Genesis 20:11

Genesis 20:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
• New International Version (NIV)Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, 'There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.

Context of Genesis 20:11

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?” Abraham 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.”’”

Genesis 20:11 word by word

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֗רְתִּי רַ֚ק אֵין־יִרְאַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַהֲרָג֖וּנִי עַל־דְּבַ֥ר אִשְׁתִּֽי׃Read the interlinear

• Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• Abrahamכִּיkîy · forH3588
• repliedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Surelyרַקraq · exceptH7535
• there is noאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• fearיִרְאָהyir'âh · fearH3374
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• in thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• They will kill meהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
• on account ofעַל‛al · uponH5921
• on account ofדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697
• my wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802

Cross-references for Genesis 20:11

• Genesis 22:12“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”
• Genesis 42:18and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:
• Nehemiah 5:15The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.
• Job 1:1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.
• Job 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
• Psalms 14:4Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.
• Psalms 36:1An oracle is in my heart regarding the transgression of the wicked man: There is no fear of God before his eyes.
• Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
• Proverbs 2:5then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.
• Proverbs 8:13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
• Proverbs 16:6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
• Romans 3:18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
• Genesis 12:12and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.
• Genesis 26:7But 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.”

Commentaries on Genesis 20:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11And Abraham said - The best excuse he could make for his conduct, which in this instance is far from defensible.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. 9-13Verses 9-13 See here much to blame, even in the father of the faithful. Mark his distrust of God, his undue care about life, his intent to deceive. He also threw temptation in the way of others, caused affliction to them, exposed himself and Sarah to just rebukes, and yet attempted an excuse. These things are written for our warning, not for us to imitate. Even Abraham hath not whereof to glory. He cannot be justified by his works, but must be indebted…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-13Abraham's deceit was not just a brief loss of faith. Even after being scolded in Egypt, he used this strategy everywhere he traveled (compare 12:12–13). Living by faith requires perseverance.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. And Abraham said ... I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place--From the horrible vices of Sodom he seems to have taken up the impression that all other cities of Canaan were equally corrupt. There might have been few or none who feared God, but what a sad thing when men of the world show a higher sense of honor and a greater abhorrence of crimes than a true worshipper!Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 20:11

• Cowardice
• Doubting
• Ignorance
• Marriage
• Sarah

In the dictionaries

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

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