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

2And Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent men and took Sarah. 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.” Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You kill a nation, even though blameless? 5Did he himself not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.

Genesis 20:4 word by word

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

• Now Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• had not comeקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
• her; and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• will You killהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
• a nationגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
• evenגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• blamelessצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662

Cross-references for Genesis 20:4

• Genesis 20:6Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
• Genesis 20:17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, so that they gave birth to children.
• Genesis 18:23Abraham approached and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
• Genesis 19:24Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of heaven,
• 2 Samuel 4:11How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and eliminate you both from the earth?”
• 1 Chronicles 21:17And David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and acted very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? Lord, my God, just let Your hand be against me and my father’s household, and not against Your people as 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