Genesis 20:4

Genesis 20:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
• New International Version (NIV)Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent people?
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also?

Context of Genesis 20:4

2Abraham told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar sent men to take Sarah. 3God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You’re going to die because of the woman that you’ve taken! She’s a married woman!” Abimelech hadn’t come near her, so he asked, “Lord, will you destroy a nation even if it’s innocent? 5Didn’t he tell me himself, ‘She’s my sister,’ and didn’t she even say, ‘He’s my brother’? I did this in all innocence and with a clear conscience.” 6“Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience,” God said to him in the dream. “In fact, I kept you from sinning against me. That’s why I didn’t let you touch her.

Genesis 20:4 word by word

וַאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְ לֹ֥א קָרַ֖ב אֵלֶ֑יהָ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אֲדֹנָ֕י הֲג֥וֹי גַּם־צַדִּ֖יק תַּהֲרֹֽג׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• had not come nearקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
• her: and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• wilt thou slayהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
• also a righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• nationגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471

Cross-references for Genesis 20:4

• Genesis 20:6“Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience,” God said to him in the dream. “In fact, I kept you from sinning against me. That’s why I didn’t let you touch her.
• Genesis 20:17Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could have children.
• Genesis 18:23Abraham came closer and asked, “Are you really going to sweep away the innocent with the guilty?
• Genesis 19:24Then the Lord made burning sulfur and fire rain out of heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah.
• 2 Samuel 4:11How much more ⌞should I reward⌟ wicked men who kill an innocent man on his own bed in his home? The Lord has rescued me from every trouble. I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, I’ll now seek revenge for his murder and rid the land of you.”
• 1 Chronicles 21:17David said to God, “I’m the one who ordered the people to be counted. I am the one who sinned and did wrong. What have these sheep done? Lord my God, let your punishment be against me and my father’s family, but don’t punish your people with a plague.”

Commentaries on Genesis 20:4

• 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 20:4

• Condescension of God
• Cowardice
• Heathen
• Ignorance
• Nation
• Sarah

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Abraham
• Dream
• Restore
• Wander
• Atonement, Day of
• Genesis
• Gerar
• Leviticus
• Philistines

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