Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 20:5
5Didn’t he himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”
Genesis 20:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
- New International Version (NIV)Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”
Context of Genesis 20:5
3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.” 4Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, “Lord, would you destroy a nation even though it is innocent? Didn’t he himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands.” 6Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. I have also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I have not let you touch her. 7Now 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, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.”
Read all of Genesis 20Genesis 20:5 word by word
הֲלֹ֨א ה֤וּא אָֽמַר־לִי֙ אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֔וא וְהִֽיא־גַם־הִ֥וא אָֽמְרָ֖ה אָחִ֣י ה֑וּא בְּתָם־לְבָבִ֛י וּבְנִקְיֹ֥ן כַּפַּ֖י עָשִׂ֥יתִי זֹֽאת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- he not unto me, Sheהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
- my sisterאָחוֹת'âchôth · sisterH269
- evenגַּםgam · alsoH1571
- my brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
- in the integrityתֹּםtôm · integrityH8537
- of my heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
- and innocencyנִקָּיוֹןniqqâyôn niqqâyôn · innocenceH5356
- of my handsכַּףkaph · palmH3709
- have I doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
Cross-references for Genesis 20:5
- Joshua 22:22“The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows, and may Israel also know. Do not spare us today, if it was in rebellion or treachery against the Lord
- 1 Kings 9:4As for you, if you walk before me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and in what is right, doing everything I have commanded you, and if you keep my statutes and ordinances,
- 2 Kings 20:3“Please, Lord, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what pleases you.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to you.
- Psalms 7:8The Lord judges the peoples; vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
- Psalms 25:21May integrity and what is right watch over me, for I wait for you.
- Psalms 78:72He shepherded them with a pure heart and guided them with his skillful hands.
- Proverbs 11:3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.
- Proverbs 20:7A righteous person acts with integrity; his children who come after him will be happy.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers.
- 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief,
- Job 33:9“I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.
- Psalms 24:4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not appealed to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully.
- Psalms 26:6I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, Lord,
- Psalms 73:13Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
Commentaries on Genesis 20:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5In the integrity of my heart, etc. - Had Abimelech any other than honorable views in taking Sarah, he could not have justified himself thus to his Maker; and that these views were of the most honorable kind, God himself, to whom the appeal was made, asserts in the most direct manner, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart.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
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Abimelech was innocent (20:6). He knew of no wrong he had done. But he was close to committing adultery. Not knowing the truth does not remove guilt (Leviticus 4:13–14). would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?: Abimelech's plea to God echoes Abraham's earlier words (compare 18:23–32). It shows Abraham's lack of faith at this time.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 20:5
In the dictionaries
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
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