Genesis 20:18

Genesis 20:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.
• New International Version (NIV)for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Context of Genesis 20:18

16He said to Sarah, “Don’t forget, I’ve given your brother 25 pounds of silver. This is to silence any criticism against you from everyone with you. You’re completely cleared.” 17Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could have children. (The Lord had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech’s household to have children because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.)

Genesis 20:18 word by word

כִּֽי־עָצֹ֤ר עָצַר֙ יְהוָ֔ה בְּעַ֥ד כָּל־רֶ֖חֶם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ עַל־דְּבַ֥ר שָׂרָ֖ה אֵ֥שֶׁת אַבְרָהָֽם׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• had fastעָצַר‛âtsar · to restrainH6113
• all the wombsרֶ֫חֶםrechem · wombH7358
• of the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• becauseדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697
• of Sarahשָׂרָהώârâh · SarahH8283
• Abraham’sאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802

Cross-references for Genesis 20:18

• Genesis 20:7Give the man’s wife back to him now, because he’s a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don’t give her back, you and all who belong to you are doomed to die.”
• Genesis 12:17However, the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with terrible plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
• Genesis 16:2So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Why don’t you sleep with my slave? Maybe I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed with Sarai.
• Genesis 30:2Jacob became angry with Rachel and asked, “Can I take the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”
• 1 Samuel 1:6Because the Lord had made her unable to have children, her rival ⌞Peninnah⌟ tormented her endlessly in order to make her miserable.
• 1 Samuel 5:10So the people of Gath sent the ark of God to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They brought the ark of the God of Israel here to kill us.”

Commentaries on Genesis 20:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs - Probably by means of some disease with which he had smitten them, hence it is said they were healed at Abraham's intercession; and this seems necessarily to imply that they had been afflicted by some disease that rendered it impossible for them to have children till it was removed. And possibly this disease, as Dr. Dodd conjectures, had afflicted Abimelech, and by this he was withheld, Genesis 20:6, from…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 20:18

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

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Sarah
• Sarah; Sarai
• Abraham
• Dream
• Prayer
• Restore
• Wander
• Atonement, Day of
• Close

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