; it is to compensate you [for all that has happened] and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated.” So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, and they again gave birth to children, 18for the Lord had securely closed the wombs of all [the women] in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Genesis 20:17 word by word

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּרְפָּ֨א אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־אֲבִימֶ֧לֶךְ וְאֶת־אִשְׁתּ֛וֹ וְאַמְהֹתָ֖יו וַיֵּלֵֽדוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• So Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• prayedפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
• unto Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• healedרָפָאrâphâ' râphâh · to healH7495
• Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• and his wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• and his maidservantsאָמָה'âmâh · maidservantH519
• and they bareיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205

Cross-references for Genesis 20:17

• Genesis 20:7So now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her [to him], know that you shall die, you and all who are yours (your household).”
• Genesis 29:31Now when the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He made her able to bear children, but Rachel was barren.
• 1 Samuel 5:11So they sent word and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel; let it be returned to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly panic throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy (severe) there.
• Ezra 6:10so that they may offer pleasing (sweet-smelling) sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
• Job 42:9So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
• Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight!
• Isaiah 45:11For the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker says this, “Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And give Me orders concerning the work of My hands.
• Matthew 7:7“ Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.
• Matthew 21:22And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
• Acts 3:24Indeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also announced these days.
• Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:25Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
• James 5:16Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

Commentaries on Genesis 20:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17So Abraham prayed - This was the prime office of the נביא nabi ; see Genesis 20:7.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-18Verses 1-18 - Abraham in Gerar 2. אבימלך .2 'ǎbı̂ymelek Abimelekh, “father of the king.” 7. נביא nābı̂y' “prophet,” he who speaks by God, of God, and to God, who declares to people not merely things future, but also things past and present, that are not obvious to the sense or the reason; related: “flow, go forth.” 13. התעוּ hı̂t‛û is plural in punctuation, agreeing grammatically with אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym ו (w), however, may be regarded as the third…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-18Verses 14-18 We often trouble ourselves, and even are led into temptation and sin, by groundless suspicions; and find the fear of God where we expected it not. Agreements to deceive generally end in shame and sorrow; and restraints from sin, though by suffering, should be thankfully acknowledged. Though the Lord rebuke, yet he will pardon and deliver his people, and he will give them favour in the sight of those with whom they sojourn; and overrule their…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18The inability to have children suggests that some time had passed. God controls births. He decides when women can have children (25:21; 29:31; 30:2, 17, 22–23; 1 Samuel 1:19–20; Psalms 113:9; 127:3; Luke 1:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-181. Abraham journeyed from thence ... and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur--Leaving the encampment, he migrated to the southern border of Canaan. In the neighborhood of Gerar was a very rich and well-watered pasture land.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 20:17

• Barrenness
• Good for Evil
• Ignorance
• Intercession
• Miracles
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Abraham
• God
• Abraham, Abram
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Dream
• Prayer
• Restore
• Wander
• Atonement, Day of

Commentaries on Genesis 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings