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 for Abraham and asked him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you that you would bring such a serious sin on me and my kingdom? You shouldn’t have done this to me.” 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What were you thinking when you did this?” Abraham said, “I thought that because there are no God-fearing people in this place, I’d be killed because of my wife. 12Besides, she is my sister—my father’s daughter but not my mother’s. She is also my wife. 13When God had me leave my father’s home and travel around, I said to her, ‘Do me a favor: Wherever we go, say that I’m your brother.’ ”

Genesis 20:11 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Surelyרַקraq · exceptH7535
• the fearיִרְאָהyir'âh · fearH3374
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• not in this placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• and they will slay meהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
• for my wife’sאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• sakeדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697

Cross-references for Genesis 20:11

• Genesis 22:12“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you did not refuse to give me your son, your only son.”
• Genesis 42:18On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this, and you will live. I, too, fear God.
• Nehemiah 5:15Those who were governors before me had made life difficult for the people by taking from them food and wine plus one pound of silver. Even the governors’ servants took advantage of their power over the people. But I didn’t do that, because I feared God.
• Job 1:1A man named Job lived in Uz. He was a man of integrity: He was decent, he feared God, and he stayed away from evil.
• Job 28:28So he told humans, ‘The fear of the Lord is wisdom! To stay away from evil is understanding.’ ”
• Psalms 14:4Are all those troublemakers, those who devour my people as if they were devouring food, so ignorant that they do not call on the Lord?
• Psalms 36:1There is an inspired truth about the wicked person who has rebellion in the depths of his heart: He is not terrified of God.
• Proverbs 1:7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.
• Proverbs 2:5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and you will find the knowledge of God.
• Proverbs 8:13To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.
• Proverbs 16:6By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the Lord. By the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided.
• Romans 3:18They are not terrified of God.”
• Genesis 12:12When the Egyptians see you, they’ll say, ‘This is his wife!’ Then they’ll kill me but let you live.
• Genesis 26:7When the men of that place asked about his wife, Isaac answered, “She’s my sister.” He was afraid to say “my wife.” He thought that the men of that place would kill him to get Rebekah, because she was an attractive woman.

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