God’s Word Translation
Genesis 20:6
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 20:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
- New International Version (NIV)Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
Context of Genesis 20:6
4Abimelech 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.” “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. 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.” 8Early in the morning Abimelech called together all his officials. He told them about all of this, and they were terrified.
Read all of Genesis 20Genesis 20:6 word by word
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלָ֨יו הָֽאֱלֹהִ֜ים בַּחֲלֹ֗ם גַּ֣ם אָנֹכִ֤י יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ כִּ֤י בְתָם־לְבָבְךָ֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ זֹּ֔את וָאֶחְשֹׂ֧ךְ גַּם־אָנֹכִ֛י אֽוֹתְךָ֖ מֵחֲטוֹ־לִ֑י עַל־כֵּ֥ן לֹא־נְתַתִּ֖יךָ לִנְגֹּ֥עַ אֵלֶֽיהָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him in a dreamחֲלוֹםchălôm chălôm · dreamH2472
- Yeaגַּםgam · alsoH1571
- I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- that thou didstעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- this in the integrityתֹּםtôm · integrityH8537
- of thy heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
- for I also withheldחָשַׂךְchâώak · to withholdH2820
- thee from sinningחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- against me: therefore sufferedנָתַןnâthan · to give: allowH5414
- I thee not to touchנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
Cross-references for Genesis 20:6
- Genesis 20:18(The Lord had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech’s household to have children because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.)
- Genesis 31:7Your father has cheated me. He has changed my wages 10 times. But God hasn’t let him harm me.
- Genesis 35:5As they moved on, God made the people of the cities that were all around them terrified so that no one pursued them.
- Exodus 34:24I will force nations out of your way and will expand ⌞your country’s⌟ borders. No one will want to take away your land while you’re gone three times a year to the Lord’s festivals.
- 1 Samuel 25:26“The Lord has kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. Now, sir, I solemnly swear, as the Lord and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal.
- Psalms 84:11The Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor. He does not hold back any blessing from those who live innocently.
- Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is like streams of water. Both are under the Lord’s control. He turns them in any direction he chooses.
- Hosea 2:6“That is why I will block her way with thornbushes and build a wall so that she can’t get through.
- Genesis 39:9No one in this house is greater than I. He’s kept nothing back from me except you, because you’re his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
- Leviticus 6:2“If any of you sin against the Lord by failing to do your duty, if you lie to your neighbor about something you were supposed to take care of or if you lie about something stolen or seized from your neighbor, you are sinning and will be guilty.
- Psalms 51:4I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge.
- Psalms 81:12So I let them go their own stubborn ways and follow their own advice.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7The mystery of this sin is already at work. But it cannot work effectively until the person now holding it back gets out of the way.
- Genesis 3:3except the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You must never eat it or touch it. If you do, you will die!’ ”
- Genesis 26:11So Abimelech ordered his people, “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:1Now, concerning the things that you wrote about: It’s good for men not to get married.
Commentaries on Genesis 20:6
- 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. 6Because Abimelech acted with a clear conscience, God kept him from sinning. God will graciously help those who try to do what is right. When people act with reverence toward God, God gives them more revelation and draws them into more specific faith (see Acts 10).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 20:6
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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