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

16To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you, and before everyone you are cleared.” 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, so that they gave birth to children. For the Lord had completely closed all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Genesis 20:18 word by word

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

• For the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• had completelyעָצַר‛âtsar · to restrainH6113
• allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• the wombsרֶ֫חֶםrechem · wombH7358
• of the householdבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• becauseעַל‛al · uponH5921
• becauseדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697
• of Sarahשָׂרָהώârâh · SarahH8283
• Abraham’sאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802

Cross-references for Genesis 20:18

• Genesis 20:7Now then, 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.”
• Genesis 12:17But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
• Genesis 16:2So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please have relations with my slave woman; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
• Genesis 30:2Then Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
• 1 Samuel 1:6Her rival, moreover, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
• 1 Samuel 5:10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!”

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